Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Different Soil Horizons Of White Oak Mountain, Tn And Their Effect On The Soil Microbial Community, Ji Won Moon, Timothy D. Trott

Research in Biology

Soil microorganisms participate in the diverse interaction within virtually all ecosystems, consequently affecting the associated human and animal population. Identifying how edaphic variables alter the functional and taxonomic diversity of the soil microbial community requires an examination of total microbial soil diversity and abundance. This research study examined the effect of soil depth and horizon on the soil microbial community composition of White Oak Mountain. The soil microbial community was characterized by 16S/18S/ITS rDNA amplicon sequencing of the DNA extract of six samples from the three major soil types identified: HcE, MoE, and uMvC. OTU clustering analysis and both alpha …

Efficient Scopeformer: Toward Scalable And Rich Feature Extraction For Intracranial Hemorrhage Detection, Yassine Barhoumi, Nidhal Carla Bouaynaya, Ghulam Rasool

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

The quality and richness of feature maps extracted by convolution neural networks (CNNs) and vision Transformers (ViTs) directly relate to the robust model performance. In medical computer vision, these information-rich features are crucial for detecting rare cases within large datasets. This work presents the “Scopeformer,” a novel multi-CNN-ViT model for intracranial hemorrhage classification in computed tomography (CT) images. The Scopeformer architecture is scalable and modular, which allows utilizing various CNN architectures as the backbone with diversified output features and pre-training strategies. We propose effective feature projection methods to reduce redundancies among CNN-generated features and to control the input size of …

Integration Of Meta-Multi-Omics Data Using Probabilistic Graphs And External Knowledge, Handan Can, Sree K. Chanumolu, Barbara D. D., Sophie Alvarez, Michael J. Naldrett, Gülhan Ünlü, Hasan H. Otu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Multi-omics has the promise to provide a detailed molecular picture of biological systems. Although obtaining multi-omics data is relatively easy, methods that analyze such data have been lagging. In this paper, we present an algorithm that uses probabilistic graph representations and external knowledge to perform optimal structure learning and deduce a multifarious interaction network for multi-omics data from a bacterial community. Kefir grain, a microbial community that ferments milk and creates kefir, represents a self-renewing, stable, natural microbial community. Kefir has been shown to have a wide range of health benefits. We obtained a controlled bacterial community using the two …

Book Bans, Academic Freedom, And The Academic Law Library: Reflections On An Aall Discussion Den, Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

Discussion Dens are consistently among my favorite programs at the AALL Annual Meeting, and Leslie Street’s Book Bans, Academic Freedom, and the Academic Law Library discussion was truly a highlight of AALL 2023. Street approached this difficult and ever-evolving issue with expertise, passion, and open-mindedness, guiding the group to consider: what can law librarians do to support our colleagues in states facing books bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) bases?

Minimalizing Needlestick Injuries, Susan Somers

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

This is a poster, along with a 500 word abstract, on best practise to reduce needlestick injuries and reduce blood borne illness, if an injury occurs, among the multidisciplinary team.

Approval Letter For The Request For Change (Rfc) To The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Request For Change (Rfc)-Brw-2023-02 To The Butte Reduction Works (Brw) Smelter Area Mine Waste Remediation And Contaminated Groundwater Hydraulic Control Site Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) For Microbial Analysis And Biotreatability (Dated July 13, 2023), Nikia Greene

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Office Of Research, Economic Engagement And Outreach Update, August 2, 2023, Office Of Research, Economic Engagement And Outreach

Office of Research, Economic Engagement and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Sel4 On Risc-V - Developing High Assurance Platforms With Modular Open-Source Architectures, Michael A. Doran Jr

Masters Theses

Virtualization is now becoming an industry standard for modern embedded systems. Modern embedded systems can now support multiple applications on a single hardware platform while meeting power and cost requirements. Virtualization on an embedded system is achieved through the design of the hardware-software interface. Instruction set architecture, ISA, defines the hardware-software interface for an embedded system. At the hardware level the ISA, provides extensions to support virtualization.

In addition to an ISA that supports hypervisor extensions it is equally important to provide a hypervisor completely capable of exploiting the benefits of virtualization for securing modern embedded systems. Currently there does …

Fsec Meeting Minutes August 2, 2023, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Certified Occupational Health Nurses: Advocating For The Workforce And Work Environment, Lucille F. Carlson

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Occupational health nursing is the specialty practice that provides health, safety, and wellness programs and services to workers. The practice focuses on promotion of health, prevention of illness/injury, and protection from work-related and environmental hazards. The presentation will focus on benefits of certification in advocacy for workforces and work environments.

Inkjet-Printed Morphogenesis Of Tumor-Stroma Interface Using Bi-Cellular Bioinks Of Collagen-Poly(N-Isopropyl Acrylamide-Co-Methyl Methacrylate) Mixture, Cih Cheng, Naomi Deneke, Hye-Ran Moon, Sae Rome Choi, Natalia Ospina-Munoz, Bennett D. Elzey, Chelsea S. Davis, George T.-C Chiu, Bumsoo Han

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Recent advances in biomaterials and 3D printing/culture methods enable various tissue-engineered tumor models. However, it is still challenging to achieve native tumor-like characteristics due to lower cell density than native tissues and prolonged culture duration for maturation. Here, we report a new method to create tumoroids with a mechanically active tumor-stroma interface at extremely high cell density. This method, named “inkjet-printed morphogenesis” (iPM) of the tumor-stroma interface, is based on a hypothesis that cellular contractile force can significantly remodel the cell-laden polymer matrix to form densely-packed tissue-like constructs. Thus, differential cell-derived compaction of tumor cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) can …

Leveraging Steric Moieties For Kinetic Control Of Dna Strand Displacement Reactions, Drew Lysne, Tim Hachigian, Chris Thachuk, Jeunghoon Lee, Elton Graugnard

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

DNA strand displacement networks are a critical part of dynamic DNA nanotechnology and are proven primitives for implementing chemical reaction networks. Precise kinetic control of these networks is important for their use in a range of applications. Among the better understood and widely leveraged kinetic properties of these networks are toehold sequence, length, composition, and location. While steric hindrance has been recognized as an important factor in such systems, a clear understanding of its impact and role is lacking. Here, a systematic investigation of steric hindrance within a DNA toehold-mediated strand displacement network was performed through tracking kinetic reactions of …

Microlearning: The “Og” Or Hot New Trend?, Rene Corbeil, Maria Elena Corbeil

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

Noteworthy events and innovations highlight the development of microlearning into one of the fastest-growing educational trends today.

Purification And Detection Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria From Whole Blood With Nano-Sieve, Xinye Chen

Theses

Life-threatening bloodstream infections (BSI), such as sepsis, mainly caused by the body’s syndromic response to pathogen infection, are a major public health concern, leading to ~11 million deaths each year. The identification of sepsis presents significant challenges in the diagnostic process, as the isolation of low concentration pathogens from bodily fluids (e.g., human blood) is extremely demanding, and typically relies on time-consuming and complicated isolation processes. Therefore, this work aims to explore the potential of microfluidics as a powerful tool for rapid purification and concentration of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) from blood samples, meanwhile developing a molecular diagnostic technology by combining …

Re: Approval Letter For The Request For Change (Rfc) To The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Request For Change (Rfc)-Brw-2023-02 To The Butte Reduction Works (Brw) Smelter Area Mine Waste Remediation And Contaminated Groundwater Hydraulic Control Site Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) For Microbial Analysis And Biotreatability (Dated July 13, 2023), Nikia Greene

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Advancing Decarbonization In Regulated Multifamily Affordable Housing: Key Federal Levers To Achieve Meaningful Change, Housing Sustainability Advisors, Eric Hangen

Carsey Publications

Decarbonizing affordable rental housing is critical to mitigating climate change and meeting the Biden Administration’s target for a net-zero emissions national economy by 2050. It also offers numerous benefits, including energy cost savings, improved health and well-being, and economic opportunities. However, challenges related to upfront costs, tenant turnover, technical expertise, and policy support must be addressed to accelerate the market’s adoption of decarbonization. Collaboration between governments, policymakers, landlords, tenants, and industry experts is essential to overcome these challenges and achieve a sustainable and equitable future.

We are faced with a historic moment: the Inflation Reduction Act has provided $27 billion …

Probing Conformational Landscapes Of Binding And Allostery In The Sars-Cov-2 Omicron Variant Complexes Using Microsecond Atomistic Simulations And Perturbation-Based Profiling Approaches: Hidden Role Of Omicron Mutations As Modulators Of Allosteric Signaling And Epistatic Relationships, Gennady M. Verkhivker, Mohammed Alshahrani, Grace Gupta, Sian Xiao, Peng Tao

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In this study, we systematically examine the conformational dynamics, binding and allosteric communications in the Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and BA.4/BA.5 spike protein complexes with the ACE2 host receptor using molecular dynamics simulations and perturbation-based network profiling approaches. Microsecond atomistic simulations provided a detailed characterization of the conformational landscapes and revealed the increased thermodynamic stabilization of the BA.2 variant which can be contrasted with the BA.4/BA.5 variants inducing a significant mobility of the complexes. Using the dynamics-based mutational scanning of spike residues, we identified structural stability and binding affinity hotspots in the Omicron complexes. Perturbation response scanning and network-based mutational …

Quality Assessment Of Life Cycle Inventory Data For Composites, Badr Moutik, John Summerscales, Jasper Graham-Jones, Richard Pemberton

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Environmental sustainability over the life cycle of a product is rising as a key driver in the selection of materials and manufacturing processes. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is increasingly used as a standardised, science-based decision-making support tool to quantify and identify potential environmental impacts through all phases of the product life.A major step involved in completing a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), and so an LCA study, is the collection, analysis, and quality check of data on the investigated processes, data to quantify the inputs and output (e.g., elementary flow of raw materials, energy, waste, and co-products) of the product system …

May Graduation, Samuel Coskey

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Here I narrate the story of the last few days of my graduate program in mathematics. After the completion of the thesis and the delivery of the defense, several twists and turns await in the hours and even minutes before the last deadline.

Towards Ethical Ai: Mathematics Influences Human Behavior, Dioneia M. Monte-Serrat, Carlo Cattani

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Mathematics plays an important role in the linguistic structure of artificial in- telligence (AI). We describe the linguistic process as a unique structure present both in human cognition and in cognitive computing. The close relationship with both AI and human cognition is due to this unique structure, which paves the way for AI to interfere with the behavior of those who interact with it. We highlight the role of mathematicians in designing algorithms—the core of the AI linguistic process—and in defining steps and instructions for AI. Because al- gorithms, through AI, interfere with the thought of those who interact with …

Tarski And Bachmann In Regina: A Magical Connection, James T. Smith

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This is a personal account of an intersection of the schools of research in foundations of geometry founded by Alfred Tarski and Friedrich Bachmann. Their academic lineages and the origins of the schools are also described, as well as the mathematics that resulted from this intersection.

The "Benfordness" Of Bach Music, Chadrack Bantange, Darby Burgett, Luke Haws, Sybil Prince Nelson

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In this paper we analyze the distribution of musical note frequencies in Hertz to see whether they follow the logarithmic Benford distribution. Our results show that the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Christian Bach is Benford distributed while the computer-generated music is not. We also find that computer-generated music is statistically less Benford distributed than human- composed music.

More Than Free Textbooks: Labor And Pedagogy In Implementing Open Resources In A Trigonometry Course, Caleb Holloway

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This paper reports the implementation of open educational resources (OER) in a university trigonometry class, with an emphasis on the pedagogical considerations and academic labor involved. To date these two matters have been underreported in the literature on OER. I provide an account of the work involved both in choosing an open textbook and in creating hundreds of accompanying homework exercises for an online learning platform. I also present the pedagogical lens that informed this implementation, discuss how it informed my adoption of an open textbook, and provide specific examples of how it guided the creation of these exercises. Based …

Just Mathematics: Getting Started Teaching Postsecondary Math For Social Justice, Kenan A. Ince

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Following the summer 2020 civil rights movement and increasing attention to the intersections of mathematics with politics and power, many math educators have reported a desire to implement an antiracist pedagogy and to examine the intersections of their subject with issues of equity, inclusion, and social justice. Many resources exist for K-12 math educators interested in incorporating social justice into their curricula, but resources are comparatively scarce for college and university instructors (though this is changing quickly!). We discuss why one may want to teach mathematics for social justice, how to begin to implement issues of social justice into postsecondary …

Math And Democracy, Kimberly A. Roth, Erika L. Ward

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Math and Democracy is a math class containing topics such as voting theory, weighted voting, apportionment, and gerrymandering. It was first designed by Erika Ward for math master’s students, mostly educators, but then adapted separately by both Erika Ward and Kim Roth for a general audience of undergraduates. The course contains materials that can be explored in mathematics classes from those for non-majors through graduate students. As such, it serves students from all majors and allows for discussion of fairness, racial justice, and politics while exploring mathematics that non-major students might not otherwise encounter. This article serves as a guide …

Responsible Data Science For Genocide Prevention, Victor Piercey

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The term "genocide" emerged out of an effort to describe mass atrocities committed in the first half of the 20th century. Despite a convention of the United Nations outlawing genocide as a matter of international law, the problem persists. Some organizations (including the United Nations) are developing indicator frameworks and “early-warning” systems that leverage data science to produce risk assessments of countries where conflict is present. These tools raise questions about responsible data use, specifically regarding the data sources and social biases built into algorithms through their training data. This essay seeks to engage mathematicians in discussing these concerns.

#Disruptjmm: Online Social Justice Advocacy And Community Building In Mathematics, Rachel Roca, Carrie Diaz Eaton, Drew Lewis, Joseph Hibdon, Stefanie Marshall

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In 2019, \#DisruptJMM, a Twitter hashtag, began circulating after an Inclusion/Exclusion blog by Dr. Piper H pointing to the need to make commonplace conversations about human suffering in the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM). While the \#DisruptJMM hashtag has been used since 2019, the vast majority of use was in the JMM 2020 meetings. Twitter hashtags are used by activists to push forward conversations, join communities around a single idea, and create change. In this article, we draw on frameworks from community building seen in other equity and inclusion advocacy hashtags such as \#GirlsLikeUs [7] to qualitatively code and analyze tweets …

On Definitions Of "Mathematician", Ron Buckmire, Carrie Diaz Eaton, Joseph Hibdon, Katherine M. Kinnaird, Drew Lewis, Jessica Libertini, Omayra Ortega, Rachel Roca, Andrés R. Vindas Meléndez

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The definition of who is or what makes a “mathematician” is an important issue to be addressed in the mathematics community. Too often, a narrower definition of who is considered a mathematician (and what is considered mathematics) is used to exclude people from the discipline—both explicitly and implicitly. However, using a narrow definition of a mathematician allows us to highlight, examine, and challenge systemic barriers that exist in certain spaces of the community. This paper analyzes and illuminates tensions between narrow and broad definitions and how they can be used to promote both inclusion and exclusion simultaneously. In this article, …

Measuring Awareness Impacts Of Open-Source Digital Repository: A Framework And Case Study Of Dspace And Eprints At The Fiji National University, Udya Chandra Shukla

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study aimed to determine how the usage and understanding of open-source digital repositories affect measurements. This paper examines a DSpace and EPrints case study at Fiji National University. The idea of a digital repository is essential in research communities. Facilitating research in an open-access setting is essential. Open-access digital library software such as DSpace, EPrints, and Greenstone can address these problems. In contrast, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has fundamentally changed how individuals access and engage with information. Since they provide accurate and up-to-date information and support an academic institution's primary objective, digital sources of information have become crucial …

Influence Of Forming Forces On Torsional, Tensile, And Compressive Deformation Of Paperboard Packages, Arvo Niini, Panu Tanninen, Juha Varis, Ville Leminen

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Paperboard packages were tested mechanically to investigate influence of forming forces on torsional, tensile, and compressive deformation. The packages were paperboard trays which were press formed with different pressing forces and blank holder forces. Deformation of the trays was observed with torsion, compression, and tensile tests. A statistical analysis of test results was conducted to derive optimal forming forces. Increased pressing force yielded desirable deformation characteristics with the trays. Blank holder force had largest impact on the compressive deformation. Interaction of the pressing force and the blank holder force influenced the torsional and the compressive deformation. The optimal forming forces …