Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Impact Of Green Roofs On Urban Heat Island Mitigation: A Hardware Scale Modeling Approach, William C. Pompeii Ii, Timothy W. Hawkins

The Geographical Bulletin

As urban areas and the number of people living in urban areas grow, it is important to assess different mechanisms for mitigating the resulting urban heat island . Two hardware scale models (16 ft2 footprint), identical except for their roofing material, were constructed and monitored to assess the impact of green roofs on urban temperature and humidity . During the daytime, indoor and outdoor temperatures of the green roof model were 4 .2°C and 0 .3°C cooler respectively than the black roof model . The green roof indoor temperature was 0 .7°C warmer during the nighttime . Humidity differences between …

Reconstructing Canopy Disturbance History And Recruitment Patterns To Inform Management Decisions At The Lost 40 In The Chippewa National Forest, Northern Minnesota, Julia Rauchfuss, Susy Svatek Ziegler

The Geographical Bulletin

Old-growth eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and red pine (Pinus resinosa) dominate the forest canopy but not the understory of the Lost 40 Scientific and Natural Area in northern Minnesota . Our objectives were to (1) analyze stand structure and species composition, (2) examine the tree-ring record to determine the frequency and magnitude of canopy disturbances, (3) characterize recruitment patterns to provide information for a science-based management plan, and (4) compare the canopy-disturbance history of the Lost 40 to the average decadal rate of disturbance in similar forests . Average canopy disturbance from 1880–1999 was 2 .6–8 .2 percent per …

Performance Studies Of An Axial Flow Waterjet Pump Using An Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Model, Stephen E. Monroe, Junfeng Wang, Chunlei Liang

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

In this study, an Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) model is demonstrated its suitability for studying the flow and performance of open marine propellers and waterjet pumps. First, the accuracy of the URANS model is validated by studying turbulent flow past counter-rotating propellers (CRPs). Specifically, experimental data from Miller (1976) is employed for comparison against the URANS results. Subsequently, URANS is used to study the flow and performance of an Office of Naval Research (ONR) axial flow waterjet pump (AxWJ-2). Due to the large number of degrees of freedom for both simulations, parallel computations over 80 cores are performed. For the …

A Marine Knowledge System For Ocean Affairs: Integrating Data, Evaluating Usage, And Enabling Sustainable Marine Management, Yu-Jen Pan

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study presents the evolution and assessment of the Marine Knowledge Education System (MKES), designed to improve user acceptance among students in professional marine science courses in Taiwan. The MKES leverages real-world maritime cases from the General Coast Guard Administration and is built upon existing technologies like cloud services, social networks, and data analysis tools. The technology acceptance model (TAM) provides the theoretical underpinning for the assessment of user confidence. Data was collected from 190 participants through purposive sampling. Path analysis confirmed all hypothesized relationships within the TAM with statistical significance (p < 0.001). Additionally, paired-sample t-tests revealed a significant increase in student acceptance of the MKES after integrating it into the marine science curriculum. These findings underscore the capacity of the MKES as a digital learning tool to enrich course pedagogy and improve student learning outcomes, thereby offering valuable support in advancing the education of professional marine managers.

In Silico Engineering Of Fullerene-Like Al12n12 Nanostructured For The Adsorption Of Ph3, Nh3, And Cocl2 Industrial Affiliate Gases, Ededet A. Eno, Eban L. Kechi, Favour A. Nduoma, Henry O. Edet

Polytechnic Journal

The prevalent health hazards as well as environmental threats posed by industrial affiliate gases have become a point of concern to scientists today, this study explores the use of fullerene-like Al₁₂N₁₂ nanostructured for the adsorption of PH₃ NH₃ and COCl₂. Density Functional Theory (DFT) at the M06-2X/6-311+G (d, p) level of theory was utilized, in the detection of the adsorption properties of Al₁₂N₁₂ for PH₃, NH_3, and COCl₂ gases. The findings indicate that Al₁₂N₁₂exhibits high stability and suitability in gas adsorption applications. …

Embodiment, Plasticity, And The Re/Production Of Gender, Sex, And Race In Human Biology, Meredith Wilson

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

This paper historically situates human biology research by engaging with feminist science and technology scholars to show how a key mechanism of embodiment, plasticity, is used to re/produce sex and gender binaries in anthropological research and beyond. I begin by defining embodiment and demonstrating its reliance on plasticity. Next, I discuss plasticity and review how and why it has been taken up in human biology research. After, I engage with the works of feminist, trans, and queer scholars who have examined the connection between embodiment, plasticity, and the creation of Western binarized sex and gender. Further, I present how the …

Commonwealth Times 2024-09-04

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Climate Targets Versus Longterm Performance - How Effective Is B2 Retrofit In The Race To 2030?, Seamus Harrington, Mark Mulville

Conference papers

Ireland’s Climate Action Plan details a roadmap of measures that align with the European Union’s ambition to achieve a net-zero target carbon emissions by 2050. It seeks to play a key role in delivering energy efficiency in Ireland and follows a Europe wide approach to reduce energy consumption across the building sector. In this context, Ireland has introduced the National Retrofitting Scheme which has set a goal of retrofitting 500,000 existing homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 by 2030. The route to attaining this rating is dependent on the pre-works BER of individual properties.

This research paper …

Formation And Microwave Losses Of Hydrides In Superconducting Niobium Thin Films Resulting From Fluoride Chemical Processing, Carlos G. Torres-Castanedo, Dominic P. Goronzy, Thang Pham, Anthony Mcfadden, Nicholas Materise, Paul Masih Das, Matthew Cheng, Dmitry Lebedev, Stephanie M. Ribet, Mitchell J. Walker, David A. Garcia-Wetten, Cameron J. Kopas, Jayss Marshall, Ella Lachman, Nikolay Zhelev, James A. Sauls, Joshua Y. Mutus, Corey Rae H. Mcrae, Vinayak P. Dravid, Michael J. Bedzyk, Mark C. Hersam

Faculty Publications

Superconducting niobium (Nb) thin films have recently attracted significant attention due to their utility for quantum information technologies. In the processing of Nb thin films, fluoride-based chemical etchants are commonly used to remove surface oxides that are known to affect superconducting quantum devices adversely. However, these same etchants can also introduce hydrogen to form Nb hydrides, potentially negatively impacting microwave loss performance. Here, comprehensive materials characterization of Nb hydrides formed in Nb thin films as a function of fluoride chemical treatments is presented. In particular, secondary-ion mass spectrometry, X-ray scattering, and transmission electron microscopy reveal the spatial distribution and phase …

A Study To Explore How People Evaluate The Quality Of Their Medical Information From The Social Media For Celiac Disease, Phillip Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

Every day, millions of people visit various social media platforms to post updates on their daily lives, to search for information, and to repost and/or potentially like posts on social media. This has led to scores of pieces of misinformation appearing on these social media posts. While some misinformation can be harmless and disregarded by the general public, there are various subject matters, including medical treatments and diseases, where misinformation on the treatment and other various subjects involving the disease can lead to dire consequences. This research proposes to investigate how social media users vet their data on two different …

Re: Approved Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area Repository Data Gap Quality Assurance Project Plan Request For Change To Install Additional Test Pits And Perform Material Characterization, Josh Bryson

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Gladys Mitchell House Collection, Dan Bonenberger, Jaclyn Panter, Katherine St. Amand, Ian Tomashik, Kate Zorn

Digital Heritage Preservation Collection

This collection explores the life of Gladys Mitchell and the home she shared with her family on Detroit's Eastside. Gladys and her husband, Ossian Sweet, lived with her parents Benjamin and Rosella in a residence on 9322-24 Cairney Street from 1922 to 1925 before moving to the now-historic bungalow at 2905 Garland Street, located about a mile southeast. In 1925, when the Sweets moved into an all-white neighborhood, their experience led to a landmark Supreme Court case that affirmed African Americans' rights to homeownership, including the right to defend their private property.

Benjamin Mitchell and his wife, Rosella, rented the …

Assessing The Accuracy And Utility Of Chatgpt Responses To Patient Questions Regarding Posterior Lumbar Decompression, Alec Giakas, Rajkishen Narayanan, Teeto Ezeonu, Jonathan Dalton, Yunsoo Lee, Tyler Henry, John Mangan, Gregory Schroeder, Alex Vaccaro, Christopher Kepler

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Aim: To examine the clinical accuracy and applicability of ChatGPT answers to commonly asked questions from patients considering posterior lumbar decompression (PLD). Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify 10 questions that encompass some of the most common questions and concerns patients may have regarding lumbar decompression surgery. The selected questions were then posed to ChatGPT. Initial responses were then recorded, and no follow-up or clarifying questions were permitted. Two attending fellowship-trained spine surgeons then graded each response from the chatbot using a modified Global Quality Scale to evaluate ChatGPT’s accuracy and utility. The surgeons then analyzed each question, …

An Ai-Infused Educational Technology To Cultivate Self-Directed Learning In Sustainable Waste Management, Qiming Sun, I-Han Hsiao

Computer Science and Engineering

Proper waste management is a critical aspect of sustainable living. Many sustainable communities have implemented various initiatives to support sustainability through better waste management. However, the knowledge required for proper waste management is increasingly complex, and the process of waste classification can be very confusing. In this work, we present a home-grown web-based educational technology, Waste Genie (WG), that supplies bite-size interactive learning content with a scalable Human-AI collaborated design to support sustainability learning. WG leverages large language models to provide personalized feedback to guide the users through practicing waste sorting; it also synthesizes informative posts to facilitate learning. In …

Improved Parameters Of Anand Model And Advanced Fea Technique For Low-Cycle Fatigue Life: Finite Element Analysis Models For Pb-Free Solder And Pb Solder In Real Life Ball Gird Ally Package, Hamidreza Nahavandi

Dissertations and Theses

The present study uses the finite element method to evaluate the fatigue life of solder joints of plastic ball grid array packages (PBGA) under thermal-cycling conditions. A Series of precise 3D FE models for solder joints of plastic ball grid array packages is created to improve reliability prediction accuracy. Damage parameters are obtained from the FEA results and used to estimate solder balls’ thermal fatigue life. The Coffin-Manson equation is employed. The predicted thermal fatigue lives are discussed in detail.

Due to marketing and legislative pressures, Pb-free solder is fast becoming a reality in electronic manufacturing. The industry has concluded …

Transorbital Alternating Current Stimulation In A Double-Masked Randomized Clinical Trial: Visual Functional Effect And Quality Of Life, Maria De Los Angeles Ramos Cadena, Ashley Sohn, Heather Livengood, Ting-Fang Lee, Batsheva Rubin, Jiyuan Hu, Bernhard A. Sabel, Rachel Matayev, Joseph Panarelli, Gadi Wollstein, Joel S. Schuman

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and safety of repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS) treatment by assessing vision-related quality of life and visual function outcome in subjects treated with rtACS versus sham-control.

STUDY DESIGN: Double masked, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial (NCT03188042).

SUBJECTS: Sixteen subjects with moderate-to-advanced glaucoma (visual field [VF] mean deviation [MD] ≤-6.00 decibels) randomized into sham (9 subjects) or rtACS intervention (7 subjects) groups.

METHODS: Subjects underwent 10 rtACS sessions over 2 weeks. All subjects had comprehensive ocular examination at baseline, 1-week, and 4-weeks posttreatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), VF MD, number of …

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Green Libraries: A Sustainable Gateway To A Greener Future, Meghabat Singh, Avinash Singh Charak, Karan Kumar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study involves a holistic coverage of the history, features, elements, standards, initiatives, and future of green libraries or sustainable libraries of the world and India. The progress of green libraries has arrived at a turning point that has gained momentum in the form of the green library movement all over the globe. This paper showcases various libraries that are promoting and prioritizing the operations, services, and objectives that are involved in the implementation, development, and achievement of several targets that are set by the movement of green libraries. The article also highlights the needs and necessities that can be …

Exploring The Feasibility And Acceptability Of Community Paramedicine Programs In Achieving Vaccination Equity: A Qualitative Study, Monica Kasting, Alfu Laily, Sidney J. Smith, Sathveka Sembian, Katharine J. Head, Bukola Usidame, Gregory D. Zimet, Laura M. Schwab Reese

Department of Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Mobile Integrated Health-Community Paramedicine (MIH-CP) is a novel approach that may reduce the rural-urban disparity in vaccination uptake in the United States. MIH-CP providers, as physician extenders, offer clinical follow-up and wrap-around services in homes and communities, uniquely positioning them as trusted messengers and vaccine providers. This study explores stakeholder perspectives on feasibility and acceptability of community paramedicine vaccination programs.

Two Essays On Electric Vehicle Subsidies And Auto Industries In China, Jing Liang

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

China’s automobile market is the world’s largest automobile market. In recent decades, the development of China’s automobile market has been closely tied to the policies of the Chinese government. This dissertation explores the impact of two key government policies - China’s auto subsidy policy and China’s joint venture policy - on the Chinese automobile market over the past several years. Chapter 1 investigates the pass-through and distributional effects of electric vehicle (EV) subsidies in China. It evaluates how these effects affect market equilibrium and welfare. Empirical results indicate that EV subsidy pass-through to consumers is more than complete, disproportionately favoring …

Intestinal Microbiome As A Diagnostic Marker Of Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Yomna E. Dean, Mohamed A. Shebl, Mohamed Doma, Rafeek W. Elmezayen, Jose J. Loayza Pintado, Samah S. Rouzan, Noheir Ashraf Ibrahem Fathy Hassan, Yasmeen E. Yaqout, Akiko Tokunaga, Chukwuebuka Anozie

School of Medicine Publications

Background: The intestinal microbiome has been recently linked to several metabolic and chronic disorders, one of which is coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study aimed to analyze the intestinal microbiome of CAD patients and assess the eligibility of dysbiosis as a diagnostic marker of CAD.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were searched using terms, such as 'CAD' and 'microbiome'. Only observational controlled studies were included. R version 4.2.2 was used for the analysis.

Results: A significant association was found between the CAD group and increased Simpson and Shannon Indices compared with the control group (MD=0.04, 95% CI=0.03-0.05, …

Enhanced Aqueous Formation And Neutralization Of Fine Atmospheric Particles Driven By Extreme Cold, James R. Campbell, Michael Battaglia Jr, Kayane K. Dingilian, Meeta Cesler-Maloney, William R. Simpson, Ellis S. Robinson, Peter F. Decarlo, Brice Temime-Roussel, Barbara D’Anna, Andrew L. Holen, Judy Wu, Kerri A. Pratt, Jack E. Dibb, Athanasios Nenes, Rodney J. Weber, Jingqiu Mao

Faculty Publications

The prevailing view for aqueous secondary aerosol formation is that it occurs in clouds and fogs, owing to the large liquid water content compared to minute levels in fine particles. Our research indicates that this view may need reevaluation due to enhancements in aqueous reactions in highly concentrated small particles. Here, we show that low temperature can play a role through a unique effect on particle pH that can substantially modulate secondary aerosol formation. Marked increases in hydroxymethanesulfonate observed under extreme cold in Fairbanks, Alaska, demonstrate the effect. These findings provide insight on aqueous chemistry in fine particles under cold …

Promoting Leadership Wellbeing In Behavioral Health Organizations, Mychalbrianne Chatigny

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this case study the strategies and hindrances in the well-being for leaders in a behavioral health organization located in the southern United States were explored. The study was framed around the Baldrige Excellence Framework focusing specifically on the components of leadership, workforce, and strategy. Data were collected including semi-structured interviews, analysis of numerous internal documents, and secondary sources of peer reviewed articles, and organizational websites and media. The results of this study revealed the organization demonstrated a commitment to maintaining a positive working environments and promoting their workforce’s well-being. Themes that emerged from data analysis revealed leaders’ recognition in …

Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes Screening At A Large Pediatric Center, Herda Ona, Fadel E Ruiz, Sridevi Devaraj

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation guidelines recommend annual diabetes screening by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) starting at the age of 10 years. Adherence to these guidelines proves to be challenging, and the nationwide screening rates are still considered suboptimal. The aim of this study was to assess and improve the screening rates at our large pediatric center.

Methods: A 4-year retrospective audit of OGTT completion among pediatric patients with CF of age ≥10 years who are not yet diagnosed with diabetes was conducted. A collaborative working group was formed to identify the barriers …

Smart Toys For Sensing And Soothing Distress In Pediatric Patients, Jonathan Daniel Bonilla

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

This thesis develops and evaluates child-centered technologies to support remote monitoring of pediatric patients, with an emphasis on childhood cancer and pediatric chronic pain. For these and many other health conditions, current therapies tend to focus on treating physical symptoms yet neglect the psycho-emotional aspects of managing the illness. However, such mental states play a major role in recovery. Research has shown that cancer patients with better mental health have better prognoses, higher possibilities of remission, and faster healing processes, while chronic pain patients with better mental health report lower levels of pain. To enable more personalized, continuous, and scalable …

Guest Artist Recital: Mark Stevens, Piano, "Scape"; September 4, 2024, Illinois State University School Of Music

School of Music Programs

Center for the Performing Arts

September 4, 2024

Wednesday Evening

7:30 p.m.

Molecularly Imprinted Wearable Sensor With Paper Microfluidics For Real-Time Sweat Biomarker Analysis, Sathwika Samudrala, Myeong Namkoong, Jennette P Moreno, Limei Tian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The urgent need for real-time and noninvasive monitoring of health-associated biochemical parameters has motivated the development of wearable sweat sensors. Existing electrochemical sensors show promise in real-time analysis of various chemical biomarkers. These sensors often rely on labels and redox probes to generate and amplify the signals for the detection and quantification of analytes with limited sensitivity. In this study, we introduce a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based biochemical sensor to quantify a molecular biomarker in sweat using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which eliminates the need for labels or redox probes. The molecularly imprinted biosensor can achieve sensitive and specific detection of …

High Impact Malware Targeting Maritime Infrastructure, Kevin Jones, Kimberly Tam

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Malware, of varying degrees of sophistication, is a growingproblem for any and all computing devices. With computing devices becoming more integrated into daily life across all sectors, malware has amore diverse cyberspace to affect. There is existent research examiningthe problem of malware from various perspectives: Personal Computers, smartphones, Internet of Things devices, etc. The majority of thisresearch has, in the past, focused on Information Technology (IT) devices and IT issues. More recently, there is an emerging body of workwith a focus on Operational Technology (OT), in various domains, suchas power grids, communication infrastructure, and factories. Unlike IT,OT directly monitors and/or …

September 4, 2024, Faculty, Illinois Wesleyan University

2024-2025

No abstract provided.

Perspectives In Embodiment Theory, Sana Saboowala, Maria Cox

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

Researchers apply the concept of embodiment across many disciplines, resulting in a set of expansive definitions that only sometimes overlap. This special issue celebrates the plurality and wide applicability of this useful framework by bringing together multiple perspectives on embodiment within the field of human biology.