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The Torch: Suffolk University College Of Arts & Sciences Honors Program Newsletter, No. 9, Summer 2020, College Of Arts & Sciences Honors Program

Torch Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Torch: Suffolk University College Of Arts & Sciences Honors Program Newsletter, No. 8, Winter 2020, College Of Arts & Sciences Honors Program

Torch Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Reanalyses Of Intercorrelational Matrices Of Visual And Verbal Learners' Abilities, Cognitive Styles, And Learning Preferences, Jeanette Marie Fox

Doctoral Dissertations

In psychology and education, the visual-verbal conceptual distinction is a widely studied bipolar contrast, and this distinction has been the subject of much debate. There are two main issues: One is a construct-validity issue related to the extent that scores from a test measuring the visual- and verbal-conceptual distinction accurately reflect the construct being measured, and the second one is an issue related to the use of different data analysis methods that collect and analyze the data from the visual and verbal measurements. To help resolve these issues, this study examined 21 individual intercorrelation matrices that were illustrative of the …

Assessing Threats And Mitigation For Scarlet Ammannia (Ammannia Robusta) In Southwestern Ontario, Kayla Salive

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Scarlet Ammannia (Ammannia robusta) is an annual emergent wetland plant of the Lythraceae family. Throughout most of its distribution, the species population is stable under present conditions. However, this is not the case in Canada, where A. robusta is considered endangered with only a few small populations documented in British Columbia and Ontario. In response, a recovery strategy was created for A. robusta outlining the lack of information on the species biology and ecology, with a primary objective to assess the populations in Ontario and gain information on what may be contributing to the species rarity. To assess …

Reconstructing Hydrologic Conditions And Metals Supplied By The Peace River To The Peace-Athabasca Delta, Jelle André Faber

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) in northern Alberta, Canada, is recognized internationally for its ecological, historical, and cultural significance. The delta is mostly within Wood Buffalo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The construction of the WAC Bennett Dam (1967) and the Site C Dam (ongoing, 2024) on the Peace River, and expansion of the Alberta Oil Sands industry along the Athabasca River have raised concerns over water quantity and quality in the delta. When industry operations began, effective monitoring had not been implemented. Consequently, pre-industrial reference conditions are unknown and can …

Environmental Goal Misalignment Between Logistics Service Providers And Shippers, S.M. Mehdi Jourabchi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The ongoing debate about who, ultimately, should pay for greening the transportation industry has exposed a gap (i.e. misalignment) between logistics companies and their clients (shippers). This thesis examines this gap in detail.

Study 1 utilizes conceptual theory building to discuss the conditions under which closer environmental collaboration between logistics service provider (LSP) and shipper can be realized within the supply chain. Our theoretical framework discusses the misalignment of LSPs’ and shippers’ incentives regarding green initiatives. Our conceptual framework aims to address the general dependency of LSPs on shippers and to assess whether and when it can be converted …

Performance Investigation Of Peak Shrinking And Interpolating The Papr Reduction Technique For Lte-Advance And 5g Signals, Somayeh Mohammady, Ronan Farrell, David Malone, John Dooley

Articles

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) has become an indispensable part of waveform generation in wideband digital communication since its first appearance in digital audio broadcasting (DAB) in Europe in 1980s, and it is indeed in use. As has been seen, the OFDM based waveforms work well with time division duplex operation in new radio (NR) systems in 5G systems, supporting delay-sensitive applications, high spectral efficiency, massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) compatibility, and ever-larger bandwidth signals, which has demonstrated successful commercial implementation for 5G downlinks and uplinks up to 256-QAM modulation schemes. However, the OFDM waveforms suffer from high peak …

Maintaining A High Degree Of Research Productivity At A Pui As Your Career Advances, George C. Shields, Scott E. Feller

Chemistry Publications

In this perspective, two experienced academic administrators who are computational chemists discuss strategies for how to maintain an active research program at a pre- dominately undergraduate institution as your career progresses. More responsibility equates to less time for research, so planning for research to remain a priority is essential. We all have the same amount of time, so figuring out how to use yours bet- ter is the key to remaining active. Professional organizations such as Council on Undergraduate Research, consortia of computational chemists such as Molecular Education and Research Consortium in computational chemistRY and Midwest Undergraduate Computational Chemistry Consortium, …

Water-Mediated Peptide Bond Formation In The Gas Phase: A Model Prebiotic Reaction, George C. Shields, Ariel Gale, Tuguldur T. Odbadrakh, Tyler Ball

Chemistry Publications

The emergence of life on the prebiotic Earth must have involved the formation of polypeptides, yet the polymerization of amino acids is thermodynamically unfavorable under biologically relevant aqueous conditions because amino acids are zwitterions in solution and because of the production of a water molecule through a condensation reaction. Many mechanisms for overcoming this thermodynamic unfavorability have been proposed, but the role of gas phase water clusters has not been investigated. We present the thermodynamics of the water-mediated gas phase dimerization reaction of glycine as a model for the atmospheric polymerization of amino acids prior to the emergence of biological …

A Proposed Mechanism To Induce Multi-Layer Polydiacetylene-Coated Filter Color Response To Bacteria , Timothy Hanks

Chemistry Publications

The purpose of this study was to develop a multi-layer diacetylene (PDA)-coated filter and to verify the proposed color response mechanism of PDA-coated filters to bacteria. Unlike other reports which immobilize PDA lipo- somes on solid support or create monolayer Langmuir films, multi-layer PDA-coated filters were generated by directly evaporating organic solvents. Different from incorporating functional headgroups or inserting phospho- lipids into PDA, we reported that bacterial growth can trigger the color change of PDA sensors without any mod- ification or phospholipid insertion. The mechanism that pH change from bacteria metabolites lead to color change of PDA filter was proposed …

Particle Formation And Surface Processes On Atmospheric Aerosols: A Review Of Applied Quantum Chemical Calculations, George C. Shields, Ariel Gale, Tyler Ball, Tuguldur T. Odbadrakh, Angelini Leonardi, Heather M. Ricker, Juan G. Navea

Chemistry Publications

Aerosols significantly influence atmospheric processes such as cloud nucleation, het- erogeneous chemistry, and heavy-metal transport in the troposphere. The chemical and physical complexity of atmospheric aerosols results in large uncertainties in their climate and health effects. In this article, we review recent advances in scientific understanding of aerosol processes achieved by the application of quantum chemical calculations. In particular, we emphasize recent work in two areas: new particle for- mation and heterogeneous processes. Details in quantum chemical methods are pro- vided, elaborating on computational models for prenucleation, secondary organic aerosol formation, and aerosol interface phenomena. Modeling of relative humidity effects, …

Applications Of Artificial Intelligence To Cryptography, Jonathan Blackledge, Napo Mosola

Articles

This paper considers some recent advances in the field of Cryptography using Artificial Intelligence (AI). It specifically considers the applications of Machine Learning (ML) and Evolutionary Computing (EC) to analyze and encrypt data. A short overview is given on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and the principles of Deep Learning using Deep ANNs. In this context, the paper considers: (i) the implementation of EC and ANNs for generating unique and unclonable ciphers; (ii) ML strategies for detecting the genuine randomness (or otherwise) of finite binary strings for applications in Cryptanalysis. The aim of the paper is to provide an overview on …

Impact Assessment Of High-Power Domestic Ev Charging Proliferation Of A Distribution Network, Arsalan Zaidi, Keith Sunderland, Michael Conlon

Articles

Transport electrification is becoming the mainstream as a means to improve efficiency, performance, andsustainability of transportation systems. Electrical vehicles (EVs) can help to de-carbonise the environment, but a downside isthe technical issues presented to the low-voltage distribution network. To quantify the stochastic nature of transport-affectedelectrification, probabilistic load flow is employed. Monte Carlo-based simulation is applied to accommodate the probabilisticuncertainties associated with variable EV charging patterns. This study considers high-power charging (up to 11 kW) at thedomestic level while monitoring power quality variations (voltage drop, voltage unbalance factor, voltage sag) standards. Thiswork focuses on the Irish and UK, distribution system operator's–transmission …

A Conceptual Model To Explain Dark Matter And Dark Energy, Jonathan Blackledge

Articles

t This paper considers a conceptual model that attempts to explain ‘Dark Matter’ and ‘Dark Energy’. The model is based on considering a gravitational field to be the result of a mass (a Higgs field) scattering pre-existing cosmic background space-time waves or ‘Uber-waves’. The term ‘Uber’ is used to denote an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of gravitational wave with cosmic-scale wavelengths that are far in excess of those associated with the gravitational waves generated by accelerating masses. Such waves are taken to be the very lowest frequency components associated with the spectrum of space-time waves generated …

Anti-Resonance, Inhibited Coupling And Mode Transitionin Depressed Core Fibers, Xiaokang Lian, Gerald Farrell, Qiang Wu, Wei Han, Changyu Shen, Youqiao Ma, Yuliya Semenova

Articles

The depressed core fiber (DCF), consisting of a low-index solid core, a high-index cladding and air surrounding, is in effect a bridge between the conventional step-index fiber and the tube-type hollow-core fiber from the point of view of the index profile. In this paper the dispersion diagram of a DCF is obtained by solving the full-vector eigenvalue equations and analyzed using the theory of anti-resonant and the inhibited coupling mechanisms. While light propagation in tube-type hollow-core fibers is commonly described by the symmetric planar waveguide model, here we propose an asymmetric planar waveguide for the DCFs in an anti-resonant reflecting …

Spectral Dependence Of Transmission Losses In High-Index Polymer Coated No-Core Fibers, Xiaokang Lian, Gerald Farrell, Qiang Wu, Wei Han, Changyu Shen, Youqiao Ma, Yuliya Semenova

Articles

A high-index polymer coated no-core fiber (PC-NCF) is effectively a depressed core fiber, where the light is guided by the anti-resonant, inhibited coupling and total internal reflection effects and the dispersion diagram shows periodic resonant and anti-resonant bands. In this paper, the transmission spectra of the straight and bent PC-NCFs (length > 5 cm) are measured and analyzed from a modal dispersion perspective. For the purpose of the study, the PC-NCFs are contained within a fiber hetero-structure using two single-mode fiber (SMF) pigtails forming a SMF-PC-NCF-SMF structure. The anti-resonance spectral characteristics are suppressed by the multimode interference in the PC-NCF with …

Indirect Sliding Mode Control For Dc-Dc Sepic Converters, Hasan Komurcugil, Samet Biricik, Naki Guler

Articles

This article presents an indirect sliding mode control (SMC) for single-ended primary-inductor converters (SEPIC). Unlike the conventional SMC methods, the proposed SMC method employs a sliding surface function based on the input current error only. The use of such sliding surface function not only simplifies the implementation but also reduces the cost of implementation. It is shown that the output voltage control can be achieved indirectly. The input current reference is generated by a proportional-integral (PI) regulator. The existence condition and the region of the closed-loop system are determined for all possibilities of the PI gains. The performance of the …

Stabilization Dynamics Of The Ozone Molecular System, Sangeeta Sur

Doctoral Dissertations

"The observation of larger-than-expected concentrations of heavier isotopologues of ozone known as 'ozone isotopic anomaly' in the stratosphere is a mass-independent effect (in contrast to most kinetic isotope effects familiar to chemists) that is traced back to the recombination process in the formation of ozone in the Chapman cycle. Understanding the relative efficiencies (often approximated as equal for different isotopologues) of the stabilization step (some of the details of which are still a mystery) which involves energy transfer from a highly excited ozone molecule to a third body, M (argon atom in this case) to form stable ozone is a …

Seismological Investigations Of Lithospheric Structure Beneath The East African Rift System And The Kalahari Craton, Tuo Wang

Doctoral Dissertations

"In spite of numerous geophysical studies have been conducted in East African Rift System and Southern Africa, the structure and evolution of the crust and upper mantle are still controversial. In this study, we applied multiple seismological techniques to investigate the structure in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the East African Rift System and Kalahari Craton in southern Africa. First, the technique of ambient noise tomography was applied to image shear wave velocity model from surface to the depth of 40 km beneath the Malawi and Luangwa rift zones. For the first time, a high-resolution 3-D shear wave velocity …

System Efficient Esd Design Concept For Soft Failures, Giorgi Maghlakelidze

Doctoral Dissertations

"This research covers the topic of developing a systematic methodology of studying electrostatic discharge (ESD)-induced soft failures. ESD-induced soft failures (SF) are non-destructive disruptions of the functionality of an electronic system. The soft failure robustness of a USB3 Gen 1 interface is investigated, modeled, and improved. The injection is performed directly using transmission line pulser (TLP) with varying: pulse width, amplitude, polarity. Characterization provides data for failure thresholds and a SPICE circuit model that describes the transient voltage and current at the victim. Using the injected current, the likelihood of a SF is predicted. ESD protection by transient voltage suppressor …

Preoperative Exercise To Improve Fitness In Patients Undergoing Complex Surgery For Cancer Of The Lung Or Oesophagus (Pre-Hiit): Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Grainne Sheill, Emer Guinan, Linda O'Neill, Charles Normand, Suzanne Doyle, Sarah Moore, John Newell, Granne Mcdermott, Ronan Ryan, John V. Reynolds, Juliette Hussey

Articles

Patients with cancer of the lung or oesophagus, undergoing curative treatment, usually require a thoracotomy and a complex oncological resection. These surgeries carry a risk of major morbidity and mortality, and risk assessment, preoperative optimisation, and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways are modern approaches to optimise outcomes. Pre-operative fitness is an established predictor of postoperative outcome, accordingly, targeting pre-operative fitness through exercise prehabilitation has logical appeal. Exercise prehabilitation is challenging to implement however due to the short opportunity for intervention between diagnosis and surgery. Therefore, individually prescribed, intensive exercise training protocols which convey clinically meaningful improvements in cardiopulmonary fitness …

Twenty Years Of Exceptional Success: The MOlecular EDucation And REsearch COnsortium In UNdergraduate Computational ChemistRy (Mercury)” , George C. Shields

Chemistry Publications

The molecular education and research consortium in undergraduate computational chemistry (MERCURY) consortium, established in 2000, has contributed greatly to the scientific development of faculty and undergraduates. The MERCURY faculty peer-reviewed publication rate from 2001 to 2019 of 1.7 papers/faculty/year is 3.4 times the rate of the physical science faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions. We have worked with over 1000 students on research projects since 2001, and 75% of our undergraduate research students have been under-represented in chemistry, either female or students of color. Approximately half of our alumni attend graduate school for the purpose of obtaining advanced degrees in STEM …

Visualizing The Mean And The Standard Deviation Using R/Rstudio Shiny Package, Rachel Hufnagel, Ziyi Chen, Mamunur Rashid, Jyotirmoy Sarkar

Student Research

Many of us have experienced an unpleasant situation in which only the mean and the standard deviation of a data set are reported, but we are expected to know everything about the dataset as if those two values were all we needed to know. We would learn so much more if there were easy ways to create and share graphical representations and interpretations of the entire raw data. In this paper, we not only explain what the mean and the standard deviation tell us about a data set, but also describe how to include additional information on the data. We …

Diclofenac Determination Using Ceo2 Nanoparticle Modified Screen-Printed Electrodes:A Study Of Background Correction, Rafaela C. De Carvalho, Tony Betts, John Cassidy

Articles

The detection of low levels of drugs including Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in natural waters and wastewaters is becoming increasingly important. Electrochemical methods offer an attractive means of detection, as they overcome many disadvantages associated with the currently available analytical methods. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesised and then incorporated onto the working electrodes of commercial graphite-based Screen Printed Carbon Electrodes (SPCE) then used to determine diclofenac levels. Following initial Cyclic Voltammetry studies, Square Wave Voltammetry (SWV) investigations were conducted over a range of conditions to optimise the peak potential separation and sensitivity of the method. The use of background correction …

Silicon Microcantilever Sensors To Detect The Reversible Conformational Change Of A Molecular Switch, Spiropyan, Catherine M. Grogan, George Amarandei, Shauna Lawless, Francis Pedreschi, Fiona Lyng, Fernando Benito-Lopez, Roberto Raiteri, Laisa Florea

Articles

The high sensitivity of silicon microcantilever sensors has expanded their use in areas ranging from gas sensing to bio-medical applications. Photochromic molecules also represent promising candidates for a large variety of sensing applications. In this work, the operating principles of these two sensing methods are combined in order to detect the reversible conformational change of a molecular switch, spiropyran. Thus, arrays of silicon microcantilever sensors were functionalized with spiropyran on the gold covered side and used as test microcantilevers. The microcantilever deflection response was observed, in five sequential cycles, as the transition from the spiropyran (SP) (CLOSED) to the merocyanine …

Polyvinyl Alcohol Cryogel Based Vessel Mimicking Material For Modelling The Progression Of Atherosclerosis, Andrew Malone, Sean Cournane, Izabela Naydenova, Andrew J. Fagan, Jacinta Browne

Articles

Purpose

The stiffness of Polyvinyl-alcohol cryogel can be adjusted through application of consecutive freeze-thaw cycles. This material has potential applications in the production of tissue mimicking phantoms in diagnostic ultrasound. The aim of this study was to use PVA-c to produce a range of geometrically and acoustically identical vessel phantoms modelling stages of atherosclerosis which could be verified through mechanical testing, thus allowing for more precision in quantitative in-vitro flow analysis of atherosclerosis.

Methods

A series of anatomically realistic walled renal artery flow phantoms were constructed using PVA-c. In order to ensure precise modelling of atherosclerosis, a modified procedure of …

Smartphone Use As A Possible Risk Factor For Myopia, Saoirse Mccrann, James Loughman, John Butler, Nabin Paudel, Daniel Ian Flitcroft

Articles

Clinical Relevance

This study demonstrates an association between myopia and smartphone data usage. Youths now spend more time participating in near tasks as a result of smartphone usage. This poses an additional risk factor for myopia development/progression and is an important research question in relation to potential myopia management strategies.

Background

Children are now exposed to another possible environmental risk factor for myopia-smartphones. This study investigates the amount of time students spend on their smartphones and their pattern of smartphone usage from a myopia perspective.

Methods

Primary, secondary and third-level students completed a questionnaire exploring patterns of smartphone usage and …

Towards A Rapid Screening Of Liver Grafts At The Operating Room Using Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy, David Perezguaita, Marta Moreno Torres, Ramiro Jover, Eugenia Pareja, Bernard Lendl, Julia Kuligowsky, Guillermo Quintas

Articles

The estimation of steatosis in a liver graft is mandatory prior to liver transplantation, as the risk of graft failure increases with the level of infiltrated fat. However, the assessment of liver steatosis before transplantation is typically based on a qualitative or semiquantitative characterization by visual inspection and palpation and histological analysis. Thus, there is an unmet need for transplantation surgeons to have access to a diagnostic tool enabling an in situ fast classification of grafts prior to extraction. In this study, we have assessed an attenuated total reflection−Fourier transform infrared (ATR−FTIR) spectroscopic method compatible with the requirements of an …

A Vibrational Spectroscopic Based Approach For Diagnosing Babesia Bovis Infection, Anja Ruther, David Perezguaita, William Poole, Brian Cooke, Carlos Suarez, Philip Heraud, Bayden Wood

Articles

Babesia bovis parasites present a serious and significant health concern for the beef and dairy industries in many parts of the world. Difficulties associated with the current diagnostic techniques include they are prone to human error (microscopy) or expensive and time consuming (Polymerase Chain Reaction) to perform. Little is known about the biochemical changes in blood that are associated with Babesia infections. The discovery of new biomarkers will lead to improved diagnostic outcomes for the cattle industry. Vibrational spectroscopic technologies can record a chemical snapshot of the entire organism and the surrounding cell thereby providing a phenotype of the organism …

Empirical Study On The Effects Of Acquisition Parameters For Ftir Hyperspectral Imaging Of Brain Tissue, David Perezguaita, Julia Sacharz, Mustafa Kasniz, Shaiju Nazeer, Bayden Wood, Philip Heraud

Articles

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic imaging is a powerful technique for molecular imaging of pathologies associated with the nervous systems including multiple sclerosis research. However, there is no standard methodology or standardized protocol for FTIR imaging of tissue sections that maximize the ability to discriminate between the molecular, white and granular layers, which is essential in the investigation of the mechanism of demyelination process. Tissue sections are heterogeneous, complex and delicate, hence the parameters to generate high quality images in minimal time becomes essential in the modern clinical laboratory. This article presents an FTIR spectroscopic imaging study of post-mortem human …