Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Heating Orientation On Flow Boiling In Copper Manifold Microchannel Heat Sinks, Huigang Wang, Yue Qiu, Jennifer Carter, James Mcguffin-Cawley, Chirag R. Kharangate

Faculty Scholarship

Recently, two-phase cooling configurations are being proposed to meet the power dissipation requirements of high heat flux electronic devices. Flow boiling in Manifold Microchannel (MMC) offers high heat transfer coefficients with low pressure drops, making it a popular choice. While many studies have explored flow boiling in microchannels, the influence of heating orientation in MMCs with complex 3D flow paths has not been investigated thoroughly. In this study, experiments are conducted to investigate the effects of heating orientations and mass flow rates on heat transfer performance, pressure drop, and the hysteresis phenomenon during flow boiling in a copper manifold microchannel …

Role Of Autonomic Dysfunction In Initiating Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation In A Canine Sterile Pericarditis Model, Seungyup Lee, Don W. Wallick, Celeen Khrestian, Dragan Juzbasich, Daniel Laurita

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Autonomic dysfunction plays a significant role in initiating postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) by causing atrial ectopic triggers, potentially through mechanisms such as increased sympathetic activity and altered vagal tone. These atrial ectopic triggers can easily induce POAF, especially in the presence of vulnerable substrates such as pericardial inflammation or structural remodeling. Objective: To test the hypothesis that autonomic dysfunction causes atrial ectopic triggers or POAF in the canine sterile pericarditis model. Methods: Ten sterile pericarditis dogs were studied on postoperative Days 2−3. Autonomic dysfunction was induced by stellate ganglion nerve stimulation (SNS, 5–15 mA; 4–10 Hz; pulse width 0.5–5 …

Multi-Omic Spatially Resolved Analysis Of The Neuroinflammatory Response To Intracortical Microelectrode Arrays, E. Ricky Chan, Jeffrey R. Capadona

Faculty Scholarship

Intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are devices implanted into the brain's cortex with the ability to record or stimulate neuronal activity. Unfortunately, MEAs tend to fail over chronic time points, limiting their clinical utility. Chronic failure has largely been attributed to the brain's neuroinflammatory response. Until recently, most of what was understood about the neuroinflammatory response to MEAs was learned through immunohistochemical analysis of small numbers of proteins. More recently, gene expression studies have sequenced thousands of mRNA molecules that contribute to neuroinflammation, but few studies have performed large-scale proteomic analyses. To expand the knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved, we have …

Electrochemically-Assisted Low Power Density Laser Writing On Stainless Steel Via Enrichment Of Chromium Oxides, Zechariah J. Pfaffenberger, Lianlian Liu, Tae Kyong John Kim, Vignesh Venkataramani, Lydia Kisley

Faculty Scholarship

Laser color marking produces nearly permanent, environmentally friendly, vibrant colors on surfaces. However, previous work has used high-power-density pulsed lasers to induce the physicochemical reactions for marking. Here, laser color marking on stainless steel 304 (SS304) is performed with a less expensive continuous wave (CW) laser and a power density five orders of magnitude below that previously reported by combining an electrochemical cell with a fluorescence microscope. Using a combination of optical microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and bulk electrochemistry, it is demonstrated that the laser-induced luminescence and colors are due to enrichment (32 ± 9% increase) of Cr₂O₃ in the …

Direct Upcycling Of Degraded Ncm Via Low-Temperature Surface Engineering For High Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries, Yu Wang, Chris Yuan

Faculty Scholarship

Upcycling degraded low-Ni cathode materials into Ni-rich alternatives offers significant economic and environmental benefits for lithium-ion battery production. However, the stability and safety of the upcycled materials remain challenging due to their aggressive composition. This study reports an innovative two-step upcycling method that integrates a coating process with a low-temperature annealing process, thereby successfully upcycling degraded NCM622 with a LiAlO2 coating layer. Through comprehensive characterization, the recovery of crystal structure and uniform LiAlO2 coating on the particle surface are confirmed by XRD and XPS results. As a result of structural recovery and surface engineering, upcycled NCM622 demonstrates an initial capacity …

Harnessing Redox-Active Molecules In Alkylammonium Halide-Based Eutectic Solvents For Redox Flow Batteries, Zeru Syum, Jesse Wainright, Desiree Mae Prado, Burcu Gurkan, Palani Sabhapathy, Clemens Burda, Matthew Vasil, Robert Savinell

Faculty Scholarship

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising for large-scale energy storage, however, advancements in performance and cost-effectiveness are critical factors for adoption. Here we report on alkylammonium halide based eutectic solvents (ESs) and found that a ESs comprising of diethylammonium chloride or bromide, in ethylene glycol demonstrated exceptional stability and a wide electrochemical stability window, making it a promising candidate for RFB applications. The electrochemical stability and redox behavior of the alkylammonium halide-based ESs are significantly influenced by hydrogen-bonding interactions, modulated by the alkyl chain length of the cation and the nature of the anion. A redox-active eutectic electrolyte containing 0.45 …

Evaluation Of Gold Helical Microwire Structure Electrode For Long-Term Rodent Nerve Stimulation, Danny V. Lam, Kevin Yang

Faculty Scholarship

Objective. The development of electrodes for chronic peripheral nerve stimulation faces several challenges, including complex compositions, intricate manufacturing processes, and high costs associated with the availability and fabrication of suitable materials. These limitations hinder the accessibility and feasibility of producing effective devices for chronic preclinical studies. This study evaluated the feasibility of a simple-to-manufacture gold helical microwire structure electrode (Au-HMSE) for peripheral nerve stimulation, electromyography (EMG) recording, and preliminary tissue response on the rat sciatic nerve. Approach. Manufactured electrodes were used for up to 8 weeks in rats for nerve stimulation and EMG recordings, with electrode-tissue impedances and motor thresholds …

Scaffolded Integration: Aligning Ai Literacy With Authentic Assessment Through A Revised Taxonomy In Education, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The accelerating prevalence of generative artificial intelligence in educational and professional spheres necessitates a reevaluation of when and how such technologies are introduced within pedagogical practice. The principal challenge for educators is not merely the imperative to prepare students for an AI-driven world, but rather to ensure that assessment practices remain authentic—providing an accurate measure of what students can independently achieve before leveraging the augmentation potential of intelligent systems. This article contends that the incremental introduction of AI, mapped onto a scaffolded framework aligned with a revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, constitutes a methodologically sound approach for maintaining academic integrity, fostering transferable …

The Complex Interplay Between Intellectual Property And The Right To Science, Peter K. Yu

Faculty Scholarship

In April 2020, the U.N. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights released General Comment No. 25, which provides an authoritative interpretation of the right to science—a right that has hitherto not received much attention. In light of this publication and the recent celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this article examines the complex interplay between intellectual property and the right to science, with a view toward the human rights challenges brought about by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the arrival of generative AI.

The article begins by documenting the historical evolution of the …

Digital Resurrection Of Thonis-Heracleion: Technological Advances In Underwater Archaeology And A Speculative Ai-Driven Reconstruction Methodology, James Hutson, Passent Chahine

Faculty Scholarship

This article synthesizes past archaeological research on the submerged Egyptian city of Thonis-Heracleion, critically reviewing excavations and technological interventions deployed since its rediscovery by Franck Goddio and the IEASM team. Situated approximately 10 meters beneath Aboukir Bay near Alexandria, the city represents a significant nexus of Greek and Egyptian cultural heritage, vividly documented in classical sources such as Herodotus and Strabo. Prior excavations have recovered temple complexes, colossal statues, ritual artifacts, and an extensive array of ancient shipwrecks, mapping only a fraction of the extensive site. These investigations utilized pioneering geophysical methods, including multibeam sonar, side-scan sonar, and photogrammetry, establishing …

Addressing Missingness In Serialized Bureaucratic Data: The Case Of Chinese Courts, Xiaohan Wu, Margaret Roberts, Rachel E. Stern, Benjamin L. Liebman, Amarnath Gupta, Luke Sanford

Faculty Scholarship

Courts around the world are putting their data online, making information about caseloads, parties, and decisions available to the public. Yet, this data is far from complete, and often only reflects a portion of courts’ dockets. We offer and validate a set of tools for leveraging serialized bureaucratic data from courts to estimate the proportion of cases available to the public and the time courts take to make decisions. Using data from more than 3,000 courts in China, our methods allow us to assess patterns of missingness in court data across provinces and cities by type of case and to …

The Past, Present, And Future Of Proxy Voting Choice, Dorothy S. Lund

Faculty Scholarship

This article provides an early attempt at understanding what voluntary pass-through voting could mean for the marketplace. I first provide an overview of my argument in my 2018 Journal of Corporation Law article and the events that followed. I then survey passthrough voting initiatives that have taken hold at three asset managers — BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street. I then conclude with some preliminary observations about how voting choice is likely to affect the proxy voting landscape and outline open questions.

Presidential Supremacy Over Administrative Agencies, Gary Gensler, Lev Menand

Faculty Scholarship

In the United States, the public has long benefited from the role played by administrative agencies with a degree of autonomy from the White House, each agency with distinct duties and authorities to implement the law as set out by Congress.

In its first hundred days, the second Trump administration has moved rapidly to centralise control over all administrative agencies, including so-called independent agencies, which have long operated at a greater remove from the White House than ‘executive’ agencies like the Department of State and the Department of Commerce. The administration is asserting an interpretation of the Constitution known as …

Burst Pressure Performance Of Multilayer Co-Extruded Polystyrene/Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Pipes, Negar Shaghaghi, Erik Steinmetz, João Maia

Faculty Scholarship

This study investigates advancements in multilayer co-extrusion of annular structures, focusing on the mechanical properties of a 129-layer polystyrene (PS)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) pipe with 50% PS as a skin layer for proof-of-concept validation. We explore the impact of angular rotation on burst pressure, layer structure, and failure mechanisms, emphasizing the potential of this technique for enhanced mechanical performance through biaxial orientation and the elimination of weld lines. Utilizing high aspect ratio (HAR) multipliers and angular rotation, our findings demonstrate improved layer structure and burst pressure performance at higher velocity ratios, which is the ratio of the linear component of angular …

Strongly Confined Bi2se3 Quantum Dots Via Pulsed Laser Ablation In Liquids, Gregory Guisbiers, Rajendra Subedi, Burningham Burningham, Francisco Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Qiaohui Zhou, Xin Lu

Faculty Scholarship

Bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) is a binary compound displaying a strong spin−orbit coupling, resulting in a narrow bulk bandgap material with a gapless metallic surface. By shrinking the size of Bi2Se3 within the strong confinement regime, its optoelectronic properties changed drastically. To achieve this goal, strongly confined Bi2Se3 quantum dots (QDs) were produced by pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL). The laser used for the synthesis was a nanosecond Nd/YAG laser emitting at 1064 nm and pulsing at ∼13 mJ/pulse. The irradiation of the bulk target was performed at 1 kHz in acetone and lasted 5 min. Finally, the Bi2Se3 QDs …

True-Bsg: A True Random Bit-Stream Generator For Fast And Efficient Stochastic Computing, Mehran Shoushtari Moghadam, M. Hassan Najafi

Faculty Scholarship

Stochastic computing (SC) leverages random bitstreams to perform arithmetic operations, offering ultra-lowcost, fault-tolerant, and highly parallelizable computations. The quality of these bit-streams is crucial for the accuracy and reliability of SC. This paper introduces TRUE-BSG, a novel true random bit-stream generator designed for fast and energyefficient SC. Unlike state-of-the-art (SoTA) pseudo-random and quasi-random bit-stream generators, TRUE-BSG utilizes a highquality true random number generator (TRNG), capable of producing random bits at a rate of 1 Gigabit per second. Our TRNG ensures high entropy and minimal correlation. TRUE-BSG shows comparable accuracy to software-based generators and better energy efficiency than SoTA bit-stream generators, …

Ams-Hd: Acute Mountain Sickness Detection With Hyperdimensional Computing, M. Hassan Najafi, Mehran Shoushtari Moghadam

Faculty Scholarship

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a potentially life-threatening condition that affects many individuals traveling to high altitudes. Early diagnosis is crucial, especially for travelers who may not have immediate access to medical resources. While traditional machine learning (ML) methods have been used to detect AMS using biomedical data (e.g., heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, respiration rate, blood pressure, and body temperature), hyperdimensional computing (HDC) has yet to be explored for this purpose using the few of biomedical data. Previous classification methods fall short of balancing accuracy with low hardware complexity, but HDC offers a promising solution. HDC provides a hardware-efficient …

Functionalizing Polyethersulfone Membranes: Using Nmr To Avoid Pitfalls When Using Uv-Induced Polymerization To 'Graft From' Surfaces, Priyanka Suresh, Megan M. Sibley, Amy C. Che, Christine E. Duval

Faculty Scholarship

For nearly 30 years, UV-induced free radical polymerization has been used to modify the surface chemistry of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes, films, and coatings. The initial mechanism for the grafting process was introduced in the 1990s and supported without direct evidence of covalent bond formation. Since then, claims of ‘grafting from’ membranes in the literature rely on similar evidence using a combination of gravimetry, attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, contact angle goniometry, water sorption, and/or water permeance. While these techniques provide evidence of the presence of a polymer coating, they do not provide direct evidence of covalent bond formation between the …

Effect Of Anesthesia And Diurnal Variation On Chronic Vagus Nerve Activity In Rats, Bhanu P. Kotamraju, Grant A. Mccallum, Dominique M. Durand

Faculty Scholarship

The vagus nerve, serving as a pivotal link between the brain and vital organs, regulates crucial physiological functions. It plays a central role in maintaining homeostasis within the body and must dynamically adapt to changing conditions such as anesthesia or sleep. While vagal tone, typically estimated indirectly from heart rate variability, has been extensively studied, direct measurement of vagal activity during sleep and anesthesia remains unreported to date. Recent technological advancements have facilitated the recording of vagus nerve activity in freely moving rodents using small, highly flexible carbon nanotube yarns. Consequently, it is now feasible to directly investigate vagal activity …

The Diverse Roles Of Complex Glycans In Synapse Development And Function, Peng Zhang

Faculty Scholarship

Protein glycosylation is a critical post-translational modification that mediates a myriad of biological functions, including neuronal development in the brain. Stages of neuronal development include neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axonal guidance, synapse formation, and activity-dependent synaptic remodeling and plasticity. Among these, synapse formation and plasticity are essential to establish and maintain neuronal circuits for proper brain function. Yet, the physiological role of glycans at synapses remains poorly understood. This is especially true for complex glycans, known for decades to be present on the cell surface or extracellular matrix, including the microenvironment around synapses. In this review, we highlight recent examples of …

Predicting Sorption Of Diverse Organic Compounds In Soil-Water Systems: Meta-Analysis, Machine Learning Modeling, And Global Soil Mapping, Jiachun Sun, Kai Zhang, Huichun Zhang

Faculty Scholarship

In recent decades, the environmental detection of various organic compounds (OCs) has highlighted the limitations of conventional soil-water sorption models, which simplify complex experimental conditions and often overlook OCs with polyfunctional and ionizable structures. To address these shortcomings, we compiled a comprehensive soil-water sorption dataset encompassing 20,945 data points for 419 OCs with various functional groups and 1037 different soils. Meta-analysis of the dataset revealed the trends of soil sorption associated with OC substructures, soil properties, and solution conditions. Machine learning models employing the XGBoost algorithm, in conjunction with MACCS fingerprints and experimental conditions, were developed to cover the entire …

The Rising Returns To R&D: Ideas Are Not Getting Harder To Find, Yoshiki Ando, James Bessen, Xiupeng Wang

Faculty Scholarship

R&D investment has grown robustly, yet aggregate productivity growth has stagnated. Is this because “ideas are getting harder to find”? This paper uses micro-data from the US Census Bureau to explore the relationship between R&D and productivity in the manufacturing sector from 1976 to 2018. We find that both the elasticity of output (TFP) with respect to R&D and the marginal returns to R&D have risen sharply. Exploring factors affecting returns, we conclude that R&D obsolescence rates must have risen. Using a novel estimation approach, we find consistent evidence of sharply rising technological rivalry. These findings suggest that R&D has …

Breaking New Ground: Division Directly In Memory, M. Hassan Najafi, Mehran Shoushtari Moghadam

Faculty Scholarship

In-memory computing (IMC) has emerged as a promising paradigm for overcoming the limitations of traditional von Neumann architectures by reducing data movement and enhancing computational efficiency. Despite significant advancements in this area, implementing complex arithmetic operations, such as division, directly within memory has remained an elusive challenge. This paper introduces a pioneering technique for performing division operations directly in memory, representing the first successful integration of such functionality into the IMC framework. Our approach leverages an innovative circuit based on an unconventional model of computing–stochastic computing (SC). Our technique extends the computational capabilities of IMC systems and paves the way …

The Built Environment And Adverse Cardiovascular Events In Us Veterans With Cardiovascular Disease, Skanda Moorthy, Zhuo Chen, Tong Zhang, Sai Rahul Ponnana, Santosh Kumar Sirasapalli, Kanimozhi Shivanantham, Haitham Khraishah, Jean Eudes Dazard, Sadeer G. Al-Kindi, Salil V. Deo, Sanjay Rajagopalan

Faculty Scholarship

Question: Can AI-extracted interpretable built environment features predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in a national veteran population? Findings: In this cohort study of 770,990 U.S. veterans, seven built environment features were significantly associated with an increased risk of MACE. Two features, old/dilapidated buildings and visible wire, were associated with a decreased risk. Greenery was only linked to increased risk in higher social deprivation index quartiles. Meaning: Built environment features can serve as predictors of MACE, highlighting the potential role of neighborhood characteristics in cardiovascular risk stratification beyond traditional factors. Importance: The relationship between built environment features and major adverse …

Role Of Fluid-Structure Interactions In Mechanosensation During Hovering Flapping Flight, Menglong Lei, Chengyu Li

Faculty Scholarship

Insect wings, known for their intricate structure and function, inherently deform during flapping motion. These deformations can be classified into chordwise cambering, spanwise bending, and root-to-tip twisting, arising from non-uniform venation distribution, aerodynamic loading, and wing inertia. Crucially, such deformations play a vital role in enhancing both aerodynamic performance and mechanosensory function. To investigate the complex interplay between wing structure, unsteady aerodynamics, and mechanosensation, we developed a fully coupled three-dimensional fluid-structure interaction (FSI) solver. This framework integrates an in-house Navier-Stokes equations solver for resolving the flow field with the open-source Vega FEM code to solve the solid structure dynamics. Our …

A Continuous-Heat-Flux Phase Change Model For Simulating Realistic Two-Phase Unsaturated Evaporation Processes, Thanh Hoang Phan, Cho Ning Huang, Chirag R. Kharangate

Faculty Scholarship

Accurately modeling liquid-vapor mass transfer rates is essential for optimizing cryogenic fluid management processes critical to advancing future space missions. This study introduces a continuous-heat-flux phase change model proposed to simulate conditions observed in realistic two-phase unsaturated evaporation phenomena. The mass transfer rate across the two-phase interface is calculated directly based on the local interfacial continuous heat flux on both liquid and vapor phases, effectively accounting for superheated, saturated, and subcooled liquid effects without requiring any empirical tuning parameters. Moreover, phase change occurs exclusively within interfacial cells, ensuring the sharp representation of deformed evaporating interfaces with high accuracy. The proposed …

Pv Backsheets Survey Protocol: A Framework For Geo-Spatial Field Surveys For Bulk Material Characterization And Reliability Analysis Applied Across 41 Pv Systems, Raymond J. Wieser, Zelin Li, Xuanji Yu, Laura S. Bruckman

Faculty Scholarship

As widespread adoption of photovoltaic (PV) technologies continues, understanding the lifetime of modules is paramount to the viability of the industry as an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional energy generation. Although power degradation can affect the total energy production of a module over its lifetime, module safety failures necessitate the removal of a module leading to a loss of not only the particular asset, but the earning potential of the device. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that the components that provide essential safety functions for PV module operate for their entire rated lifetime. PV backsheets provide necessary electrical insulation …

Building Layered Defenses To Reduce Illegal Gun Violence, Samuel Kan

Faculty Scholarship

This article examines a multifaceted approach to reducing illegal gun violence in the United States through the implementation of layered defense strategies. While acknowledging the constitutional protections afforded by the Second Amendment, the author argues that targeted legislative and community-based interventions can effectively reduce gun violence without infringing on lawful gun ownership rights. The analysis explores several key defensive measures, including extreme risk laws (risk protection orders), which allow for temporary firearm removal from individuals posing credible threats to themselves or others—a practice recently upheld by the Supreme Court in United States v. Rahimi. The article further examines the constitutional …

The Antitrust–Copyright Interface In The Age Of Generative Artificial Intelligence, Daryl Lim, Peter K. Yu

Faculty Scholarship

The U.S. government's antitrust actions against Big Tech have recently surged in response to the growing dominance of Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. In fall 2023, the Federal Trade Commission filed a controversial submission in response to the U.S. Copyright Office's request for comments on artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright. This submission hinted at the agency's eagerness to fully deploy its enforcement powers in the AI sector, including targeting AI developers that have used copyrighted works without authorization to train AI models.

This article examines the changing interface of antitrust and copyright law in the age of generative AI. …

The "Not Seen" Effect Of International Financial Centers: Innovation In The Global Financial Ecosystem, Charlotte Ku, Andrew P. Morriss

Faculty Scholarship

International Financial Centers (IFCs) are hubs of legal and financial innovation, developing specialized frameworks that facilitate cross-border investment, enhance global capital mobility, and support economic growth. Through jurisdictional competition, professional clustering, and adaptive regulatory frameworks, IFCs have pioneered legal structures that enable enterprises of all sizes to participate in the global economy. Using case studies of the International Business Company, the Limited Liability Company, the Protected Cell Company, and advances in trust law and applying the theoretical frameworks of social scientist Richard Florida and psychologist Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, this Article illustrates how IFCs serve as laboratories for financial experimentation, generating widely …