Digital Commons Network^™

Interdigitated Gear-Shaped Screen-Printed Electrode Using G-Pani Ink For Sensitive Electrochemical Detection Of Stress Related Hormones Dopamine And Cortisol, Pritu Parna Sarkar

Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces a novel interdigitated gear-shaped graphene-based electrochemical biosensor for the simultaneous detection of dopamine (DA) and cortisol. Modified with graphene–polyaniline (G–PANI) conductive ink, the sensor increased active surface area—94.52% and 57% higher than Metrohm DropSens 110 and circular printed sensors, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed for physicochemical characterization. The sensor detects dopamine and cortisol over a linear range of 0.1–100 µM, with limits of detection of 0.043 µM (R² = 0.98) and 0.0577 µg/mL (R² = 0.976), respectively, in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) using redox probe. Electrochemical performance …

Chronic Lower Extremity Anomalies: Impact Of Diabetic Induced Foot Amputations On Human Locomotion, Anthony Arnoldo Melgar

Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to understand the physiological changes that the human body undergoes post partial foot amputation (PFA). A total of three studies were conducted to fully comprehend biomechanical changes and adjustments that occur during locomotion for affected individuals. The first study of this thesis focuses on obtaining kinematic data for both the ankle joint angle and ankle joint torque for the healthy population, as well as for the affected PFA population. Results were compared, and notable differences were present between the two. The second study of this thesis dealt with individual muscle forces. To obtain the muscle force data, …

Opa1-Mediated Mitochondrial Dynamics In Myogenic Differentiation Of C2c12 Myoblasts, Daniel Eloy Bazan

Theses and Dissertations

Mitochondria play a pivotal role in metabolic energy production, cellular signaling, and apoptosis. To carry out these key cellular roles, mitochondria dynamically balance their organization through opposing including fusion and fission processes. The balance between mitochondrial fusion and fission is regulated by key proteins such as OPA1 (optic atrophy 1) and OMA1 (overlapping activity with metalloprotease). More recently, mitochondria have been increasingly revealed to play key roles in cellular differentiation, where metabolic demands are reprogrammed. This study aims to elucidate the specific roles of OPA1 and OMA1 in the differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cells into myotubes.

Our data demonstrates that …

Machine Learning Applications For Evaporation Predictions From Small Reservoirs: Potential Water Savings For Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Syed Muhammad Fahad Abdullah

Theses and Dissertations

Local-scale reservoirs are important to regional water balance, but these are often overlooked. This study presents a robust machine learning (ML) approach leveraging reanalysis datasets to estimate daily evaporation for local-scale reservoirs in semi-arid South Texas. Selected models were trained with daily lake evaporation model (DLEM) estimates and used climatic and reservoir-specific properties as feature input variables. The multi-reservoirs training approach ensured applicable model generalization. Results show promising predictive performance with R² values ranging from 0.55–0.67 (testing) and 0.64–0.78 (validation), NSE values ranged from 0.54 0.67 (testing) and 0.64–0.78 (validation), and RMSE values ranged between 1.52–1.80 mm/day (testing) and 1.22–1.58 …

Low-Cost Monitoring And Fingerprinting Of High-Powered Electric Systems, Kwabena Buamono Aboagye-Otchere

Theses and Dissertations

Electric motors are vital to industry, transport, and energy, yet their maintenance challenges persist. While traditional reactive maintenance leads to costly downtime and safety risks, predictive maintenance, especially through IoT and machine learning offers early fault detection and operational efficiency. However, this shift introduces security concerns due to unintended magnetic emissions from motors. These emissions, though useful for non-intrusive monitoring, can be exploited to eavesdrop on sensitive industrial processes. This dissertation explores the dual nature of magnetic emissions: their value in motor diagnostics and their potential as a security vulnerability. It demonstrates how emissions can identify motors, monitor health, and …

Computational Calculations On Zno (0001) And Zno (1010) Surfaces With And Without Pd Adatoms, Amit Aich

Theses and Dissertations

In this research work, first-principles density functional theory (DFT) was used to study O-terminated, Zn-terminated ZnO (0001) surfaces and non-polar ZnO (1010) surfaces. Both clean surfaces and those with Pd or PdO adatoms were examined. Adsorption was considered at O, Zn and hollow sites. After structural relaxation, we analyzed the electronic, optical and adsorption properties. The O-terminated ZnO (0001) surface has a larger band gap of 0.76 eV and p-type conduction. The Zn-terminated surface has a smaller band gap of 0.15 eV and shows n-type behavior. Pd adsorption modifies ZnO’s electronic structure in a site-dependent manner. On O-terminated surfaces, it …

Effectiveness Of Magnetic Nanocomposites Modified With Reduced Graphene Oxide Derived From Spent Coffee Grounds For Pharmaceutical Waste Remediation, Raisya Fakhira Khairani, Faisha Nurqisthi, Sindhi Ika Nuari, Syifa Rahmalia Herwinta, Aqilla Irfa Muthia Rahma, Diana Rakhmawaty Eddy

Chimica et Natura Acta

The Covid-19 pandemic significantly inflluenced the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia, leading to environmental challenges, particularly with the discharge of pharmaceutical wastewater. Traditional treatment methods, such as flocculation and coagulation, hav limitations as they produce large volumes of activated sludge. An alternative approach for remediating this wastewater is the use of magnetite nanocomposites modified with reduced graphene oxide. This material leverages the unique properties of reduced graphene oxide, enhancing the separation and transfer of electron-hole pairs generated in the photogeneration process and significantly reducing charge carrier recombination in the photocatalytic system. This study aims to determine the degradation …

Influence Of Mixing Duration And Absorption Characteristics Of Superabsorbent Polymers On The Fresh And Hardened Properties Of High-Performance Concrete, Yu Cun Gu, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigates the combined influence of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) with distinct absorption kinetics and extended mixing sequences on the rheological, mechanical, and transport properties of high-performance concrete (HPC). Two SAPs—an ionic acrylamide-co-acrylic acid copolymer (SAP-P) and a non-ionic acrylamide polymer (SAP-B)—were incorporated at an internal curing level of 100%. The impact of extended mixing times (3, 5, and 7 min) following SAP addition was systematically evaluated. Results showed that longer mixing durations led to increased superplasticizer demand and higher plastic viscosity due to continued water absorption by SAPs. However, yield stress remained relatively stable owing to the dispersing effect …

Role Of Cellular Proteins In The Regulation Of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Gene Expression And Dna Replication, Joseph R. Heath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous human pathogen that infects the majority of the human population. To facilitate infection, this virus relies on a combination of host and viral factors. Previous studies have revealed a number of host proteins that associate with the HSV-1 genome throughout infection but their putative role(s) in this process remain undefined. This study aims to examine two such proteins to determine their contributions to HSV-1 gene expression and DNA replication. The first of these factors is Ints3, a subunit of the Integrator complex. This protein complex functions in transcription regulation, and Ints3 …

Modification Of Tini Alloy By Fast Pulse Laser Heat Treatment, Yitao Chen, Mohammad Masud Parvez, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this study, the effects of local heat treatment with fast pulse laser on thin TiNi shape memory alloy strip materials were investigated. Various materials characterization methods including optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and Vickers hardness were used to identify the differences of microstructure, mechanical properties, and functional properties between regions inside and outside the laser-scanned region. The tensile test was also conducted for both the non-laser-scanned specimen and the laser-scanned specimen. The area covered by laser scanning shows great differences by possessing a more homogeneous austenite phase without shear bands and …

Digital Twins, Ai, And Cybersecurity In Additive Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Review Of Current Trends And Challenges, Md Sazol Ahmmed, Laraib Khan, Muhammad Arif Mahmood, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of Industry 4.0 has accelerated the adoption of sophisticated technologies, including Digital Twins (DTs), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity, within Additive Manufacturing (AM). Enabling real-time monitoring, process optimization, predictive maintenance, and secure data management can redefine conventional manufacturing paradigms. Although their individual importance is increasing, a consistent understanding of how these technologies interact and collectively improve AM procedures is lacking. Focusing on the integration of digital twins (DTs), modular AI, and cybersecurity in AM, this review presents a comprehensive analysis of over 137 research publications from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate. The publications are categorized …

Design Of A 32-Bit 4-Phase Asynchronous Risc-V Processor, Sean Jacobs

Theses

As microchips become more complex, smaller, and faster, the clock skew and power consumption present significant design challenges. Asynchronous circuits offer a solution to these issues by replacing the global clock routing with handshaking circuitry. This thesis details the implementation of an asynchronous 32-bit RISC-V processor leveraging 4-phase bundled data handshaking to replace the clock used for synchronization. Key contributions include the development of a 4-stage pipelined RISC-V compliant processor architecture adapted for asynchronous operation, the design of a custom 45nm C-element cell crucial for handshaking synchronization, and analysis of its performance in terms of area, timing, and power. This …

Haunted Echoes, Stuti Kasat

Theses

Haunted Echoes explores the narrative and emotional possibilities of interactive digital fiction by creating a room-based haunted experience. By placing the users within a haunted manor the project encourages emotional discovery through narrative exploration. As a room-based exploratory experience, users get to navigate a dollhouse-style 3D interface, interacting with objects to reveal layered micro-stories and uncover the manor’s haunted past. The experience turns spatial exploration into emotional discovery, drawing inspiration from immersive theater, point-and-click adventures, and environmental storytelling in video games. The thesis examines the intersection and overlap of interactive storytelling, visual communication, and emotional immersion, integrating 3D modeling (Blender/Cinema …

Dynamic Mode Decomposition Of Geostrophically Balanced Motions From Swot Cal/Val In The Separated Gulf Stream, Takaya Uchida, Badarvada Yadidya, Karl E. Lapo, Xiaobiao Xu, Jeffrey J. Early, Brian K. Arbic, Dimitris Menemenlis, Luna Hiron, Eric P. Chassignet, Jay F. Shriver, Maarten C. Buijsman

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The decomposition of oceanic flow into its geostrophically balanced and unbalanced motions carries theoretical and practical significance for the oceanographic community. These two motions have distinct dynamical characteristics and affect the transport of tracers differently from one another. The launch of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite provides a prime opportunity to diagnose the surface balanced and unbalanced motions on a global scale at an unprecedented spatial resolution. Here, we apply dynamic-mode decomposition (DMD), a linear-algebraic data-driven method, to tidally-forced idealized and realistic numerical simulations at submesoscale-permitting resolution and one-day-repeat SWOT observations of sea-surface height (SSH) in the …

Assessing And Developing Higher Education Faculty Digital Competency For Workplace Preparation In A Digital Society, Yolanda T. Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A shared global theme across higher education institutions is the need for training and development regarding digital competencies for higher education, yet there are little to no digital competency frameworks for faculty at higher educational institutions, like there are for K12. What can leaders in higher educational institutions do to prepare adult learners for a digital society and workplace that continues to expand globally in every field? Should every school adopt XYZ College’s approach, where leadership collaborated and developed an emerging technologies academy (ETA) to provide support and training on emerging technologies provided and supported by the college to self-enrolled …

Succinctness Meets Transparency A Linking Framework Combining Hyrax And Kzg, And Its Applications, Argha Sardar

Master’s Dissertations

The thesis begins by introducing the concept of zero knowledge and exploring its various paradigms. It then focuses on a interesting problem: the construction of linking proofs. Chap- ter 2 addresses the challenge of binding two distinct polynomial commitment schemes so that they are consistent at a common evaluation point. The chapter further introduces a method for equating two different polynomials with different domains using an affine line construction. By applying certain optimizations to the bulletproofs protocol, the work achieves a reduction in both the prover’s time and the number of rounds required for proving a large committed inner product. …

Oral History Of Dr. Carl Jón Denbow, Director Of Information For The College Of Osteopathic Medicine Conducted On 02/20/2025 By Angel David García García, Carl Jón Denbow, Angel David García García

HIST 4798/5798: Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History

Dr. Carl Jón Denbow discusses his history, how he became the Director of information for the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University, and his time in this position.

This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

Guide For Teaching Faculty 2025-2026, Coastal Carolina University

Guide for Teaching Faculty

The intention of the Guide for Teaching Faculty is to ensure that all faculty members have the requisite knowledge about University policies, procedures, and services to effectively carry out their instructional assignments.

Reducing Single-Use Plastic In Georgetown County, Alex Gaspar

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Epid-Based In-Vivo Dosimetry With Epigray® Software For Head And Neck Vmat Treatments, Ghassan Al-Murshedi, Yasmin Md. Radzi, Azhar Abdul Rahman

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of in-vivo dosimetry (IVD) utilizing an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) in conjunction with EPIgray ® software (DOSIsoft, Cachan, France) for assessing the accuracy of dose delivery for the patient when undertaking head and neck (H&N) treatments. Methods: Using cross-sectional analysis, data were collected from the linear accelerator of twenty patients undergoing (H&N) radiotherapy treatments using the Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) modality from June 2019 to October 2023 at Gleneagles Hospital Penang, Penang, Malaysia. EPIgray ® software reconstructed the delivered dose based on EPID images. These reconstructed doses were compared with the planned …

Computational Learning Across Biological And Industrial Systems: Bayesian And Segmentation Models For Epigenomic And Manufacturing Data, Prosenjit Roy

All Theses

In this thesis, we made a complete dual-domain investigation using a machine learning approach into two different scientific areas which were epigenetic analysis of seal species and pore identification in the work of additive manufacturing. The study showcased the flexibility and strength of modern computational tools in addressing complicated issues in various biological and industrial systems. We further investigated the epigenetics by using the Bayesian Neural Network and other machine learning methods to conduct a study on the DNA methylation pattern within three pinniped species (the northern elephant seal, Hawaiian monk seal, and Weddell seal) with perfect precision on species …

Research On The Relationship Between Manufacturing Process Digitalization And Product Quality Performance: A Case Study Of Discrete Manufacturing, Baozhong Zhang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The study aims to explore the impact of digital transformation on product quality in discrete manufacturing enterprises. As the global economy and technology rapidly advance, the manufacturing industry faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Digital transformation has emerged as a key strategy for tackling these challenges and has become a significant trend in the manufacturing industry. The discrete manufacturing industry, which demands high product quality, faces even greater challenges in digital transformation. However, if discrete manufacturing enterprises successfully navigate this transformation, they can significantly improve quality, gain a competitive edge, and unlock even greater opportunities for their business.

The study combines …

Computational Fact-Checking With Limited Resources, Fengzhu Zeng

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The rapid dissemination of information through online platforms has sparked widespread concern about the propagation of misinformation. Manual fact-checking by pro- fessional fact-checkers is time-consuming and lacks scalability to address the vast volume of daily information. Consequently, computational fact-checking, driven by automated techniques in natural language processing (NLP), has garnered interest as
a potential solution. However, computational fact-checking faces critical challenges limited resources, particularly due to the issues of data scarcity and computing resource constraints. One key challenge is data scarcity, which arises from the constant generation of new information and emerging events on social media. This scarcity manifests in …

Computational Study Of Nonlinear Electrokinetic Phenomena In Shear-Thinning Fluids, Wai Yuen Leung

All Theses

Electrokinetic phenomena have been widely used for fluid pumping and particle manipulation in micro/nanofluidic systems. They refer to the motion of fluids or particles in response to an electric field because of the spontaneous formation of an electric double layer at the fluid-solid interface. Understanding electrokinetic phenomena in micro/nanochannels is critical for a wide range of applications across various engineering fields, such as disease diagnostics, contaminant treatment and cell analysis. To date, numerous studies have been reported on electrokinetic phenomena in Newtonian fluids, where the classical Helmholtz-Smoluchowski theory indicates a linear relationship between fluid electroosmosis/particle electrophoresis and electric field. However, …

Life Cycle Assessment Of The Cultivation Of Lettuce In A Hydroponic System Using The Nutrient Film Technique, Raquel Jordan

All Theses

Hydroponic systems are an emerging method of soilless crop cultivation typically done inside a greenhouse where nutrients are delivered dissolved in water rather than being supplied from the soil. Potential benefits of hydroponic systems include reduced irrigation requirements, higher crop yield per area, and the ability to grow crops year-round in nontraditional areas such as urban settings, cold climates, and sites with contaminated soil. However, hydroponic systems tend to have high energy requirements for lighting and climate control, which can yield significant environmental impacts. To explore the environmental impacts of cultivating lettuce in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system, …

The Development And Application Of A Method To Simulate Commotio Cordis Inducing Impacts For The Evaluation Of Football Chest Protective Equipment, Bianca J. Henline

All Theses

As one of the most widely played and watched contact sports in the United States, football presents a significant risk of blunt chest trauma. Thus, effective chest protection is essential to prevent rare but fatal injuries like commotio cordis. Despite this, current test methods for certifying chest protective equipment fail to account for injury metrics relevant to commotio cordis events. Recent literature identifies rib deformation and viscous criterion as critical predictors of commotio cordis, yet these metrics are not adequately addressed in the existing testing standard. Furthermore, this standard exclusively assesses chest gear specific to baseball and lacrosse through projectile …

The Effects Of Incremental Application Of Chemical Defoliants On Cotton Fiber Quality, Aashish Karki

All Theses

Leaf shedding is a natural process as cotton matures; however, this does not synchronize with harvest timing; therefore, defoliants are used to remove these leaves and improve harvestability of the bolls. A tractor-mounted boom sprayer is typically used to apply defoliants. However, this approach results in low penetration to the bottom canopy, poor defoliation, and, consequently, lower fiber quality. An autonomous robotic spraying system equipped with pulse width modulation technology enables targeted side-spraying of defoliants, overcoming the limitations of conventional over-the-top applications. However, limited information on staggered defoliation timing and its effect on cotton fiber quality is available. Thus, field …

Effectiveness Of Electrosynthesized Hydrogen Peroxide In Urease Inactivation For Stabilization Of Source-Separated Urine To Recover Urea, Brooke E. Covert

All Theses

The practice of separating urine at a building scale, rather than mixing with domestic wastewater to be treated at water resource recovery facilities, allows for concentrated urine to be directly treated with the aim of resource recovery. However, source separation and treatment present challenges during separation, storage, and transport. This study evaluated the use of hydrogen peroxide-producing electrochemical cells, which represent a technology that uses electricity as an input, to stabilize urine through cathodically produced peroxide to enable downstream water and nutrient recovery. The electrochemical cells have been previously shown to stabilize urine with electrochemically produced peroxide as an effective …

Mission-To-Designs: Automating Uav Conceptual Design Generation, Nana A. Adjei

All Theses

The conceptual design stage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is an exploratory phase where designers are tasked with developing and evaluating a wide range of viable design concepts, considering different geometries and configurations based on mission requirements. The goal is to identify the most suitable design after the exploration for further development and progression to the next phase. Several tools and frameworks have been developed to assist designers in this stage, each offering unique capabilities, but all with the common aim of aiding in the efficient development and evaluation of conceptual designs. This is important in the UAV design process …

Small Stream Restoration In The Piedmont Of South Carolina: Comparison Of Evaluation Tools And Water Quality’S Effects On Salamanders, Camryn Lachica

All Theses

For many years, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) used the Guidelines for Preparing a Compensatory Mitigation Plan worksheets to guide pre-restoration evaluation and determine post-restoration mitigation credits in South Carolina. Recently, the USACE in South Carolina transitioned to the Stream Quantification Tool (SQT), which provides a more comprehensive assessment framework. Our first objective was to compare these assessment methodologies across different landscape types to determine what the SQT adds to mitigation calculations that were not considered in prior worksheets. We evaluated 16 streams in the Piedmont of South Carolina, with four replicates each of forested, suburban, urban, …