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Advances In Atomic Layer Deposition (Ald) Nanolaminate Synthesis Of Thermoelectric Films In Porous Templates For Improved Seebeck Coefficient, Xin Chen, Helmut Baumgart

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Thermoelectrics is a green renewable energy technology which can significantly contribute to power generation due to its potential in generating electricity out of waste heat. The main challenge for the development of thermoelectrics is its low conversion efficiency. One key strategy to improve conversion efficiency is reducing the thermal conductivity of thermoelectric materials. In this paper, the state-of-the-art progresses made in improving thermoelectric materials are reviewed and discussed, focusing on phononic engineering via applying porous templates and ALD deposited nanolaminates structure. The effect of nanolaminates structure and porous templates on Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, and hence in …

Special Section Guest Editorial: Machine Learning In Optics, Jonathan Howe, Travis Axtell, Khan Iftekharuddin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This guest editorial summarizes the Special Section on Machine Learning in Optics.

Mitochondrial Utilization Of Competing Fuels Is Altered In Insulin Resistant Skeletal Muscle Of Non-Obese Rats (Goto-Kakizaki), Nicola Lai, Ciarán E. Fealy, Chinna M. Kummitha, Silvia Cabras, John P. Kirwan, Charles L. Hoppel

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Aim: Insulin-resistant skeletal muscle is characterized by metabolic inflexibility with associated alterations in substrate selection, mediated by peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor 𝜹 (PPAR𝜹). Although it is established that PPAR𝜹 contributes to the alteration of energy metabolism, it is not clear whether it plays a role in mitochondrial fuel competition. While nutrient overload may impair metabolic flexibility by fuel congestion within mitochondria, in absence of obesity defects at a mitochondrial level have not yet been excluded. We sought to determine whether reduced PPAR𝜹 content in insulin-resistant rat skeletal muscle of a non-obese rat model of T2DM (Goto-Kakizaki, GK) ameliorate the inhibitory effect …

Degradation Mechanism Due To Water Ingress Effect On The Top Contact Of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells, Deewakar Poudel, Shankar Karki, Benjamin Belfore, Grace Rajan, Sushma Swaraj Atluri, Sina Soltanmohammad, Angus Rockett, Sylvain Marsillac

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The impact of moisture ingress on the surface of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells was studied. While industry-scale modules are encapsulated in specialized polymers and glass, over time, the glass can break and the encapsulant can degrade. During such conditions, water can potentially degrade the interior layers and decrease performance. The first layer the water will come in contact with is the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer. To simulate the impact of this moisture ingress, complete devices were immersed in deionized water. To identify the potential sources of degradation, a common window layer for CIGS devices—a bilayer of …

A New Method Of Detecting And Interrupting High Impedance Faults By Specifying The Z-Source Breaker In Dc Power Networks, Sagar Bhatta, Ruiyun Fu, Yucheng Zhang

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

High impedance faults (HIFs) that cause a relatively smaller current magnitude compared to the traditional low impedance faults are not easily detectable but can cause an extreme threat to electric apparatus and system operation. This paper introduces a new method of detecting and interrupting HIFs in DC power networks by specifying Z-source circuit breakers (ZCBs). The ZCB is a protective device for high power DC branches, with the capabilities of protecting bidirectional power flow and automatic/controllable turnoff function. In this new method, the operational mode of ZCB (i.e., either the detection mode or interruption mode) can be specified. Beyond previous …

Real-Time Optimization Of Anti-Reflective Coatings For Cigs Solar Cells, Grace Rajan, Shankar Karki, Robert W. Collins, Nikolas J. Podraza, Sylvain Marsillac

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

A new method combining in-situ real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry and optical modeling to optimize the thickness of an anti-reflective (AR) coating for Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) solar cells is described and applied directly to fabricate devices. The model is based on transfer matrix theory with input from the accurate measurement of complex dielectric function spectra and thickness of each layer in the solar cell by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The AR coating thickness is optimized in real time to optically enhance device performance with varying thickness and properties of the constituent layers. Among the parameters studied, we notably demonstrate how changes in thickness of …

Effect Of Layer Thickness On Structural, Morphological And Superconducting Properties Of Nb3Sn Films Fabricated By Multilayer Sequential Sputtering, M. N. Sayeed, U. Pudasaini, C. E. Reece, G. V. Eremeev, H. E. Elsayed-Ali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Superconducting Nb₃Sn films can be synthesized by controlling the atomic concentration of Sn. Multilayer sequential sputtering of Nb and Sn thin films followed by high temperature annealing is considered as a method to fabricate Nb₃Sn films, where the Sn composition of the deposited films can be controlled by the thickness of alternating Nb and Sn layers. We report on the structural, morphological and superconducting properties of Nb₃Sn films fabricated by multilayer sequential sputtering of Nb and Sn films on sapphire substrates followed by annealing at 950 °C for 3 h. We have investigated the …

Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavity Fault Classification Using Machine Learning At Jefferson Laboratory, Chris Tennant, Adam Carpenter, Tom Powers, Anna Shabalina Solopova, Lasitha Vidyaratne, Khan Iftekharuddin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

We report on the development of machine learning models for classifying C100 superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavity faults in the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at Jefferson Lab. CEBAF is a continuous-wave recirculating linac utilizing 418 SRF cavities to accelerate electrons up to 12 GeV through five passes. Of these, 96 cavities (12 cryomodules) are designed with a digital low-level rf system configured such that a cavity fault triggers waveform recordings of 17 rf signals for each of the eight cavities in the cryomodule. Subject matter experts are able to analyze the collected time-series data and identify which of the …

Efficacy Of Radiomics And Genomics In Predicting Tp53 Mutations In Diffuse Lower Grade Glioma, Zeina A. Shboul, Khan Iftekharuddin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

An updated classification of diffuse lower-grade gliomas is established in the 2016 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System based on their molecular mutations such as TP53 mutation. This study investigates machine learning methods for TP53 mutation status prediction and classification using radiomics and genomics features, respectively. Radiomics features represent patients' age and imaging features that are extracted from conventional MRI. Genomics feature is represented by patients’ gene expression using RNA sequencing. This study uses a total of 105 LGG patients, where the patient dataset is divided into a training set (80 patients) and testing set …

Students As Partners? Exploring Student Union Engagement In The Creation Of Technological Universities In Ireland, Sharon Feeney, Deirdre Lillis, Lynn Ramsey

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

This paper interrogates the concept of Student Union engagement in Irish higher education through an examination of the policy and practice related to the creation of Technological Universities (TU). The case study is situated within the emerging policy landscape for both the technological higher education sector and student engagement, and begins with an examination of the nature and scope of the policy landscape. The paper then considers the practice of student engagement in the creation of the first TU in Ireland, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin). The aim of this paper is to explore student participation in institutional level decision …

Going Bare In The Law Of Assignments: When Is An Assignment Champertous?, Anthony J. Sebok

Articles

The article critiques the legal distinction between champerty and assignment, arguing that the focus should be on the assignor's motives rather than the assignee's identity. It challenges Dr. David Capper's approach to defining "bare assignments" and proposes that assignments should not be prohibited based solely on the assignee's identity unless they facilitate abus

Aromatase Inhibitors Plus Weight Loss Improves The Hormonal Profile Of Obese Hypogonadal Men Without Causing Major Side Effects, Francesca Vigevano, Clifford Qualls, Biju Johnson, Sanjay Mediwala, Dennis T Villareal, Reina Armamento-Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: In obese men, the increased expression of the aromatase enzyme in adipose tissue leads to high conversion of androgens to estrogens contributing to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HHG). Our objective is to evaluate efficacy and safety of weight loss (WL) plus aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy in severely obese men with HHG. We hypothesize that AI+WL will be more effective as compared to WL alone in improving the hormonal profile, thus muscle strength and symptoms of HHG (primary outcomes), with no significant adverse effects on lean mass, metabolic profile, and bone mineral density (secondary outcomes).

Design: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Methods: …

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Presenting Initially As Spinal Cord Compression: When Chemotherapy Alone Is Enough, Mahmoud R Gaballa, Lee B Lu, David R Dunaway, Courtney N Miller-Chism

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Spinal cord compression (SCC) is a rare initial presentation and complication of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with nearly all reported cases occurring in the pediatric population. We report a 38-year-old previously healthy man who presented with acute on chronic lower back pain, gait instability, urinary retention, and severe thrombocytopenia. Radiologic examination revealed two soft tissue masses of the thoracic spine associated with compression fractures causing spinal canal narrowing and cord compression. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of ALL. Immediate initiation of high-dose corticosteroids and systemic chemotherapy resolved the patient's symptoms without radiation therapy or surgical intervention. After two courses …

Three Studies Of Research-Based Pedagogy In Physical Chemistry: Development Of A Zno Thin Film Experiment, Analysis Of Student Discourse By Graph Theory And Cognitive Engagement, Building A Physical Chemistry Faculty Network., Dilhara Liyanage

Theses and Dissertations

Three research projects, each focusing on a different aspect, development of a ZnO thin film experiment, student’s cognitive engagement behavior, and building of a faculty network, are presented in this dissertation.

In the first project, a physical chemistry laboratory experiment was developed to answer the question, “How do electrons move in a solid?”. The experiment structure follows the POGIL-PCL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning - Physical Chemistry Laboratory) model. Students begin by using the PhET “Quantum Bound States” animation to compare energy levels for single atoms to energy levels of a lattice containing many potential wells, and they incorporate that …

A Remarkable Response Of Granulomatous Hypophysitis To Infliximab In A Patient With A Background Of Crohn's Disease-A Case Report, Kent A Heck, Sherly Sebastian, Mas Takashima, Daniel Yoshor, Susan L Samson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Associated Data

The Experience Of Guatemalan Women Who Seek Asylum In United States Courts: A Legacy Of Paternalism And Gendered Violence, Nina E. Harris

Honors Papers

Karen Musalo, a leading asylum attorney, explains,“In the United States, few refugee issues have been as controversial as that of gender asylum.” Despite perceived progress, inconsistent judicial decisions engender doubts about the viability of gender-based asylum cases. The U.S. courts continue to see violence against women as a personal or family matter rather than a pattern of accepted social behavior supported by the political and legal authorities. Using cases from Guatemalan women seeking asylum, my research scrutinizes the asylum system, and shows how the U.S. furthers a colonial, paternalistic narrative—allowing U.S. judges, adjudicators, and policymakers to decide who is worthy—or …

Justice On Trial: German Unification And The 1992 Leipzig Trial, Emily Dorothea Purvis

Honors Papers

With this thesis, I intend to formulate an argument about the evolution of a historical justice culture in Germany, both after the Second World War and post-unification. As a means of examining historical memory in post-war Germany, historians and scholars have turned their attention to the East and West German legal trials which were held in response to the crimes committed by the Nazi state. For the purpose of this thesis, my analysis will be structured around the examination of the 1950 Waldheim Trials and their lasting legacy in both post and preunification Germany.

The Waldheim Trials were foundational in …

Assessing The Feasibility Of Machine Learning To Predict Chronic Pain In Adolescence, Max A. Kramer

Honors Papers

"Chronic pain affects between 15 to 40% of adolescents worldwide. The impact and prevalence of chronic pain can be felt every day in terms of missed school days, strained familial relationships, and financial stress. While rehabilitation programs specifically designed for chronic pain management exist, they cannot always adapt to the idiosyncratic nature of chronic pain. Machine learning presents a framework to use diary data from individuals in pain and make predictions about the trajectories of their pain and related functioning. This study's goal is to assess the feasibility of using machine learning to predict pain and functioning by constructing, training, …

Teaching The Narod To Listen: Nadezhda Briusova And Mass Music Education In Revolutionary Russia, Annika K. Krafcik

Honors Papers

Nadezhda Briusova (1881-1951) was a pianist, music theorist, teacher, government worker, conservatory administrator, and journalist, who was instrumental in shaping mass music education in Moscow before and after the October Revolution of 1917. She believed that music was made up of two fundamental elements of being – movement and feeling – and argued that because its language was so elemental to the human experience, music was for everyone. She dedicated her life to teaching her students how to listen to and talk about music.

In my thesis, I analyze how Briusova’s mass music education programs created continuity across the revolutionary …

Race, Mines And Picket Lines: The 1925-1928 Western Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Strike, Eli Martin Kirshner

Honors Papers

This Honors Thesis in History explores U.S. race relations and racial politics through the lens of a coal mining strike that took place during the late 1920s, in the Pittsburgh area.

Moving Honestly - Pangalay Performance, National Identity, And Practice-As-Research, Kara Elena Nepomuceno

Honors Papers

Previous research analyzes the legacies of various Philippine dances in the United States. This project seeks to describe the growing impact of the dance form pangalay, given its rising popularity among Philippine performing arts groups and among individual artists in the diaspora. Pangalay’s sustained, curvilinear style supports Filipino American dancers’ needs for physical well-being, relationship to colonized land, and expression of diasporic culture. Yet when pangalay is framed as a unifying dance aesthetic of Filipino identity, it obscures ongoing internal oppression within the Philippines as Christianized upper classes embrace the dance form yet cohere wealth by displacing Muslim groups.

To …

Stem Or Steam?: The Critical Role Of Arts In Technology Education (And The Critical Role Of Art In Technology), Etain Watson

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

This paper outlines the interdependency between arts and technology, and explains the absolute necessity of keeping them together in our education systems. While arts and humanities can be successfully taught without technology, technology greatly enhances learning, and more technology is connected to arts in some way than any other use. According to PwC Chief Executive Luke Sayers, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are the solution to our workforce and growth challenge. Deckers suggests that all the levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy exist in order to get us to the highest level where decisions are made according to aesthetics. Both STEM …

The Journal Of Undergraduate Research: 2019

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

This is the complete issue of the South Dakota State University Journal of Undergraduate Research, Volume 17.

Naming Power?: Urban Development And Contestation In The Callowhill Neighborhood Of Philadelphia, Rachel E. Marcus

Honors Papers

Fundamentally the transformations of the American urban landscape in the years following World War II are reflections of shifting distributions of power facilitated by the emerging neoliberal regime. Eminent spatial theorist David Harvey’s writing about the “right to the city” postulates that the ability to “make and remake” the city is a human right. Universally, though, the only actors able to make and remake the city are those who have access to wealth, power, and capital. Philadelphia has seen an inordinate amount of change in the postwar years, from urban renewal in the mid-20th century to gentrification happening today––these alterations …

Taxa Specific Responses To Flooding Shape Patterns Of Abundance In A River Rock Pool Metacommunity, Charles R. Stunkle

Theses and Dissertations

Connectivity and habitat area are important landscape characteristics that drive patterns of abundance and diversity across scales. However, responses to connectivity and patch size are dependent on species traits. Riverine landscapes are highly dynamic both spatially and temporally with hydrologic connectivity being a major driver of abundance and diversity. Here we modeled densities of the Virginia river snail and skimmer dragonfly nymphys, two taxa with differences in their dispersal abilities and life histories, as a function of flooding, patch area, and season in over 300 riverine rock pools. We found key differences in how each taxon responded to these predictors …

Solid Phase Extraction And High-Precision Mass Spectrometry Analysis Methods For Crassostrea Virginica Metabolome, Alyssa Darling

Theses and Dissertations

Metabolomics is the rapidly-growing field which focuses on the endpoints of biological processes, and has the capability to provide a snapshot of an organisms’ interaction with their environment on a molecular scale. The objective of the experiment herein was to develop a standard metabolic extraction technique coupled with ultrahigh-precision analytical tools to build a global metabolic pathway of the keystone species Crassostrea virginica. To achieve this, C. virginica whole-body samples were extracted using acetonitrile and methanol, then split into a dehydrated group and a diluted group. Following reversed-phase solid phase extraction (RP-SPE) of both groups, metabolites were identified using …

Assessing The Feasibility Of Freshwater Mussel Restoration In Urban Streams., John-Reid Ryan

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine whether introduced freshwater mussels (Alewife floater, Utterbackiana implicata) can survive and grow in urban streams in the James River watershed. A secondary objective was to assess differences in U. implicata survival and growth of in the context of differing water quality and food resource conditions among three urban sites and three rural sites. Results from this study show large differences in growth and survivorship of mussels across sites. Higher survivorship was observed among mussels stocked into rural streams (35% and 44%) in comparison to urban streams (3%, 6% and 14%). …

Bee Diversity Of Three Appalachian Shale Barren Sites, Olivia C. Latham

Theses and Dissertations

Insect pollination is vital to ecosystem function. However, climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, and a variety of other anthropogenic sources are contributing to a decline in pollinator diversity. Fragile small ecosystems with a high composition of specialized plant species that rely on specific pollinators such as Appalachian shale barrens, are especially at risk of losing biodiversity. This study combines the use of active sweep net sampling of endemic shale barren forbs and passive trap methods over the course of a bloom season (April-August) in three barren sites to identify bee community populations and visitation relationships between pollinator species and endemic …

A Review Of Factors, Seating Design, And Shape Capture Methods For Reducing Pressure Injury Risk, John A. Damiao

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation in the form of three papers ready for submission to peer-reviewed journals is submitted toward the requirements of the PhD in Health Related Sciences program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Chapter One provides an introductory overview of the project, including: (a) an overview of pressure injuries, (b) the impact of seating as an intervention, and (c) aims of the three-paper dissertation in addressing various aspects of pressure injury prevention. Each paper is unique and singular in its focus, yet all share the overlying aim of addressing pressure injury risk associated with wheelchair seating. Paper One describes the unique facilitators …

Retrieval Of The D/Sdl7+T7.5p Binary Sdss J1416+1348ab, Eileen C. Gonzales, Ben Burningham, Jacqueline K. Faherty, Colleen Cleary, Channon Visscher, Mark S. Marley, Roxana Lupu, Richard Freedman

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

We present the distance-calibrated spectral energy distribution (SED) of the d/sdL7 SDSS J14162408+1348263A (J1416A) and an updated SED for SDSS J14162408+1348263B (J1416B). We also present the first retrieval analysis of J1416A using the Brewster retrieval code base and the second retrieval of J1416B. We find that the primary is best fit by a nongray cloud opacity with a power-law wavelength dependence but is indistinguishable between the type of cloud parameterization. J1416B is best fit by a cloud-free model, consistent with the results from Line et al. Most fundamental parameters derived via SEDs and retrievals are consistent within 1σ for both …