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Evaluating The Importance Of Construction Activities For Sustainable Construction Practices In Building Projects In Nigeria, Peter Okoye, Isaac Odesola, Kevin Okolie

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Construction activities inherently impact the environment, economy and the society positively and negatively. Optimisation of these activities for attainment of sustainable construction and development is very essential. Therefore, this study categorised and evaluated the construction activities necessary for sustainable construction practices in building project delivery. It employed the distribution of questionnaires to the consultants, professional, and building contractors, including the relevant employees of different Government ministries, departments and agencies responsible for the delivery of building projects across the five states of South East Nigeria. Through the application of the relative importance index (RII) analysis, the study revealed that out of …

Potential Barriers To Sustainable Construction: A Model Proposal, Tülay Çivici, Resul Özlük

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

In this study, it is aimed to identify potential barriers to sustainable construction in the Turkish Construction Industry. To this end, a survey was conducted covering architects, civil engineers and other (project manager, mechanical engineers, ets.) professionals working in the Turkish Construction Industry. Based on the data obtained from the survey, the scale of “Potential Barriers to Sustainable Construction” has been developed. Explanatory factor analysis was performed first to determine the factor structure of the research scale. As a result of the explanatory factor analysis, information deficiency barrier, education disability barrier, high investment cost barrier, awareness barrier, academic inadequacy barrier, …

Starch-Based Bioplastic Materials For Packaging Industry, Murat Ates, Pinar Kuz

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

In this study, we performed the production of bioplastic from corn starch by condensation polymerization. We used a natural intensifier such as glycerin to make the corn starch into a bioplastic material. Bioplastic and its nanocomposites via carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME), TiO2 and nanoclay were synthesized to study its application in package industry. FTIR-ATR, TGA-DTA, SEM-EDX and mechanical analysis were taken to characterize the bioplastic based nanocomposites. We used different amounts of addition of CFME (0.2%, 0.5% and 1%), TiO2 (1%, 3% and 5%) and nanoclay (1%, 3% and 5%) to obtain the optimum condition for the bioplastic material. We …

Preparations And Applications Of Bio – Based Additives For Building Chemicals Production, Fulya Memioğlu, Murat Elibol

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The objective of this report is to assess the effects of using olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) and cheese whey on the production of concrete chemical admixture. Wastewater samples were taken locally from two factories in Izmir. Concrete chemical admixture combinations (waste water, polycarboxylate, molasses, defoamer, biocide and water) at different ratios were generated with statistical experimental design methods and the effects of some parameters, such as level of chloride (%), solid content (%), pH, density (gr/cm3), were investigated. Furthermore, concrete tests were performed to identify slump (cm) and strength (kgf/cm2) changes. The results showed that the addition of OMW …

Shear Resistance Of Reinforced Aerated Concrete Slabs: Prediction Via Artificial Neural Networks, Derya Bakbak, Ahmet Emin Kurtoğlu

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) provides advantageous material characteristics such as high thermal insulation and environmentally friendly properties. Besides its non-structural applications, AAC is being considered as a structural material due to its characteristics such as lighter weight compared to normal concrete. In this study, main focus is to test the usability of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in predicting the shear resistance of reinforced AAC slabs. A large experimental database with 271 data points extracted from eleven sources is used for ANN training and testing. Network training is accomplished via multi-layer backpropagation algorithm. Based on random selection, the dataset is partitioned …

The Essential Of Sustainable Building Construction Practices, Chandrasekaran Balaji Venkateswaran

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The sustainable building practices are essential techniques considered in construction of buildings in order that the resources of the earth are not depleted and the resources are carried forward to the future generations. This paper discusses the essentials of sustainable building construction practices in India. The techniques through which the sustainability could be achieved i.e., alternate building technologies available for adoption, building materials suitable to achieve sustainability and renewable energy sources etc., are discussed.

Use Of Nanotechnological Building Materials In The Turkish Construction Industry, Yeliz Tülübaş Gökuç

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The competitiveness of firms in the construction industry can be said to lie on technological developments. Owing to new technologies it is possible to reduce costs and respond to varying customer demands. Nanotechnology affects many sectors as a technology that contributes significantly to the development of the features of materials, and there are many applications in the construction industry as well as in many other areas. Research and development studies have shown that nanotechnology can improve the performance of traditional building materials such as concrete and steel. The construction industry is the major contributor to the environmental problems with the …

Rethinking Sustainability: A Research On Starch Based Bioplastic, Esen Gökçe Özdamar, Murat Ateş

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Based on the need to rely on sustainable feedstock, depend less on fossil resources and decrease carbon emissions, biomaterials and bioplastics as substitutes of conventional petroleum based plastics have been the focus of many material scientists, architects and industrial product designers. Therefore, this article is an experimentation on the possibilities of starch based bioplastic production. The focus of the article is to understand the limits of this new material and figure out whether starch based bioplastic material can be used in architecture, both as a facade material and an interior space furnishing. Based on Steven’s bioplastic formula, starch based bioplastic …

Characterization Of Waste Bamboo Strips Underscoring Node Effects, Mohammad İrfan Iqbal, S. M. Fijul Kabir, Mohammad Abu Nasir Rakib, Mohammad Mamunur Rashid, Partha Pratim Sikdar

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Bamboo waste, a type of solid waste, is often thrown away ignorantly as non-usable hard waste or for combustion, whereas still it could be a good source of raw materials for structural composites. The purpose of this research is to extract and characterize the strips of internodes (only) and strips along with nodes of bamboo waste from composite perspective in order to seek their suitability for prospective composite applications. Strips of bamboo waste were collected from bamboo mats, and their morphological structure, mechanical properties (tensile strength, compression, flexural, and impact testing) and thermal properties were observed. It is found that …

Dust Analyses In Ventilation Ducts, Karolina Vyhlidalova, Petr Vlček, Olga Rubinová, Jiří Bernard

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The paper describes the importance of monitoring the dust in the atmosphere of human life. It deals with the issue of dust in air ducts, approaching the methods that can be used to detect the amount of dust. For conditions for buildings in the Czech Republic there is created the methodology of quantitative and qualitative evaluation of dust sediment for the needs of HVAC and other building surfaces. The scale for visual evaluation was created and it has been elaborated the assessment of kind of particles contained in dust.

Influence Of Biting Flies On The Growth And Condition Of Nestling Eastern Bluebirds, Ella Grace Bollinger

ATU Scholars Symposium

Habitat alteration and climate change are expected to increase the range, abundance, and season length of ectoparasites and the pathogens they carry. This is particularly concerning for nestling birds that are relatively naked and immobile, making them vulnerable to attacks by biting flies such as blackflies and mosquitoes. Despite the ubiquity of biting flies and the challenges they pose to nestlings, studies investigating their association with breeding birds remain rare. To address this, we propose a series of observational and experimental field studies with Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) to investigate the attraction of biting flies to active nests …

Investigating Silicon As A Candidate For Plant Synthetic Biology, Stephanie N. Nelms, Kai Herring, Luke Hanke, William Foley

ATU Scholars Symposium

The physicochemical properties of silicon are closely related to carbon. Certain species of plants accumulate high amount of silicon, however, their physiological role and molecular mechanism of sequestration and distribution in plant tissues are poorly understood. The bonding potential of silicon is analogous to carbon and silicon is a key element propelling nanotechnology and digital revolution. Recent discoveries of silicon in Mars and the Moon along with metabolic engineering of enzymes that can incorporate and cleave silicon from organic compounds have consolidated the idea of silicon-based synthetic cellular lifeforms. Bibliometric analysis was used to evaluate the trend of research in …

Using Guano To Determine Ozark Big-Eared Bat Cave Occupancy In Arkansas​, Lark E. Sybrant

ATU Scholars Symposium

The Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens) is endangered in Arkansas and is known to have small populations, range restrictions, and specific habitat requirements in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. Beyond their known range, there are other potentially suitable areas that have not been confirmed. We aim to test whether the non-invasive genetic analysis of guano samples can identify Ozark big-eared bat cave use and expand their known range. Additional locations need to be surveyed to ensure site protection, as unknown caves are susceptible to human disturbance and damage. Twenty-five sites were surveyed at the southeastern extent of their known …

Computational Modeling Of Poly-Peptide Chains, Nathan F. Surles, Kaitlin A. Edwards

ATU Scholars Symposium

Investigations of the structural properties of polypeptides are essential for understanding their conformational behavior, stability, and potential biological interactions. In this study, we employed computational techniques to determine the optimized structures of two model polypeptides: tri-glycine and di-tryptophan.

The Effects Of Climate Change On The Advancement Of West Nile Virus, Mackenzie R. Epperson

ATU Scholars Symposium

The West Nile virus (WNV) first emerged in the United States in the year 1999 within the state of New York and has become endemic throughout the country over time. This virus is contracted from an avian species acting as the reservoir host, by the vector species which are mosquitoes. From this point, the mosquitoes transmit the virus to humans and other mammals, which are the dead end hosts. The WNV often presents itself as flu-like symptoms, but in serious cases can cause severe arboviral neurological disease. Since this is an arbovirus, it is important to have the ability to …

Using Environmental Dna To Evaluate The Distribution And Abundance Of Western Chicken Turtles, Kai D. Scarangella

ATU Scholars Symposium

The Western Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria; WCT) is a Species of Greatest Conservation Need that is currently under review for federal listing and is assumed to be rare and declining across its range. WCT are threatened by a variety of anthropogenic challenges, including habitat loss, habitat modification, and road mortality. The conservation of this species is further hindered by a lack of understanding of its distribution, abundance, and population trends. These knowledge gaps arise largely from the species’ unique characteristics and cryptic nature. More specifically, WCT demonstrate prolonged aestivation and are notoriously difficult to capture. Environmental DNA …

Cellular And Molecular Mechanism Of Heavy Metal Phytoremediation, Kaitlin A. Edwards, Kayle Dacus, Autumn Wilbanks, Tatum Simms

ATU Scholars Symposium

Rapid urbanization and industrial activities have contributed to heavy metal contamination of several habitats thus leading to an emerging health and environmental challenge. Some heavy metals such as zinc, iron, molybdenum, manganese, copper, cobalt and nickel are found in trace amounts in biological organisms, however, most are harmful for cellular metabolism. Certain species of plants can accumulate large amounts of heavy metals and has been utilized to sustainably clean contaminated soil and water by a process called phytoremediation. Recent lab and field studies have reported promising results that could propel commercialization of this technology. The cellular and molecular mechanism involved …

Cloning The Yersinia Enterocolitica Alkaline Phosphatase For An Affinity Chromatography Ligand, Flavio E. Arellano

ATU Scholars Symposium

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme responsible for the dephosphorylation of extra-cytoplasmic molecules. Conversion to a neutral molecule enhances their ability to pass through cell membranes. When microbes such as Yersinia enterocolitica are ingested, they are exposed to large changes in pH level. These changes range from ~pH6.5 in the oral cavity to pH 2 in the stomach and pH 8 in the mid-intestine. The ability of microorganisms to survive this change in pH it largely dependent on their ability to change which proteins are expressed at differing pH levels or their ability to modify those proteins to meet the …

Observing The Abundance Of Avian Families In Different Layers Of Lowland Floodplain Rainforest At Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, Peru, Claire Costello, Melissa Curth, Andre Vu

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This research project aims to observe the abundance and diversity of avian families and subfamilies in the Peruvian Amazon basin at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica at Madre de Dios, Peru by performing bird surveys, fixed-radius point counts, and placing down camera traps. Over a one-week period, we will observe species of the floodplain understory and canopy to observe niche separation and specialization. In addition, we hope to see species of conservation concern and ecological importance, such as the endemic black-faced cotinga and the pale-winged trumpeter, along with indicator species, to analyze the health of the rainforest near Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica.

Seasonal And Environmental Influences On Snake Captures In Northern Indiana, Skye La Rosa, Nicholas Sekits, Sara Ruane

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Midwestern snake populations have been declining, yet, snakes are challenging to capture and study due to their cryptic nature. We examined how the time of sampling, coverboard type, and temperature influenced the capture rates and sizes of Common Gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) and Dekay’s Brownsnakes (Storeria dekayi). We deployed coverboards (rubber or carpet) at 20 sites across northern Indiana and found that T. sirtalis captures peaked in July and August, and both species had smaller sizes in August. Coverboard type had no significant effect. These findings provide insight into snake ecology, particularly seasonal patterns, and habitat preferences, informing future conservation efforts.

Investigating The Impacts Of Xbp1s Overexpression In Oligodendrocyte Progentior Cells In A Remylinating Mouse Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Grace E. Newell, Kody Ellen Bruce

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that results in

the targeted destruction of myelinated axons within the central nervous system (CNS). Remyelination restores neuronal function

and prevents axonal degeneration, but remyelination is either incomplete or inconsistent in MS. Efforts to re-populate remyelinating oligodendrocytes will therefore advance reparative therapeutics for MS. Remyelinating oligodendrocytes develop and function in the presence of inflammatory environment in MS. It has been shown that inflammation diminishes the capacity of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to develop into mature oligodendrocytes and remyelinate demyelinated lesions. In addition, inflammation induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is one of the …

Comparing Human Skeletal Collections At Loyola University Chicago: Impacts On Education And Research, Stella Riehl

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Collections of human skeletal remains reflect a long history of exploitation and marginalization, issues that body donation seeks to alleviate. Through comparing remains purchased from biological supply companies in the 1960-70’s by Loyola’s Anthropology Department with skeletons from the National Body Donor Program, I aim to explore whether differences impact education and research. Age at death and sex were estimated for 36 skeletons; present pathological conditions were noted. Results indicate that donor skeletons are significantly older with more chronic conditions. However, both collections display the inextricable links between lived experiences and disease processes. Emphasizing each individual’s history is essential.

Tobramycin Resistance Is Less Likely To Evolve Under Nitrogen Limitation., Anja Hofmeier

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

I am investigating whether nutrient-limited environments impact the evolution of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli. We evolved E. coli for 24 days in nitrogen- or carbon-limited environments with and without tobramycin. Nitrogen-limited populations were less likely to evolve antibiotic resistance as many went extinct before day 24. Growth curves for the evolved and ancestral populations showed that tobramycin-resistant populations grew more slowly than the ancestor in the absence of antibiotics. I also conducted fitness assays to evaluate the competitive ability of the evolved populations compared to their ancestor.

Stressors In Urban Ecosystems: Assessing The Challenges & Contributions Of Bee Populations In Chicago, Caitlyn Smith, Reagan Potts, Kyle Alioto

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This presentation will evaluate the challenges that Chicago bee populations face from pesticide use and habitat fragmentation, including how urban spaces can foster pollinator populations. This presentation will also estimate the contribution of bee pollination services in Cook County as a rationale for policy recommendations. Over the course of the spring semester, we worked in a group of three students to review relevant literature, collect data, and perform a policy analysis. Through this experience, we deepened our understanding of urban bee ecology, the importance of urban planning, and community engagement.

Della Protein And Cbl-Cipk Signaling Pathway As Candidates For Genetic Engineering, Nathan F. Surles

ATU Scholars Symposium

No abstract provided.

Graphfocus: Adaptive Training Strategies To Counter Over- Globalization In Graph Transformers

Defensive Publications Series

As Transformers become more popular for graph machine learning, a significant issue has recently been observed. Their global attention mechanisms tend to overemphasize distant vertices, leading to the phenomenon of "over-globalising." This phenomenon often results in the dilution of essential local information, particularly in graphs where local neighbourhoods carry significant predictive power. Existing methods often struggle with rigidity in their local processing, where tightly coupled operations limit flexibility and adaptability in diverse graph structures. Additionally, these methods can overlook critical structural nuances, resulting in an incomplete integration of local and global contexts. This paper addresses these issues by proposing GraphFocus, …

Unizyme A Unified Protein Cleavage Site Predictor Enhanced With Enzyme Active-Site Knowledge

Defensive Publications Series

Enzyme-catalyzed protein cleavage is essential for many biological functions. Accurate predic tion of cleavage sites can facilitate various appli cations such as drug development, enzyme de sign, and a deeper understanding of biologica mechanisms. However, most existing models are restricted to an individual enzyme, which ne glects shared knowledge of enzymes and fails generalize to novel enzymes. Thus, we introduce a unified protein cleavage site predictor named UniZyme, which can generalize across diverse enzymes. To enhance the enzyme encoding for the protein cleavage site prediction, UniZyme em ploys a novel biochemically-informed model ar chitecture along with active-site knowledge of pro …

Probabilistic Graph Circuits Deep Generative Models For Tractable Probabilistic Inference Over Graphs

Defensive Publications Series

Deep generative models (DGMs) have recently demonstrated remarkable success in capturing complex probability distributions over graphs. Al though their excellent performance is attributed to powerful and scalable deep neural networks, it is, at the same time, exactly the presence of these highly non-linear transformations that makes DGMs intractable. Indeed, despite representing probability distributions, intractable DGMs deny probabilistic foundations by their inability to answer even the most basic inference queries with out approximations or design choices specific to a very narrow range of queries. To address this limitation, we propose probabilistic graph circuits (PGCs), a framework of tractable DGMs that provide …

Offline Model-Based Optimization Comprehensive Review

Defensive Publications Series

Offline optimization is a fundamental challenge in science and engineering, where the goal is to optimize black-box functions using only offline datasets. This setting is particularly relevant when querying the objective function is prohibitively expensive or infeasible, with applications spanning protein engineering, material discovery, neural architecture search, and beyond. The main difficulty lies in accurately estimating the objective landscape beyond the available data, where extrapolations are fraught with significant epistemic uncertainty. This uncertainty can lead to objective hacking (reward hacking)—exploiting model inaccuracies in unseen regions—or other spurious optimizations that yield misleadingly high performance estimates outside the training distribution. Recent advances …

Development Of A Transitive-Based Netework Clustering Methodology For Unweighted, Directed Networks, Collin Jacob Matthews

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.