Digital Commons Network^™

Fully Dried Two-Dimensional Paper Network For Enzymatically Enhanced Detection Of Nucleic Acid Amplicons, Kristin M. Byers, Anna R. Bird, Hyundae D. Cho, Jacqueline C. Linnes

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Two-dimensional paper networks (2DPNs) have enabled the use of paper-based platforms to perform multistep immunoassays for detection of pathogenic diseases at the point-of-care. To date, however, detection has required the user to provide multiple signal enhancement solutions and been limited to protein targets. We solve these challenges by using mathematical equations to guide the device design of a novel 2DPN, which leverages multiple fluidic inputs to apply fully dried solutions of hydrogen peroxide, diaminobenzidine, and horseradish peroxidase signal enhancement reagents to enhance the limit-ofdetection of numerous nucleic acid products. Upon rehydration in our unique 2DPN design, the dried signal enhancement …

Biomechanical Models Of Cough Sounds In Pneumonia: Mechanisms Underlying Sound-Based Diagnosis In Low-Resource Settings, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Working Papers

Objective. This paper describes a theoretical study of physical mechanisms underlying the generation of cough sounds and the expected differences in such sounds caused by anatomically localized pneumonia. Methods. A fresh, first-principles, physics-based analysis is done, describing radial motion of bronchi after sudden decompression of intrathoracic pressure during the early and middle phases of a cough. The mechanical model of each bronchus is a spring-mass-damper system, in which the spring force comes from elastic properties of the bronchial wall, the mass term comes from the bronchial wall and any surrounding fluid or pus in pneumonia, and the damping term comes …

Internet Of Things For Environmental Sustainability And Climate Change, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

Our world is vulnerable to climate change risks such as glacier retreat, rising temperatures, more variable and intense weather events (e.g., floods, droughts, and frosts), deteriorating mountain ecosystems, soil degradation, and increasing water scarcity. However, there are big gaps in our understanding of changes in regional climate and how these changes will impact human and natural systems, making it difficult to anticipate, plan, and adapt to the coming changes. The IoT paradigm in this area can enhance our understanding of regional climate by using technology solutions, while providing the dynamic climate elements based on integrated environmental sensing and communications that …

Internet Of Things For Sustainable Community Development: Introduction And Overview, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

The two-third of the city-dwelling world population by 2050 poses numerous global challenges in the infrastructure and natural resource management domains (e.g., water and food scarcity, increasing global temperatures, and energy issues). The IoT with integrated sensing and communication capabilities has the strong potential for the robust, sustainable, and informed resource management in the urban and rural communities. In this chapter, the vital concepts of sustainable community development are discussed. The IoT and sustainability interactions are explained with emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and communication technologies. Moreover, IoT opportunities and challenges are discussed in the context of sustainable community …

Internet Of Things In Agricultural Innovation And Security, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

The agricultural Internet of Things (Ag-IoT) paradigm has tremendous potential in transparent integration of underground soil sensing, farm machinery, and sensor-guided irrigation systems with the complex social network of growers, agronomists, crop consultants, and advisors. The aim of the IoT in agricultural innovation and security chapter is to present agricultural IoT research and paradigm to promote sustainable production of safe, healthy, and profitable crop and animal agricultural products. This chapter covers the IoT platform to test optimized management strategies, engage farmer and industry groups, and investigate new and traditional technology drivers that will enhance resilience of the farmers to the …

Internet Of Things For Sustainable Human Health, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

The sustainable health IoT has the strong potential to bring tremendous improvements in human health and well-being through sensing, and monitoring of health impacts across the whole spectrum of climate change. The sustainable health IoT enables development of a systems approach in the area of human health and ecosystem. It allows integration of broader health sub-areas in a bigger archetype for improving sustainability in health in the realm of social, economic, and environmental sectors. This integration provides a powerful health IoT framework for sustainable health and community goals in the wake of changing climate. In this chapter, a detailed description …

Internet Of Things For Sustainable Forestry, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

Forests and grasslands play an important role in water and air purification, prevention of the soil erosion, and in provision of habitat to wildlife. Internet of Things has a tremendous potential to play a vital role in the forest ecosystem management and stability. The conservation of species and habitats, timber production, prevention of forest soil degradation, forest fire prediction, mitigation, and control can be attained through forest management using Internet of Things. The use and adoption of IoT in forest ecosystem management is challenging due to many factors. Vast geographical areas and limited resources in terms of budget and equipment …

Internet Of Things For Water Sustainability, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

The water is a finite resource. The issue of sustainable withdrawal of freshwater is a vital concern being faced by the community. There is a strong connection between the energy, food, and water which is referred to as water-food-energy nexus. The agriculture industry and municipalities are struggling to meet the demand of water supply. This situation is particularly exacerbated in the developing countries. The projected increase in world population requires more fresh water resources. New technologies are being developed to reduce water usage in the field of agriculture (e.g., sensor guided autonomous irrigation management systems). Agricultural water withdrawal is also …

Internet Of Things For Sustainable Mining, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

The sustainable mining Internet of Things deals with the applications of IoT technology to the coupled needs of sustainable recovery of metals and a healthy environment for a thriving planet. In this chapter, the IoT architecture and technology is presented to support development of a digital mining platform emphasizing the exploration of rock–fluid–environment interactions to develop extraction methods with maximum economic benefit, while maintaining and preserving both water quantity and quality, soil, and, ultimately, human health. New perspectives are provided for IoT applications in developing new mineral resources, improved management of tailings, monitoring and mitigating contamination from mining. Moreover, tools …

Internet Of Things In Sustainable Energy Systems, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

Our planet has abundant renewable and conventional energy resources but technological capability and capacity gaps coupled with water-energy needs limit the benefits of these resources to citizens. Through IoT technology solutions and state-of-the-art IoT sensing and communications approaches, the sustainable energy-related research and innovation can bring a revolution in this area. Moreover, by the leveraging current infrastructure, including renewable energy technologies, microgrids, and power-to-gas (P2G) hydrogen systems, the Internet of Things in sustainable energy systems can address challenges in energy security to the community, with a minimal trade-off to environment and culture. In this chapter, the IoT in sustainable energy …

Internet Of Things In Water Management And Treatment, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

The goal of the water security IoT chapter is to present a comprehensive and integrated IoT based approach to environmental quality and monitoring by generating new knowledge and innovative approaches that focus on sustainable resource management. Mainly, this chapter focuses on IoT applications in wastewater and stormwater, and the human and environmental consequences of water contaminants and their treatment. The IoT applications using sensors for sewer and stormwater monitoring across networked landscapes, water quality assessment, treatment, and sustainable management are introduced. The studies of rate limitations in biophysical and geochemical processes that support the ecosystem services related to water quality …

Internet Of Things For Sustainability: Perspectives In Privacy, Cybersecurity, And Future Trends, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

In the sustainability IoT, the cybersecurity risks to things, sensors, and monitoring systems are distinct from the conventional networking systems in many aspects. The interaction of sustainability IoT with the physical world phenomena (e.g., weather, climate, water, and oceans) is mostly not found in the modern information technology systems. Accordingly, actuation, the ability of these devices to make changes in real world based on sensing and monitoring, requires special consideration in terms of privacy and security. Moreover, the energy efficiency, safety, power, performance requirements of these device distinguish them from conventional computers systems. In this chapter, the cybersecurity approaches towards …

Using Qualitative Methods To Supplement Quantitative Research: A Case Study In Evaluating Student Usage Of Facilities, Thom Gerrish, Matthew M. Benzing, Susan Hurst

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Quantitative research is an important tool in understanding library users; quantifiable data is objective and can be processed and analyzed in ways that bring about new insights. Unfortunately, it is better at telling us where and when than it is at telling us the whys. Our library, the Business, Engineering, Science, and Technology library at Miami University, did a headcount study to see how many people were using which rooms at what times of the day and night. There were many things we learned from that data, but in order to flesh it out and make it more of a …

Ultraviolet (Uv) B Effects On Growth And Yield Of Three Contrasting Sweet Potato Cultivars, Z. Chen, W. Gao, K.R. Reddy, M. Chen, S. Taduri, Stephen L. Meyers, M.W. Shankle

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Faculty Publications

Ground-level UV-B will stay at a high level in the next several decades and influence sweet potato growth and yield because of the remaining chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. The study explored three UV-B (none, ambient, and elevated/projected) levels on three contrasting sweet potato cultivars (Beauregard, Hatteras, and Louisiana 1188) using sunlit plant growth chambers at Mississippi State University. The results showed that UV-B influenced three cultivars differently. Growth, photosynthetic rate, epidermal and leaf structure of Beauregard were negatively influenced under ambient and elevated UV-B. On the contrary, Hatteras was positively influenced, and Louisiana 1188 was influenced by elevated UV-B positively …

The Tera Multi Terrain Mobility Aid Chassis, Colton Kemp, Daniel Nicoll, Ibrahim Suleiman, Mohammad Alyami

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The natural environment poses a significant number of obstacles and dynamic settings that makes mobility difficult for those with physical and mobility impairments. To approach this problem, a suspension was designed using inspiration from the early Mars rovers developed by NASA for traversing the varied Martian landscape. The course of the project followed the direction of a start-up through problem identification, early design generation and review, and final design production. The project outcome, through client request and proven market research, aimed to produce a multi-terrain wheelchair. The final product is a kinematic body with mobile front “legs” and a rotational …

Investigating The Morphology Of Iprgcs In Control Vs. Glaucomatous Retinas, Samantha Cook

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Glaucoma is a build-up of pressure in the eye that leads to the gradual loss of sight. The intention of this study was to investigate how glaucoma affects intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells (ipRGCs). These cells contain melanopsin, a photopigment, that enables the cells to react to light. Four-month-old control and five-month-old glaucoma mice retinas were dissected, stained using primary and secondary antibodies, then traced using ImageJ’s Simple Neurite Tracer. There were no significant differences in soma size, total dendritic length, dendritic field size, and dendritic field diameter between control and glaucoma ipRGCs. However, further research is needed to provide …

Catgame: A Tool For Problem Solving In Complex Dynamic Systems Using Game Theoretic Knowledge Distribution In Cultural Algorithms, And Its Application (Catneuro) To The Deep Learning Of Game Controller, Faisal Waris

Wayne State University Dissertations

Cultural Algorithms (CA) are knowledge-intensive, population-based stochastic optimization methods that are modeled after human cultures and are suited to solving problems in complex environments. The CA Belief Space stores knowledge harvested from prior generations and re-distributes it to future generations via a knowledge distribution (KD) mechanism. Each of the population individuals is then guided through the search space via the associated knowledge. Previously, CA implementations have used only competitive KD mechanisms that have performed well for problems embedded in static environments. Relatively recently, CA research has evolved to encompass dynamic problem environments. Given increasing environmental complexity, a natural question arises …

Improving Predictive Modeling Via Effective Feature Selection And Representation Learning, Xiangrui Li

Wayne State University Dissertations

Predictive modeling (a.k.a. supervised learning) is a machine learning paradigm that has enormous important applications for real-world problems. With the recent surge of data in volume and complexity, effectively capturing the information in input features that is relevant to targets is critical to the success of predictive modeling. Tackling this challenge requires different techniques depending on the specific applications. In this thesis, we develop several methods to improve the performance of predictive models.

Specifically, in the case of small $n$, large $p$ problem, we propose two sparsity-inducing regularization methods for multi-class logistic regression and finite mixture of linear regression, respectively. …

An Exploration Of Strategic Alignment In Higher Education, Linda Jimenez

Wayne State University Dissertations

The aim of this study is to explore the faculty’s experience and perspective of the alignment between their research, teaching, and service to the institutional priorities. Presently, higher education faces institutional issues that are unique with varying contexts and where strategic alignment has a vital influence on organizational performance. Although faculty’s core activities are service, teaching, and research, the enduring and prevailing challenges in higher education require faculty to expand their roles of core activities and engage in broader strategic initiatives of institutions. The need for this study is driven by a shortage of evidence about whether and how faculty …

Advancing Objectives-Oriented Evaluation With Participatory Evaluation Methodology – A Mixed Methods Study, Dustin R. Saalman

Wayne State University Dissertations

The ability to complete program evaluations of educational programming is typically restricted by the availability of resources, such as time, money and a trained evaluator. A mixed methods study was completed to explore the use of a participatory evaluation program evaluation with the use of the program objectives as an advanced organizer. Participatory evaluation is purported to increase organizational learning and promote evaluative thinking within an organization (Cousins & Whitmore, 1998). Objectives oriented evaluation is an easily understood evaluation method which provides a refined focus program outcome (Madaus & Stufflebeam, 1989). An explanatory sequential design was employed utilizing quantitative findings …

Why They Care: An Exploration Of Adjunct Faculty Loyalty, Sara Elizabeth Barnwell

Wayne State University Dissertations

Higher education is always evolving and striving to be more effective and efficient. Over time, the use of part-time or adjunct faculty members has increased in an effort to achieve that goal. In this dissertation, the concept of adjunct faculty loyalty is explored using Intuitive Empathic Exploration which is a newly constructed qualitative methodology. Intuitive Empathic Exploration was created for this research study with the hope that it can be used in future research. It draws primarily from the concepts of phenomenology, empathy, intuitive inquiry, and in-depth interviewing. The focus of the research is to consider how adjunct faculty members …

Addressing The Issue Of Missing Heritability: The Importance Of Apoptosis In Hereditary Breast And Ovarian Cancer And Functional Assessment Of Tp53i3-S252*, Sophia Chaudhry

Wayne State University Dissertations

A quarter of all cases of ovarian cancer (OVCA) cases are due to inherited factors. However, much of the genetic risk remains unknown. We have previously established the importance of whole exome sequencing to answer the question for missing heritability. We identified clinically actionable and novel risk loci in the DNA repair and cell cycle regulation pathways by assessing a cohort of women diagnosed with OVCA, wildtype for BRCA1/BRCA2 and suspected to be hereditary due to family history of breast cancer/OVCA. Equally as important was the exploration and discovery of novel risk loci in the apoptosis pathway. A total of …

Empathy Through Inquiry: The Weaving Of (Post) Qualitative Inquiry Into Design, Preston Tyler Kelly

Wayne State University Dissertations

Learning design is moving toward more human-centered design methodologies. One key component of human-centered design is empathy. To have empathy, designers must understand their learners as people and “how they show up as learners” within our learning experiences. To do this, designers need to do learner research. One way to do this inquiry work might be to take up post qualitative inquiry because so many of the key tenets of design thinking and post qualitative methodologies are similar.

Through interviews within a post qualitative framework, this project looks at how designers go about this design research to understand their learners. …

Faculty Experiences Of Using Student Response System In Saudi Arabian Universities, Abdulsalam Alkhabra

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the state of SRS use among faculty members in Saudi universities. Specifically, the study investigated factors that influence faculty members to accept or reject the use of SRS by utilizing the theoretical framework of UTAUT. Furthermore, the study examined faculty members’ experience dealing with SRS in teaching in relation to Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction. The survey was administered to 306 faculty members affiliated with Saudi Arabian universities. The study showed that 74.2% of participants did not report SRS use while 25.8% of participants reported using SRS in their teaching. Effort Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions …

Termination-Independent Role Of Rat1 In Cotranscriptional Splicing In Budding Yeast, Zuzer Hakimuddin Dhoondia

Wayne State University Dissertations

Rat1 is a 5′→3′ exoribonuclease in budding yeast belonging to the XRN-family of nucleases. It is a highly conserved protein with homologs being present in fission yeast, flies, worms, mice and humans. Rat1 and its homolog in metazoan have been shown to function in multiple facets of RNA metabolism. In this study, we report a novel role of Rat1 in splicing of pre-mRNA in budding yeast. In the absence of the functional Rat1 in the nucleus, an increase in the level of unspliced transcripts was observed in yeast cells. Strand-specific TRO analysis revealed that the accumulation of unspliced transcripts upon …

Beyond The Rainbow: Predicting Intra And Intergroup Political Attitudes Of Latinx And Black Americans And The Potential For Cooperation And Conflict, Randall Wyatt

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation uses social psychological theory and methods to better understand the political attitudes of whites, Blacks, Latinx Americans and Asian Americans in the contemporary United States. Using quantitative methodology and survey research, I estimate the potential for cooperation and conflict between racial minorities and the political implications that these measures may have. I show that perceptions of competition with immigrants are strongly associated with anti-immigration preferences even among racial minorities such as Blacks and Latinx Americans, of who have a long history of migration to the United States. However, I also show that there is potential for interracial cooperation …

Parylene Based Flexible Multifunctional Biomedical Probes And Their Applications, Zhiguo Zhao

Wayne State University Dissertations

MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) based flexible devices have been studied for decades, and they are rapidly being incorporated into modern society in various forms such as flexible electronics and wearable devices. Especially in neuroscience, flexible interfaces provide tremendous possibilities and opportunities to produce reliable, scalable and biocompatible instruments for better exploring neurotransmission and neurological disorders. Of all the types of biomedical instruments such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocorticography (ECoG), MEMS-based needle-shape probes have been actively studied in recent years due to their better spatial resolution, selectivity, and sensitivity in chronical invasive physiology monitoring. In order to address the inherent …

The Dynamics Of Life And Death: Mitochondrial Fragmentation, Mitophagy, And Swelling During Neuronal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury, Anthony Roy Anzell

Wayne State University Dissertations

Ischemic brain injury caused by cardiac arrest or stroke continue to be leading caused of death and disability in the U.S. While restoration of blood flow is necessary to salvage ischemic tissue, reperfusion paradoxically exacerbates injury via the production of reactive oxygen species, which, damage mitochondria and induce cell death. Therefore, it is critical to have stringent quality control mechanisms to ensure a healthy mitochondrial network. Mitochondrial fragmentation has been well characterized in the progression of ischemia/reperfusion and its association with cell death. Conversely, the role of mitophagy has been controversial regarding whether upregulation of mitophagy serves as a restorative …

Bearing A Beloved Burden: Surrogates, Reproductive Labor, And Carrying Babies For Others, Anabel Stoeckle

Wayne State University Dissertations

Surrogacy is – as a result of new reproductive technologies – one of many options to start a family. However, surrogacy is not typically categorized as work. The simplistic taxonomy of forms of surrogacy as either “commercial” or “altruistic” has led to the classification of surrogacy as either “work” in transnational contexts or as “labor of love” in the US. Even when surrogacy is recognized as work in the US – a rare event – altruistic aspects are highlighted while the laboring aspects are downplayed. This dissertation examines how US surrogates describe their journeys and which aspects of carrying babies …

Enabling 3d Printing Technologies For Artificial Compound Eye System And Penetrating Neural Probes, Boshen Zhang

Wayne State University Dissertations

3D printing has become a useful and transformative method and has applications in many different fields, including organ printing, aerospace applications, and medical devices. With higher resolution, faster production speed, and more design flexibility, 3D printing technologies can lead to more novel devices and systems. In this research, two new techniques have been developed to enable 3D printing technologies for artificial compound eye system and penetrating glassy carbon neural electrode array.

This work focuses on developing new applications based on the SLA 3D printing process, which uses the liquid resin to create a solid 3D structure. The limitation of SLA …