Digital Commons Network^™

Learning By Confusion: The Phase Diagram Of The Holstein Model, George Issa, Owen Bradley, Ehsan Khatami, Richard Scalettar

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

We employ the "learning by confusion"technique, an unsupervised machine learning approach for detecting phase transitions, to analyze quantum Monte Carlo simulations of the two-dimensional Holstein model - a fundamental model for electron-phonon interactions on a lattice. Utilizing a convolutional neural network, we conduct a series of binary classification tasks to identify Holstein critical points based on the neural network's learning accuracy. We further evaluate the effectiveness of various training datasets, including snapshots of phonon fields and other measurements resolved in imaginary time, for predicting distinct phase transitions and crossovers. Our results culminate in the construction of the finite-temperature phase diagram …

Continuous Purification Of A Parvovirus Using Two Aqueous Two-Phase Extraction Steps, Natalie Nold, Sheridan Waldack, Grace James, Trisha Colling, Lynn M. Manchester, Taravat Sarvari, Amanda P. Bekkala, Seth Kriz, Madison Baldwin, Emily Agustin-Mazariegos, Michael J. Betenbaugh, Caryn Heldt

Michigan Tech Publications

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) are a liquid–liquid extraction method that offers low-cost, continuous-adaptable virus purification. A two-step ATPS using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium citrate that recovered 66% of infectious porcine parvovirus with 2.0 logs of protein removal and 1.0 logs of DNA removal in batch has now been run continuously. The continuous system output of < 10 ng/mL DNA regardless of starting DNA titer agreed with batch studies. However, the continuous system had a five-fold higher contaminating protein titer than batch studies, likely because of incomplete mixing or settling. Turbidity was tested as a measure of mixing and settling efficiency. Monitoring in-line absorbance at 880 nm directly after mixing and before collection in the settling reservoir could track both mixing and settling during operation. Settling time was reduced by changing the settling line material from PVC to PTFE, which is more hydrophobic. A flow-through AEX filter tested to make impurity removal more robust recovered 90% of PPV and removed an additional 87% of host cell DNA. The filter did not add any additional protein removal. In the future, in-line absorbance sensors could be implemented along with conductivity sensors to measure salt concentration, refractive index sensors to track the PEG-citrate interface, and scales to track mixer and reservoir volumes to enable automated, continuous ATPS. Our vision is to integrate continuous ATPS into a fully continuous end-to-end production for viral vectors.

Using Human Computation And Harmonic Expansions For Characterization And Design Of Grain Boundary Networks, Christopher W. Adair

Theses and Dissertations

Grain Boundary Networks (GBNs) are a high-dimensional feature in polycrystalline microstructural materials that are formed from the crystallographic degrees of freedom. This feature affects multiple material properties such as diffusivity, fracture, elasticity, heat transfer, and others. The link between the crystallography and the material properties is called the structure-property linkage, and allows for simulation and design of materials. While it is possible to use the structure-property linkage to design materials for better performance, the high-dimensional nature of the interconnected grain boundaries preclude the use of many common optimization algorithms for efficiency or local minima considerations. This work shows how the …

Exploring Non-Traditional Yeast For Flavor Innovation In Non-Alcoholic Beer, Andrew Maust, Rahul Sen, Scott Lafontaine

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The demand for nonalcoholic beer (NAB) is growing, with nontraditional yeast strains emerging as valuable tools for brewers to craft distinct NABs. However, independent information about the performance of these commercially available yeasts remains limited. In this study, 11 nontraditional yeast strains were evaluated at two wort nutrient levels to assess their impact on beer chemistry, sensory attributes, and volatile profiles. Basic fermentation metrics were monitored, followed by descriptive sensory analysis and GC-MS/MS quantification of volatile compounds. Results revealed significant differentiation among yeast strains with unique aroma and flavor profiles driven by variations in ester production, fusel alcohol synthesis, and …

Development Of Isoscapes For Hong Kong Freshwater Streams As A Basis For Ecological Studies, Hon Tim Yip

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

Applications of isoscapes in terrestrial and marine ecosystems have grown notably as a tool for studying animal movement. However, isoscapes are rarely used in freshwater ecosystem because current iterations of isoscapes commonly model baseline distributions of bulk stable isotope analysis (SIA) data, which may be inadequate for providing the necessary resolution for fine spatial scale stream environments. This issue could potentially be addressed using compound specific stable isotope analysis, a new method that measures the isotopic composition of individual compounds to provide more comprehensive information than bulk SIA. My study focuses on δ¹³C of essential amino acids (EAA-δ …

Modular Molecular Design Of Polymerized Pro-Estrogen Materials Enables Controlled Astrocyte Response, Devan L. Puhl, Alexis Ziemba, Samuel A.T. Ellman, Alex Hsu, Jayant Saksena, Penelope Phillips Falcone, Bailey Balouch, Deniz Rende, Tanner Fink, R. Helen Zha, Ryan J. Gilbert, Edmund F. Palermo

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The hormone 17β-estradiol (estrogen or "E2") has demonstrated robust neuroprotective properties in countering oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity, as well as strong neurotrophic properties to promote axonal growth, following injury to the central nervous system (CNS). However, oral or injected E2 is a suboptimal drug, as systemic administration fails to achieve a therapeutic dose at the injury site, in addition to being contraindicated in most male patients. Polymerized pro-drug biomaterials can mitigate these issues by locally releasing small quantities of drug over vastly extended timescales. We sought to study the effect of the biomaterial properties of poly(pro-E2) on astrocyte-surface interactions because astrocytes …

Convocation Recital: April 15, 2025, School Of Music

School of Music Programs

Center for the Performing Arts

April 15, 2025

Tuesday Morning

11:00 a.m.

Student Chamber Music Recital: April 15, 2025, School Of Music

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall

April 15, 2025

Tuesday Evening

7:30 p.m.

Analysis Of Pistachio Shell-Derived Activated Porous Carbon Materials For Hydrogen Adsorption, Setareh Elyasi, Nishar Hameed, Peter J. Mahon, Saulius Juodkazis, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer, Tawanda Matamba, J. Vongsvivut, Nisa V. Salim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Developing efficient storage materials is critical for advancing the hydrogen economy. In this study, we aim to utilize plant-based biomass as a sustainable source for fabricating porous carbon (PC) and subsequently employing it for hydrogen adsorption. For the first time, we synthesize highly porous carbon materials from pistachio shells as precursor materials for efficient hydrogen storage. Experiments were conducted to chemically activate pistachio shells using two different agents, sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl), at varying ratios. This study evaluates the effectiveness of these chemical activation agents in enhancing the surface area of PC and, consequently, its hydrogen adsorption …

Rf Emission From Partial Breakdown Events And Their Classification, Torin Sammeth

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Electrical breakdown is a core component of Pulse Power both in its utilization and as a failure point in systems. This research is investigating the feasibility of D-dot antennas to detect and potentially identify different forms of partial electrical breakdown in a point-to-plane gap geometry. In this work, the RF emission detected by a D-dot probe during a partial breakdown event is shown to correlate with the presence of light and current using a fast-current transformer and photomultiplier tube. Additionally, the frequency components of the RF signal were measured with the use of a fast Fourier transform. Identifying these frequencies …

Materials Data Science Ontology(Mds-Onto): Unifying Domain Knowledge In Materials And Applied Data Science, Balashanmuga Priyan Rajamohan, Alexander C. Harding Bradley, Van D. Tran, Jonathan E. Gordon, Hayden W. Caldwell, Redad Mehdi, Gabriel Ponon, Quynh D. Tran, Ozan Dernek, Benjamin G. Pierce, Raymond Wieser, Weiqi Yue, Kiefer Lin, Jiana Kambo, Arafath Nihar, Pawan K. Tripathi, Yinghui Wu, Laura S. Bruckman, Erika I. Barcelos, Roger H. French

Faculty Scholarship

Ontologies have gained popularity in the scientific community as a way to standardize terminologies in organizations’ data. Although certain cohorts have created frameworks with rules and guidelines on creating ontologies, there exist significant variations in how Materials Science ontologies are currently developed. We seek to provide guidance in the form of a unified automated framework for developing interoperable and modular ontologies for Materials Data Science that simplifies the ontology terms matching by establishing a semantic bridge up to the Basic Formal Ontology(BFO). This framework provides key recommendations on how ontologies should be positioned within the semantic web, what knowledge representation …

Nanopore Sequencing For The Detection And Preliminary Identification Of Viruses In Amblyomma Americanum L. (Acari: Ixodidae), Mary Katherine Humphrey, Lorenza Beati, Ella Zierdt, Saviour Dralabu

Honors College Theses

Hard-bodied ticks are known to carry a wide range of viruses, some of which can cause human diseases. In the U.S., the tick Amblyomma americanum is an important disease vector. The tick has recently expanded its distribution range and its abundance is rising in many areas of the U.S. Its virome is, however, largely underexplored. In this preliminary study, we used a Nanopore MinION sequencer to detect and identify the viral fauna in nymphal ticks (n=43) collected in Statesboro, GA. Extracted DNA and RNA were analyzed separately. Nucleic acids were pooled into 6 groups according to their collection dates and …

On The Nature Of Things: Communication And Relationships, The Philosophical Discussion Group

The Philosopher's Stone

• On the Nature of Things: Communication and Relationships

Single-Cell Analyses Reveal A Functionally Heterogeneous Exhausted Cd8+ T-Cell Subpopulation That Is Correlated With Response To Checkpoint Therapy In Melanoma, Kelly M Mahuron, Osmaan Shahid, Prachi Sao, Clinton Wu, Alexandra M Haugh, Laura A Huppert, Lauren S Levine, Margaret M Lowe, Michael Alvarado, Markee Micu, Katy K Tsai, Melissa Chow, Meromit Singer, Jason M Schenkel, Arlene H Sharpe, Michael D Rosenblum, Kristen E Pauken, Adil I Daud

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PD-1 pathway inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy. However, most patients do not durably benefit, highlighting the need for biomarkers to stratify patients as responders or nonresponders. Although CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) have been associated with immune checkpoint therapy response, there is no consensus on which CD8+ TIL subpopulations have the most prognostic value. Preclinical studies have focused on progenitor-like exhausted CD8+ T cells (TPEX) because TPEX proliferate more in response to PD-1 inhibitors than other exhausted T-cell (TEX) subpopulations. However, immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment drives TPEX differentiation into other TEX populations that can mediate antitumor immunity. These data complicate the …

Mixed Chamber Ensembles

Bailey School of Music Concert Programs

FACULTY COACHES

Julie Coucheron

Adelaide Federici

Yinzi Kong

Charae Krueger

Kenn Wagner

John Warren

Existence Of Bounded Asymptotic Solutions Of Autonomous Differential Equations, Minh Van Nguyen Dr., Vu Trong Luong, William Barker, Duchuy Nguyen

Faculty Scholarship

We study the existence of bounded asymptotic mild solutions to evolution equations of the form u′(t)=Au(t)+f(t),t≥0in a Banach space X, where Agenerates an (analytic) C0-semigroup and fis bounded. We fifind spectral conditions on Aand ffor the existence and uniqueness of asymptotic mild solutions with the same as that of f. In the resonance case, a sufficient condition of Massera type theorem is found for the existence of bounded solutions with the same profifile as f. The obtained results are stated in terms of spectral properties of Aand f, and they are analogs of classical results of Katznelson-Tzafriri and Massera for …

Do Pro-Environmental Factors Lead To Customers’ Purchase Intention Of Home Energy Management System? The Moderating Effects Of Energy-Efficient Habits, Maryam Zidehsaraei, Minoo Zidehsaraei, Kourosh Esfandiar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Environmental challenges, encompassing climate change and global warming, compel consumers to alter their consumption habits. Although there has been a notable surge in consumer awareness regarding pro-environmental practices, especially concerning home energy, there remains a lack of comprehensive research exploring the factors affecting consumers’ willingness to adopt or invest in home energy management system (HEMS) technology. Notably, there have been no studies focused on the factors influencing HEMS purchase intentions (PI) in the Iranian context. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the norm activation model, this research delves into the PI of Iranian households regarding HEMS, categorizing …

Fact Sheet For Parents: What To Know About Zyn Nicotine Pouches, Aaron Hunt, Gabriela Murza, Alyssa Ferrin

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information about ZYN, which is a nicotine pouch becoming commonly used among youth due to social media advertising. This fact sheet will help parents understand the impact of ZYN pouches and approaches to monitor, prevent, and address use among youth.

Supporting Health Equity In Obesity Prevention For Women Of Reproductive Age, Amanda Gilbert

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Women of reproductive age (18-44 years) are at an increased risk of developing obesity due to pregnancy, stressors during this stage in the life course (e.g., leaving home, new jobs, parenthood), and historical and ongoing discrimination and marginalization. Preventing obesity for this population needs to be a public health priority. Obesity negatively affects women’s health (e.g., chronic disease, cancer); leads to poor pregnancy outcomes (e.g., gestational diabetes); and increases the risk children will develop obesity through intergenerational transmission of obesity, further entrenching health disparities for future generations. Health equity principles of social justice and human rights help obesity prevention researchers …

Library Data Storytelling And Information Wisdom, Kate Mcdowell

Bryant Jackson Lectureship

What can you tell about your library data as a story? Learn how to bring data stories to life for library advocacy of all types, from sustaining the library to transforming its work. Participants will learn about ongoing research identifying classic library stories told to persuade decision-makers as part of the Data Storytelling Toolkit for Libraries project (IMLS). Tools academic libraries can use include:

• Strategies to understand data storytelling uses for academic libraries
• Reach different kinds of audiences such as students, administrators, and funders
• Adapt narrative structures to communicate information and emotion at the same time

Dr. Kate McDowell’s interdisciplinary …

Robust Inference For The Unification Of Confidence Intervals In Meta-Analysis, Wei Liang, Haicheng Huang, Hongsheng Dai, Yinghui Wei

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Traditional meta-analysis assumes that the effect sizes estimated in individual studies follow a Gaussian distribution. However, this distributional assumption is not always satisfied in practice, leading to potentially biased results. In the situation when the number of studies, denoted as K, is large, the cumulative Gaussian approximation errors from each study could make the final estimation unreliable. In the situation when K is small, it is not realistic to assume the random effect follows Gaussian distribution. In this paper, we present a novel empirical likelihood method for combining confidence intervals under the meta-analysis framework. This method is free of the …

Ute Mri For Assessing Demyelination In An Mtbi Mouse Model: An Open-Field Low-Intensity Blast Study, Yajun Ma, Qingbo Tang, Xin Cheng, Jiyo S. Athertya, David Coughlin, Eric Y. Chang, Catherine E. Johnson, Jiankun Cui, Zezong Gu, Jiang Du

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a leading cause of long-term disability. Following mTBI, secondary chemical cascades and neuroinflammation can result in myelin damage, significantly impairing cognitive function. This study aims to assess demyelination in mice with mTBI induced by open-field low-intensity blast (LIB) using a novel three-dimensional short repetition time adiabatic inversion recovery UTE (3D STAIR-UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence. Thirty male C57BL/6 mice, with 15 experiencing mTBI and 15 serving as sham controls, were included in this study. Behavioral tests were performed starting at 5 days post-injury to assess motor activity and anxiety-like responses followed by STAIR-UTE …

Psychrotrophic Antarctic Marine Bacteria As Potential Reservoirs For Novel Antimicrobial Genes, Kudzai Hwengwere, Grant G. January, Kerry L. Howell, Lloyd S. Peck, Mathew Upton, Melody S. Clark

School of Biomedical Sciences

Antarctica is a very cold, isolated continent surrounded by frozen seas, yet these extreme environmental conditions have not restricted life and diversity in the sea. The marine environment is seasonally highly productive and harbours diverse and abundant communities of organisms, with many endemic species occurring nowhere else in the world. Such communities and their associated microbiomes are increasingly recognized as an unexplored source of novel antimicrobial products. Hence, the major aim of this study was to examine the antimicrobial potential of bacteria cultured from eight Antarctic marine invertebrate species, while gathering data on Antarctic microbial thermal and salinity tolerances. All …

Optimizing Epoxy Nanocomposites With Oxidized Graphene Quantum Dots For Superior Mechanical Performance: A Molecular Dynamics Approach, Prathamesh P. Deshpande, Robert Chan-Jobe, Josh Kemppainen, Gregory M. Odegard, Ozgur Keles

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Due to their excellent mechanical properties, epoxy composites are widely used in low-density applications. However, the brittle epoxy matrix often serves as the principal failure point. Matrix enhancements can be achieved by optimizing polymer combinations to maximize intermolecular interactions or by introducing fillers. While nanofillers such as clay, rubber, carbon nanotubes, and nanoplatelets enhance mechanical properties, they can lead to issues like agglomeration, voids, and poor load transfer. Quantum dots, being the smallest nanofillers, offer higher dispersion and the potential to promote intermolecular interactions, enhancing stiffness, strength, and toughness simultaneously. This study employed molecular dynamics simulations to design graphene quantum …

Label-Free Evaluation Of Mouse Embryo Quality Using Time-Lapse Bright Field And Optical Coherence Microscopy, Fei Wang, Senyue Hao, Kibeom Park, Ali Ahmady, Chao Zhou

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The selection of high-quality embryos is essential to enhance the implantation rate for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Optical coherence microscopy (OCM) can noninvasively provide three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution imaging of developing embryos. The revealed microstructures can be used for accurate embryo evaluation. Here, we acquire time-lapse 3D OCM images with co-registered bright-field imaging on mouse embryo development from the one-cell stage to the fully hatched blastocyst inside an incubator. Our results demonstrate the capability of OCM to detect structural features of the developing embryos. The second and third embryonic cell cycles are indicated to be associated with blastocyst formation and the …

A Screening Question To Assess Risk Of Using Antibiotics Without A Prescription: A Diagnostic Study, Ashley Collazo, Eva Amenta, Kiara Olmeda, Marissa Valentine-King, Lindsey Laytner, Azalia Mancera, Roger Zoorob, Michael K Paasche-Orlow, Richard L Street, Barbara W Trautner, Larissa Grigoryan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Non-prescription antibiotic use (using antibiotics without medical advice) is potentially unsafe and promotes antimicrobial resistance. We studied predictors of prior non-prescription use and whether screening for prior non-prescription antibiotic use predicted intention of future non-prescription antibiotic use.

Methods: The survey was performed from January 2020 - June 2021 in six public primary care clinics and two private emergency departments. Prior non-prescription users were respondents who reported taking oral antibiotics for symptoms without contacting a clinician. Intended use was defined by answering yes to the question, "would you use antibiotics without contacting a doctor/nurse/dentist/clinic." We examined predictors for prior non-prescription …

Nitrate Ameliorates Alcohol-Induced Cognitive Impairment Via Oral Microbiota, Xiangxue Li, Zhaojun Ni, Weixiong Shi, Kangqing Zhao, Yanjie Zhang, Lina Liu, Zhong Wang, Jie Chen, Zhoulong Yu, Xuejiao Gao, Ying Qin, Jingwen Zhao, Wenjuan Peng, Jie Shi, Thomas R Kosten, Lin Lu, Lei Su, Yanxue Xue, Hongqiang Sun

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Alcohol use is associated with cognitive impairment and dysregulated inflammation. Oral nitrate may benefit cognitive impairment in aging through altering the oral microbiota. Similarly, the beneficial effects of nitrate on alcohol-induced cognitive decline and the roles of the oral microbiota merit investigation. Here we found that nitrate supplementation effectively mitigated cognitive impairment induced by chronic alcohol exposure in mice, reducing both systemic and neuroinflammation. Furthermore, nitrate restored the dysbiosis of the oral microbiota caused by alcohol consumption. Notably, removing the oral microbiota led to a subsequent loss of the beneficial effects of nitrate. Oral microbiota from donor alcohol use disordered …

Morphogenic, Molecular And Cellular Adaptations For Unidirectional Airflow In The Chicken Lung, Kamryn N Gerner-Mauro, Lisandra Vila Ellis, Guolun Wang, Richa Nayak, Peter Y Lwigale, Ross A Poché, Jichao Chen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Unidirectional airflow in the avian lung enables gas exchange during both inhalation and exhalation. The underlying developmental process and how it deviates from that of the bidirectional mammalian lung are poorly understood. Sampling key developmental stages with multiscale 3D imaging and single-cell transcriptomics, we delineate morphogenic, molecular and cellular features that accommodate the unidirectional airflow in the chicken lung. Primary termini of hyper-elongated branches undergo proximal-short and distal-long fusions, forming parabronchi for air conduction. Through the parabronchial smooth muscle, neoform termini extend radially to form gas-exchanging alveoli. Supporting this radial alveologenesis, branch stalks halt their proximalization, defined by SOX9-SOX2 transition, …

Introducing 'Society Work': The Professionalization And Localization Of Chinese Social Work In A New Era, Ke Cui, Timothy Sim, Chenxi Huang, Bowen Mcbeath

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study focuses on current discussions around the newly-built Society Work Department in China. It argues that ‘society work’ helps to clarify the internationally recognized concept of ‘social work’ and this institutional reform promotes development of the social work profession and discipline, it also helps to decolonize social work in China.

Lineage Tracing And Single-Cell Rna Sequencing Reveal A Common Transcriptional State In Breast Cancer Tumor-Initiating Cells Characterized By Ifn/Stat1 Activity, Eric P Souto, Ping Gong, John D Landua, Ramakrishnan Rajaram Srinivasan, Abhinaya Ganesan, Lacey E Dobrolecki, Stephen C Purdy, Xingxin Pan, Michael Zeosky, Anna Chung, S Stephen Yi, Heide L Ford, Michael T Lewis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

A tumor cell subpopulation of tumor-initiating cells (TIC) or "cancer stem cells" is associated with therapeutic resistance, as well as both local and distant recurrences. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) activity is elevated in TICs in claudin-low models of human triple-negative breast cancer, which enables enrichment of TICs using a STAT-responsive reporter. Lineage tracing of TICs as they undergo cell state changes could enable a better understanding of the molecular phenotypes of TIC and uncover strategies to selectively target TICs. In this study, we developed a STAT-responsive lineage-tracing system and used it in conjunction with the original reporter …