Digital Commons Network^™

Chimes: October 28, 2024, Calvin University

Chimes

A look at the changing ways students get their textbooks by Graham Kort & Ethan Meyers

Swim and Dive teams start season strong by Dillion Baumchen

Pricey Parking? How does Calvin compare by Ian Tjoelker

"Didi", a very Selfish Story by Natasha Jayaputra

The Spiritual Exercise of Asking Questions by Ella Vanden Berg

Dance Guild looks towards the future by Graham Kort

Author Spotlight, Fei Li, Yi-Ge Zhou, Yi-Lun Ying, Yong-Xin Li, Yu Huang, Zhen Wu

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Indoor Air Quality In Residential Environments: A Study Of Pm2.5 And Co2 Dynamics Using Low-Cost Sensors, Kabir Bahadur Shah, Dylan Kim, Sai Deepak Pinakana, Mkhitar A. Hobosyan, Armando Montes, Amit U. Raysoni

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Indoor air quality (IAQ) poses a significant public health concern, and exposures to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon dioxide (CO2) could have detrimental health impacts. This study focused on assessing the indoor air pollutants in a residential house located in the town of Mission, Hidalgo County, South Texas, USA. The PM2.5 and CO2 were monitored indoors: the kitchen and the bedroom. This investigation also aimed to elucidate the effects of household activities such as cooking and human occupancy on these pollutants. Low-cost sensors (LCSs) from TSI AirAssure™ were used in this study. They were deployed within …

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Npl Site Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit, Remedial Design Documents For The Blacktail Creek Area Groundwater Hydraulic Control System, Josh Bryson

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Prompting Effective Learning Pathways: Applied Behavior Analysis In Practice, Brandie Ann Kretzschmar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative study was to contribute to the literature for prompting interventions in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). This study examined the clinical utilization of prompting strategies with verbal operant programming across currently credentialed practitioners. Evidence-based practices are well known, but clinical guidance regarding prompting strategies is still emerging. This gap is potentially related to the lack of a prompting assessment to assist practitioners in creating clients' programming. To collect data a 52-question survey was used in this ethnographic study. Data was collected from 62 respondents, with 55 overall completed surveys. Errorless learning was reported …

Single Nanobubble Formation On Au Nanoelectrodes And Au@Ws2 Nanoelectrodes: Voltammetric Analysis And Electrocatalysis, Xian-Zhun Luo, Xiao-Hu Chen, Yong-Xin Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Taking advantage of the extremely small size of the gold nanodisk electrode, the single hydrogen nanobubble generated on the surface of the nanoelectrode was studied to evaluate its hydrogen evolution performance. It was found that compared with the bare gold nanodisk electrode, the bubble formation potential of the gold nanodisk electrode modified with tungsten disulfide quantum dots (WS₂ QDs) on the surface was more positive, indicating that its hydrogen evolution activity was higher. Microdynamic model analysis shows that the average standard rate constant of the rate-determining step of the hydrogen evolution reaction of gold nanoelectrodes modified with WS_{2 …}

Platinum Nanoparticle-Based Collision Electrochemistry For Rapid Detection Of Breast Cancer Mcf-7 Cells, Fu-Xing Qin, Ming-Ke Li, Hui-Long Zhou, Wei Wen, Xiu-Hua Zhang, Sheng-Fu Wang, Zhen Wu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of death in cancer patients worldwide and one of the major challenges in treating cancer. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a pivotal role in cancer metastasis. However, the content of CTCs in peripheral blood is minimal, so the detection of CTCs in real samples is extremely challenging. Therefore, efficient enrichment and early detection of CTCs are essential to achieve timely diagnosis of diseases. In this work, we constructed an innovative and sensitive single-nanoparticle collision electrochemistry (SNCE) biosensor for the detection of MCF-7 cells (human breast cancer cells) by immunomagnetic separation technique and liposome signal …

Highly Sensitive Detection Of Strontium Ions Using Metal-Organic Frameworks Functionalized Solid-State Nanochannels, Xu-Gang Wang, Zheng-Xu He, De-Fang Ding, Xue-Qin Luo, Li Dai, Wei-Qi Zhang, Qun Ma, Yu Huang, Fan Xia

Journal of Electrochemistry

Strontium-90, a highly radioactive isotope, accumulates within the food chain and skeletal structure, posing significant risks to human health. There is a critical need for a sensitive detection strategy for Strontium-90 in complex environmental samples. Here, solid-state nanochannels, modified with metal-organic frameworks (MOF) and specific aptamers, were engineered for highly sensitive detection of strontium ion (Sr²⁺). The synergistic effect between the reduced effective diameter of the nanochannels due to MOF and the specific binding of Sr²⁺ by aptamers amplifies the difference in ionic current signals, enhancing detection sensitivity significantly. The MOF-modified nanochannels exhibit highly sensitive detection of …

The Adviser Of Journal Of Electrochemistry Professor Christian Amatore Received The Chinese Government Friendship Award, Editorial Office Of J.Electrochem.

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Properties Of Generalized Polyhedral Convex Multifunctions, Ngoc Luan Nguyen, Mau Nam Nguyen, Dong Yen Nguyen

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper presents a study of generalized polyhedral convexity under basic operations on multifunctions. We address the preservation of generalized polyhedral convexity under sums and compositions of multifunctions, the domains and ranges of generalized polyhedral convex multifunctions, and the direct and inverse images of sets under such mappings. Then we explore the class of optimal value functions defined by a generalized polyhedral convex objective function and a generalized polyhedral convex constrained mapping. The new results provide a framework for representing the relative interior of the graph of a generalized polyhedral convex multifunction in terms of the relative interiors of its …

Goodbye With Tears! Deep Condolences To Academician Zhao-Wu Tian!, Editorial Office Of J.Electrochem.

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Journal Of Electrochemistry Is Selected To Entering Ici Journals Master List, Editorial Office Of J.Electrochem.

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Chatbots In Providing Personalized Academic Advising And Support To Higher Education Students: A Narrative Literature Review, Manal Dawood

All Works

Academic advising is essential for university and college students to achieve success since it provides guidance in many aspects of their academic journey. According to Drake (2011), having a solid relationship with an academic advisor is necessary for students to succeed in university settings. Students often have questions about university policies, processes, and resources, and they seek assistance from their academic advisors, who may be lecturers or other staff members. However, these demands can sometimes overwhelm the advisors. Although modern technology has reduced these demands (Ghonmein et al., 2023), advisors continue to face challenging tasks. Artificial Intelligence (AI) conversational agents …

Joint Modeling Of Degradation Signals And Time-To-Event Data For The Prediction Of Remaining Useful Life, Sebastian Brumm, Erik Linstead, Junde Chen, Narayanaswamy Balakrishnan, Yuxin Wen

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Accurate prediction of remaining useful life (RUL) for in-service systems plays an important role in ensuring efficient operation of industrial equipment and in preventing unexpected equipment failures. In this paper, we present a prognostic framework for real-time RUL prediction based on joint modeling of both degradation signals and time-to-event data. The proposed model employs a change point-based general path model to capture signal non-linearity and Neural network (NN) based Cox model to link the time-to-event data with the estimated degradation trend. An empirical two-step scheme for hyperparameter estimation is proposed to enhance prognostic accuracy. Furthermore, an efficient Bayesian model updating …

Modern Lakeshore Processes And Historic Lake And Glacial Changes In Taylor Valley, Antarctica, Michael Stanley Stone

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Taylor Valley, which opens to the Ross Sea, is one of several ice-free valleys comprising the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. The valley is home to several close-basin, perennially ice-covered lakes, whose lake levels largely reflect a balance between meltwater inputs and lake ice ablation; both being driven by climate. A dynamic environment exists where the lake ice covers meet the lakeshore, with the ice grounding to the substrate throughout the cold and dark of winter, and melting to form a perimeter of thin-to-no ice around the lake during the summer. These marginal freeze-thaw regions are known as moats. Here, physical, …

A Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Genetic Determinants Of Hemoglobin Glycation Index With Implications Across Sex And Ethnicity, John S. House, Joseph H. Breeyear, Farida S. Akhtari, Violet Evans, John B. Buse, James Hempe, Alessandro Doria, Josyf C. Mychaleckyi, Vivian Fonseca, Mengyao Shi, Changwei Li, Shuqian Liu, Tanika N. Kelly, Daniel Rotroff, Alison A. Motsinger-Reif

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: We investigated the genetic determinants of variation in the hemoglobin glycation index (HGI), an emerging biomarker for the risk of diabetes complications. Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for HGI in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial (N = 7,913) using linear regression and additive genotype encoding on variants with minor allele frequency greater than 3%. We conducted replication analyses of top findings in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study with inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis. We followed up with stratified GWAS analyses by sex and self-reported race. Results: In ACCORD, we identified single …

Multiscale & Multiphysics Model Of Damage In Lithium-Ion Batteries, Edris Akbari

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The demand for safer and more reliable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in electric vehicles has increased significantly, especially in addressing mechanical failures like internal short circuits (ISCs), which can lead to thermal runaway. This research investigates the mechanical behavior and damage mechanisms in lithium-ion pouch cells through a multiscale and multiphysics approach, focusing on Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries.

The study involved quasi-static and dynamic mechanical tests, including indentation and high-speed penetration, to evaluate stress-strain responses and fracture behaviors. Anisotropic mechanical properties were measured for individual battery components (anode, cathode, separator, and shell) using …

Assessing The Impact Of Ai Assisted Software Development And User Experience Of A College Football Simulation Game: A Study Of Player And Industry Professional Perspectives, Augustus J. Scarlato Iii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the design of video games, specifically the development of a college football simulation game. This study documents the creation of an alpha version college simulation game assisted by Open AI’s Chat GPT 4.0 API, to potentially improve game development, gameplay realism, and user interaction. The study then assesses how both student players and industry professionals perceive AI-enhanced gaming, emphasizing the usability, gameplay experience, and overall quality of the game using a Likert scale survey. The analysis also highlights differences in perceptions between students and industry professionals, with the latter group …

Radiomics-Based Machine Learning With Natural Gradient Boosting For Continuous Survival Prediction In Glioblastoma, Mert Karabacak, Shiv Patil, Zachary C. Gersey, Ricardo J. Komotar, Konstantinos Margetis

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

(1) Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, with an aggressive disease course that requires accurate prognosis for individualized treatment planning. This study aims to develop and evaluate a radiomics-based machine learning (ML) model to estimate overall survival (OS) for patients with GBM using pre-treatment multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). (2) Methods: The MRI data of 865 patients with GBM were assessed, comprising 499 patients from the UPENN-GBM dataset and 366 patients from the UCSF-PDGM dataset. A total of 14,598 radiomic features were extracted from T1, T1 with contrast, T2, and FLAIR MRI sequences …

Ten Challenges And Opportunities In Computational Immuno-Oncology, Riyue Bao, Alan Hutson, Anant Madabhushi, Vanessa D Jonsson, Spencer R Rosario, Jill S Barnholtz-Sloan, Elana J Fertig, Himangi Marathe, Lyndsay Harris, Jennifer Altreuter, Qingrong Chen, James Dignam, Andrew J Gentles, Edgar Gonzalez-Kozlova, Sacha Gnjatic, Erika Kim, Mark Long, Martin Morgan, Eytan Ruppin, David Van Valen, Hong Zhang, Natalie Vokes, Daoud Meerzaman, Song Liu, Eliezer M Van Allen, Yi Xing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immuno-oncology has transformed the treatment of cancer, with several immunotherapies becoming the standard treatment across histologies. Despite these advancements, the majority of patients do not experience durable clinical benefits, highlighting the imperative for ongoing advancement in immuno-oncology. Computational immuno-oncology emerges as a forefront discipline that draws on biomedical data science and intersects with oncology, immunology, and clinical research, with the overarching goal to accelerate the development of effective and safe immuno-oncology treatments from the laboratory to the clinic. In this review, we outline 10 critical challenges and opportunities in computational immuno-oncology, emphasizing the importance of robust computational strategies and interdisciplinary …

Design Of Mathematical Model For Surface Roughness: Optimizing Rsm Through Process Parameters In Machining, Mevludin Shabani, Xhemajl Mehmeti

UBT International Conference

This research paper presents the design of mathematical model aimed at optimizing surface roughness, with a specific focus on the mean width of surface profile peaks (Rsm) during turning operations. It identifies cutting speed and feed rate as critical factors influencing Rsm, highlighting that feed rate exerts the most significant impact on surface quality. Increased feed rates result in coarser finishes due to greater distances between the cutting tool's contact points, whereas lower feed rates yield smoother surfaces. The study also explores how variations in feed rate can affect machining stability, leading to issues such as vibration, tool engagement challenges, …

Aggression In Teenagers, Besarta Sadriu, Emrush Thaqi

UBT International Conference

This study analyzes the phenomenon of aggression among adolescents, including its origin, the most frequent forms of aggression that we encounter among adolescents, the factors that contribute to its development, as well as its consequences for the future of adolescents and society as a whole. In adolescence, biological, emotional and social changes often lead to increased feelings of aggression. Factors such as the influence of hormones, social pressure, and the modeling of behaviors in their environments are important in understanding adolescent aggression. Aggressive behaviors in this age group are characterized by impulsivity, a sense of threat and conflicts with authority. …

Ai In Architecture: Achieving A Balance Between Computational Insights And Human Creativity, Gazmend Uka

UBT International Conference

Graham Wallas identifies the four fundamental steps in the creative process: preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. This paper investigates the selective integration of artificial intelligence into the creative framework, with an emphasis on the preparation and verification stages to improve creativity without compromising human inventiveness. AI can speed up data collection and trend analysis throughout the preparation process, allowing architects to focus on conceptual and high-level ideas. In the verification stage, AI may carefully evaluate and improve ideas, ensuring their practicality and resilience through thorough analysis and feedback. By carefully incorporating artificial intelligence into various phases of selected architectural projects, …

Exploring Interpretable Machine Learning For Modeling Nonlinear Dynamic Systems, Liron Morina, Rina Peja, Getoar Vranovci

UBT International Conference

This paper provides an analysis of the interpretable machine learning (IML) approach applied to various nonlinear dynamic systems. The study focuses on modeling the restoring force by neural networks with two input values: displacement and velocity. A parallel neural network with the proposed architecture, initialized randomly, mirrors the designed model. Both models undergo multiple training and testing cycles on identical datasets to ensure robust statistical validation. The findings demonstrate that interpretable artificial neural networks (ANNs) outperform randomly initialized models in terms of accuracy and result consistency. This research provides valuable insights into the application of IML techniques for advancing the …

Applied Cryptography With Python, Hizer Leka, Albiona Leka

UBT International Conference

Cryptography is a key aspect of information security and provides data security. This paper aims to provide a better understanding of cryptography and its application with Python through real life examples. It covers the basics of cryptography, containing information about symmetric and asymmetric encryption methods. Throughout the paper we dive into different encryption methods, from simple to more complex, starting with the Caesar Cipher that has been used by people ever since ancient times, the Reverse Cipher which is one of the simplest encryption methods, all the way to implementing a RSA Algorithm using Python’s cryptography library, always providing knowledge …

Automatic Transformer Design Tool Selection In The Online-Cadcom Platform, Katerina Kostova, Galia Marinova

UBT International Conference

The paper deals with the extension of the Online-CADCOM platform by incorporating knowledge for transformer design online tools. Calculators like goodcalculators, alfatransformer, jcalc, farnell bulgaria, maddox, 3phaseassociates, voltage-disturbance, omnicalculator, forumelectrical and modules in online platforms like PowerEsim and Webench Power Designer are tested, and their Characterization passports are developed, then added as electronic content. Compulsory and optional criteria for automatic selection of the online transformer design tools are defined and added to the Knowledge-base of Online CADCOM platform. Special attention is given to the capacity of the online tools to generate the SPICE model parameters of the transformer designed which …

Blockchain Technology And Cryptocurrencies In The Execution Of Transactions, Fitim Aliu, Faton Kabashi, Lamir Shkurti, Mirlinda Selimaj, Vehebi Sofiu

UBT International Conference

This paper examines the impact of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies on the execution of financial transactions, exploring their potential to revolutionize existing systems. Blockchain technology, known for its high transparency and security, has the capacity to eliminate intermediaries, reduce transaction costs, and increase the efficiency of financial markets. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are transforming the way payments and value transfers are conducted, offering more secure and faster alternatives compared to traditional banking systems. The paper also addresses key challenges associated with these technologies, including scalability issues, underdeveloped regulatory frameworks, and high energy demands. By analyzing the literature …

Creative Approaches To Teaching Foreign Languages Case Study And Survey Findings Students Of English Language Faculty At Ubt, Alma Lama, Rudy Baez, Henry Sanchez, Duli Pllana

UBT International Conference

Teaching and learning a second language follows a general process for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. Due to students' different learning styles, it is necessary to apply various teaching methods. There is no single teaching method that universally works for everyone; there is no magic wand that guarantees miracles in teaching and learning. Consequently, researchers in education explore diverse pathways to find successful teaching methods. This paper focuses on creative teaching and learning, as well as verbal creativity in teaching English as a second language in Kosovo. The case study centers on peer interviews with students, where students create or …

Increasing The Reliability And Safety Of The Power System In The Integration Of Wind Turbines And Solar Panels By Exploiting The Selectivity And Accuracy Of Relay Protection, Rexhep Shaqiri

UBT International Conference

Renewable energy sources play an important role in supplying consumers with clean energy, one of these sources that are included in energy diversity is also wind turbines and solar panels. However, their integration is a multidimensional challenge, considering their fluctuations in production that depend on climatic conditions, as well as the situations created in different work regimes. One of the conditions for their reliable operation remains stability and safety during operation. One of the factors for the stability and continuous and safer operation of wind turbines remains the coordination and selectivity of the action of the relay protections, through which, …

Carbon Fiber And Cobalt Composites In The Nanotechnology Industry And The Analysis Of The New Flexible Structure, According To The Ces Edupack Method (Ces Selector Grant)., Nam Ostergllava, Arenë Ostergllava

UBT International Conference

Carbon fiber and cobalt composites are advanced materials with wide applications in the nanotechnology industry due to their unique mechanical and physical properties. This study uses the CES EduPack (Granta CES Selector) method to generate and compare the structures of these composites. Through the analysis of stiffness, strength, density and cost data, the advantages and trade-offs of each material are identified. Carbon fiber composites stand out for their high stiffness and strength, but have a higher cost compared to cobalt composites, which offer greater flexibility and higher density. This detailed comparison provides a solid basis for the optimal selection of …