Digital Commons Network^™

Unraveling The Role Of Asymmetry In Structural Porous Media On The Growth Of Fluid Fingers, Amir Ibrahim

Theses

Instabilities at fluid-fluid interfaces are ubiquitous in porous media, even at small flow rates. The growth of fluid fingers during fluid-fluid immiscible displacement in a porous medium results in partial saturation of the medium, and inefficiency in displacement has a tremendous economic impact on oil recovery, chemical reactors, and water filtration industries. In this study, we demonstrate that an inherent asymmetry in the structure of a porous medium controls the development of fluid fingers due to instabilities at fluid interfaces. We construct a 2D porous medium consisting of a matrix of triangles using soft lithography to investigate air displacement by …

The Babysitter, Diane Catsburrow Linnet

Theses

After producing several short animated films of different moods and visual designs, I designed the thesis film production with the challenge of telling a longer, more complex story with themes of human connection. I curated the narrative as a slice of life, favoring a somewhat nonsensical series of events rather than a clean-cut narrative, but also sought to tap into the whimsical animated humor by incorporating fantastical elements such as a bear baby. These combined to create a film about not understanding everything, but being able to see what is necessary to help someone in need, told in a form …

A Case Of Cervical Chordoma, Michael Nicolette, Swar Vimawala, Xinmin Zhang, Corey Mossop, Brian Swendseid

Cooper Rowan Medical Journal

A 48 year old male presented with neck pain and left arm pain that worsened with movement alongside left arm weakness, numbness, and tingling. The differential diagnosis for a patient with symptoms of a neck mass includes benign tumors like neurofibromas, malignant tumors like chordomas, and non-neoplastic conditions like cervical spondylitis. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the cervical spine with and without contrast identified a T1 hypointense, T2 hyperintense, heterogeneously enhancing prevertebral mass with parapharyngeal extension. A direct laryngoscopy with biopsy was performed and revealed a paraspinal tumor. The patient’s diagnosis of cervical chordoma was confirmed upon detection …

Board Of Trustees Minutes, May 10 2024, Indiana State University Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees

No abstract provided.

Board Of Trustees Agenda, May 10 2024, Indiana State University Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees

No abstract provided.

Silver Assisted Pani-Rgo: A Cutting-Edge Approach To Supercapacitor Applications, Iman El-Mahallawi, Ayat Abdelsalam, Ahmed Selim, Mahmoud Tash, Waleed Khalifa

Mechanical Engineering

In this research, highly efficient and low cost synthesis approach was applied to produce three distinct electrode materials: reduced graphene oxide (RGO), silver nanoparticles incorporated with RGO, and polyaniline (PANI) in conjunction with RGO decorated with silver nanostructures (RGO.Ag). These materials were subsequently integrated into a composite electrode material as PANI RGO.Ag, designed specifically for deployment in symmetric supercapacitor applications. A comprehensive characterization process was executed employing a range of material analysis techniques, including X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).

Comparative Evaluation Of The Diagnostic And Prognostic Performance Of Cnside™ Versus Standard Cytology For Leptomeningeal Disease, Haley Appel, Muni Rubens, Mukesh Roy, Rupesh Kotecha, Matthew Hall, Minesh Mehta, Zhijian Chen, Manmeet Ahluwalia, Yazmin Odia

All Publications

Background: This retrospective study compares the real-world performance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) CNSide™ versus cytology in leptomeningeal disease (LMD).

Methods: Consecutive patients with suspected LMD who underwent lumbar punctures for CSF cytology and CNSide™ from January 2020 to December 2022 were reviewed. LMD was classified by EANO criteria. Descriptive statistics, confusion matrix, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox proportional regression were used.

Results: Median age for 87 evaluable patients was 63 years (range: 23-93); 82 (94%) met EANO criteria for possible/probable/confirmed LMD (EANO/LMD). The commonest primary cancers were breast (36,44.0%) and lung (34,41.5%). Primary lung harbored actionable mutations in 18 (53.0%); primary …

Analysis Of Modeled 3d Solar Magnetic Field During 30 X/M-Class Solar Flares, Seth H. Garland, Vasyl B. Yurchyshyn, Robert D. Loper, Benjamin F. Akers, Daniel J. Emmons Ii

Faculty Publications

Using non-linear force free field (NLFFF) extrapolation, 3D magnetic fields were modeled from the 12-min cadence Solar Dynamics Observatory Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) photospheric vector magnetograms, spanning a time period of 1 hour before through 1 hour after the start of 18 X-class and 12 M-class solar flares. Several magnetic field parameters were calculated from the modeled fields directly, as well as from the power spectrum of surface maps generated by summing the fields along the vertical axis, for two different regions: areas with photospheric |B_z|≥ 300 G (active region—AR) and areas above the photosphere with the …

Pre-Incisional And Multiple Intradermal Injection Of N-Acetylcysteine Slightly Improves Incisional Wound Healing In An Animal Model, Wictor Pascal, Antoni Smolinski, Mateuz Gotowiec, Marta Wojtkiewicz, Albert Stachura, Kaspar Pelka, Michal Kopka, Kyle P. Quinn, Alan E. Woessner, Dariusz Grzelecki, Pavel Wlodarski

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The objective of this study was to investigate if delivering multiple doses of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) post-surgery in addition to pre-incisional administration significantly impacts the wound healing process in a rat model. Full-thickness skin incisions were carried out on the dorsum of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats in six locations. Fifteen minutes prior to the incision, half of the sites were treated with a control solution, with the wounds on the contralateral side treated with solutions containing 0.015%, 0.03% and 0.045% of NAC. In the case of the NAC treated group, further injections were given every 8 h for three days. On days …

When Trying To Reach Zombies And Other Stories, Caleb James Stewart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When Trying to Reach Zombies and Other Stories is a collection of nine short stories and a novella that focuses on Christian speculative fiction. The collection uses the themes and images from Christianity and the tools of speculative fiction to tell stories. In “When Trying to Reach Zombies,” zombies are able to come back to life through Christian conversion. “Smokin’ Hot Wife” focuses on small church politics. “Free From Responsibility” explores a world where AI has religion. “Mrs. Peterson’s Hedge” is a retelling of an Old Testament story of destruction. “Sea Foam on the Rocky Beach” explores a world of …

Hyper-Physiologic Mechanical Cues, As An Osteoarthritis Disease-Relevant Environmental Perturbation, Cause A Critical Shift In Set Points Of Methylation At Transcriptionally Active Cpg Sites In Neo-Cartilage Organoids, Niek G C Bloks, Amanda Dicks, Zainab Harissa, Rob G H H Nelissen, Ghazaleh Hajmousa, Yolande F M Ramos, Rodrigo Coutinho De Almeida, Farshid Guilak, Ingrid Meulenbelt

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex, age-related multifactorial degenerative disease of diarthrodial joints marked by impaired mobility, joint stiffness, pain, and a significant decrease in quality of life. Among other risk factors, such as genetics and age, hyper-physiological mechanical cues are known to play a critical role in the onset and progression of the disease (Guilak in Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 25:815-823, 2011). It has been shown that post-mitotic cells, such as articular chondrocytes, heavily rely on methylation at CpG sites to adapt to environmental cues and maintain phenotypic plasticity. However, these long-lasting adaptations may eventually have a negative …

Evaluation Of Fusobacterium Nucleatum Enoyl-Acp Reductase (Fabk) As A Narrow-Spectrum Drug Target, Jacob T Rutherford, Kristiana Avad, Chetna Dureja, Krissada Norseeda, Bibek Gc, Chenggang Wu, Dianqing Sun, Kirk E Hevener, Julian G Hurdle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Fusobacterium nucleatum, a pathobiont inhabiting the oral cavity, contributes to opportunistic diseases, such as periodontal diseases and gastrointestinal cancers, which involve microbiota imbalance. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents, while effective against F. nucleatum infections, can exacerbate dysbiosis. This necessitates the discovery of more targeted narrow-spectrum antimicrobial agents. We therefore investigated the potential for the fusobacterial enoyl-ACP reductase II (ENR II) isoenzyme FnFabK (C4N14_ 04250) as a narrow-spectrum drug target. ENRs catalyze the rate-limiting step in the bacterial fatty acid synthesis pathway. Bioinformatics revealed that of the four distinct bacterial ENR isoforms, F. nucleatum specifically encodes FnFabK. Genetic studies revealed …

Strict Conservation Yet Non-Essential Nature Of Plasmid Gene Bba40 In The Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia Burgdorferi, Yuqi Zhu, Yili Zhang, Hui Chen, Lisha Zhang, Chensi Shen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The increasing concern over climate change has spurred significant interest in exploring the potential of microalgae for wastewater treatment. Among the various types of industrial wastewaters, high-salinity NH₄⁺-N wastewater stands out as a common challenge. Investigating microalgae’s resilience to NH₄⁺-N under high-salinity conditions and their efficacy in NH₄⁺-N utilization is crucial for advancing industrial wastewater microalgae treatment technologies. This study evaluated the effectiveness of employing nitrogen-efficient microalgae, specifically Oocystis lacustris, for NH₄⁺-N removal from saline wastewater. The results revealed Oocystis lacustris’s tolerance to a Na_{2 …}

Developing Non-Invasive Molecular Sampling Methods For Effective Wildlife Monitoring, Daniela Adjaye

Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring of wildlife populations is critical to conservation and public health and provides crucial information necessary for effective decision-making and management. Effective wildlife monitoring requires effective and adaptable sampling methods that consider the researchers as well as species being monitored. This thesis assesses non-invasive sampling methods to 1) detect cryptic shrew species, and 2) identify bacteria of public health concern present in American black bear (Ursus americanus) fecal matter. Results from Chapter 2 demonstrate the potential for monitoring rare and sparsely distributed small mammals using soil sourced environmental DNA with targeted sampling (e.g., cover objects for shrews). Chapter 3 demonstrates …

Physiology And Gut Microbiome Diversity In Honey Bee Colonies Along An Agricultural Intensification Gradient, Urita Mma Agana

Theses and Dissertations

Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are the major insect pollinators of many different crops. A drastic decline in the honey bee populations has been reported over the past decade. While many factors have contributed to this decline, pesticides, poor nutrition, and Varroa mites are the most common concerns noted by scientists and beekeepers. Aside from direct toxicity from pesticides, it has been observed that sublethal pesticide doses have effects on honey bee physiology and behavior such as oxidative stress, disruption of foraging and homing, and changes to honey bee neurophysiology. The primary objectives of this project were to examine honey bee …

Towards Carbon Dioxide Reduction: Synthesis And Characterization Of Ccc-Nhc Pincer Iron Complexes., Joshua Mensah

Theses and Dissertations

The industrial revolution came with its downside of emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The NOAA reported in 2019 that, of the greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, CO2 contributed to about 80% of the increased greenhouse gases hence the need for CO2 Sequestering and Storage (CSS) and ultimately leading to Carbon Capture and Recycling (CCR) as a viable option to convert CO2 into useful forms. The race to find the best catalyst for CCR has led to the synthesis of many organometallic compounds. Pincer complexes catalyzed CO2 reduction has gained notoriety recently because of the tunability and robustness …

Analysis Of Glacier Changes In The Western United State: Assessing Area, Volume, And Albedo Changes, Bernard Latif Abubakari

Theses and Dissertations

Glaciers in the western United States, essential freshwater reservoirs, and climate change indicators, are evaluated to understand their present conditions using Sentinel 2A satellite imagery and Random Forest machine learning. Furthermore, this study utilizes MODIS albedo and temperature data, along with Sentinel 5 Precursor, to understand trends and changes in summer glacier albedo within the region, while also investigating the underlying factors influencing glacier albedo, with Mount Rainier as case study. The results of this study reveal that glaciers have lost 236.96 km2 in their area and a corresponding volume loss of 4.9 km3 from the mid-20th century to 2020. …

Processing And Characterization Of Conjugated Polymers Utilizing Electrospinning Technique For Optoelectronic Applications, Humayun Ahmad

Theses and Dissertations

The electrospinning technique is an attractive route for processing conjugated polymers (CPs) in a significant quantity for large-scale applications. However, the processing-structure-property relationship of the electrospinning process for CPs is not well understood. This dissertation provides a fundamental understanding regarding the structure development of CPs in electrospun fibers because of different processing conditions and relates that to fiber properties. Electrospinning was conducted for a mixture of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) of three different molecular weights and two aging conditions: freshly prepared and 24 h aged spinning solutions. The aging of the spinning solution led to the self-assembly of …

Hydrologic Connectivity Between Oxbow Lakes And Rivers Within The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Hafez Ahmad

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated hydrologic connectivity, the intricate network of water pathways linking waterbodies, and its implications for biodiversity exchange in floodplains. Chapter 1 provides an exhaustive literature review encompassing factors influencing hydrologic connectivity, assessment approaches, scales, challenges, and management tools. Existing research often focuses on single scales and short-term periods, revealing a need for comprehensive multi-scale and extended temporal analyses. The absence of standardized definitions and methodologies in this field is also considered. Chapter 2 presents an innovative approach quantifying eight key connectivity metrics using remote sensing and GIS within the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV). This adaptable method assesses …

Constraints And Challenges For Ensuring Food Security In The Northern And South-Western Region Of Bangladesh: A Policy, Hazards, And Climate Change Perspective, Zia Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

Achieving food security in Bangladesh remains an arduous task, as the country struggles with several challenges. These challenges include the effects of climate change, occurrence of natural disasters, lack of proper access to credit facilities, and the anthropogenic modification of the agricultural landscape. The vulnerability of agricultural practice in the northern regions to drought, flood, and riverbank erosion, as well as the increased occurrence of coastal surges, waterlogging, cyclones, coastal floods, shrimp aquaculture and soil salinity in the southwestern region, poses a major threat to Bangladesh’s attainment of food security. In this context, we analyze the anthropogenic factors such as …

Individual Differences In Attention Processes And Creative Thinking, Berna Altunisik

Theses and Dissertations

Effects of mind wandering on creative thinking is unclear in the literature. Using multiple measures of mind wandering and creativity, the current study investigates the role of different contexts on the relationship between mind wandering and creative thinking. Thought probes measured intentionality and freely moving dimensions of mind wandering in a lexical decision and a movie task (between-subjects). Three measures of attention control were also obtained. Deliberate and spontaneous mind wandering traits were measured with a survey. Participants did not show off-task behaviors during the mind wandering tasks. Attention control positively predicted creative problem solving and divergent thinking scores. Freely …

Removal Of Emerging Contaminants From Water Using Green Adsorbents, Rabia Amen

Theses and Dissertations

Water availability is presently under risk owing to the increased discharge of pollutants from both industrial and residential properties. A distinct category of pollutants known as "emerging contaminants" (ECs), whose hazards were either unknown before they were noticed, e.g., antibiotics, dyes, PFAS, etc. Most of the ECs are unregulated and pose a threat to aquatic and human life at even low doses. Our water treatment facilities are not designed to efficiently eliminate these toxic substances. Therefore, we need an economical tertiary treatment approach. Adsorptionis a sustainable, cost effective and simple technique, making it a viable technique for pollutants elimination on …

Common-Mode Emi Characterization And Mitigation In Networked Power Electronics-Enabled Power Systems, Ashik Amin

Theses and Dissertations

Rapidly-increasing medium-voltage power electronics applications in emerging industry systems, including electrical ships, more electric aircraft, and microgrids, have emphasized the critical need for highly energy-efficient, reliable, and fast switching devices. As a result, Wide-Bandgap (WBG) devices have gained considerable interest over conventional silicon-based switches in recent years. For example, emerging WBG devices have unlocked new dimensions for modern motor drive systems with increased efficiency, switching frequency, and superior power density. Commercially-developed WBG devices such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) offer promising opportunities to meet those pressing requirements. However, the fast switching operation of WBG devices may cause …

Wavelet-Enhanced 2d And 3d Lightweight Perception Systems For Autonomous Driving, Simegnew Yihunie Alaba

Theses and Dissertations

Autonomous driving requires lightweight and robust perception systems that can rapidly and accurately interpret the complex driving environment. This dissertation investigates the transformative capacity of discrete wavelet transform (DWT), inverse DWT, CNNs, and transformers as foundational elements to develop lightweight perception architectures for autonomous vehicles. The inherent properties of DWT, including its invertibility, sparsity, time-frequency localization, and ability to capture multi-scale information, present an inductive bias. Similarly, transformers capture long-range dependency between features. By harnessing these attributes, novel wavelet-enhanced deep learning architectures are introduced. The first contribution is introducing a lightweight backbone network that can be employed for real-time processing. …

Deep Reinforcement Learning For Advanced Wireless Networks Enabling Service And Spectrum Coexistence, Walaa Alqwider

Theses and Dissertations

The evolution from the fifth generation (5G) networks to 6G promises to revolution- ize connectivity, supporting a vast array of applications from high-definition video streaming and immersive augmented reality experiences to critical machine-type communications. However, this progression brings along the challenge of efficiently managing the limited radio spectrum (RF) resources to accommodate the diverse quality of service (QoS) requirements of a variety of service and user types. Another problem gaining traction with the advances of wireless communications technology is the coexistence between active communication systems and passive RF sensing operating in the same or adjacent bands. Central to addressing these …

The Effects Of Work-Life Balance, Teleworking, And Deia On The U.S. Federal Employee Job Satisfaction: Towards Developing A Contemporary Needs Theory, Latara Marie Arterberry

Theses and Dissertations

The study of work-life balance, teleworking, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are increasingly studied among scholars using different theoretical frameworks. However, no study examines work-life balance, teleworking, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as needs in these contemporary times that, when met, lead to higher employee job satisfaction. Existing scholarship suggests that employee job satisfaction is a function of needs. However, with globalization, human needs have changed to include social justice concerns and the desire to have a more fulfilling family life. When organizations respond to these needs, it leads to employee job satisfaction, which ultimately improves organizational performance. …

Stochastic Programming Models And Algorithms To Improve Resiliency In A Biomass Supply Chain, Jay Artil

Theses and Dissertations

Biomass-based CHP (bCHP) can provide reliable electricity in remote and rural areas because it is an on-site generation resource, and it is designed to support continued operations in the event of a disaster. However, the benefits of such facilities can only be realized if a reliable and economical feedstock supply system is designed, given the system not only efficiently transports biomass under normal scenarios (e.g., when depots and transportation links are functioning properly) but also hedges against unexpected infrastructure/transportation link failures due to severe weather events (e.g., hurricanes). To serve this purpose, this study proposes a three-stage stochastic programming model …

The Role Of High-Resolution Dataset On Developing Of Coastal Wind-Driven Waves Model In Low Energy System, Ramin Baghbani

Theses and Dissertations

The spatial variation of wave climate plays a crucial role in erosion, sediment transport, and the design of management actions in coastal areas. Low energy wave systems occur frequently and over a wide range of geographical areas. There is a lack of studies assessing wave model performance in low-energy environments at a regional scale. Therefore, this research aims to model a low energy wave system using a high-resolution dataset. The specific objectives of this study involves 1) using cluster analysis and extensive field measurements to understand the spatial behavior of ocean waves, 2) develop a physics based model of wind-driven …

Determining The Influence Of Broadcast Visuals And Messages On The Public’S Perceptions And Intent To Shelter In Tornado Warnings, Kristina Marie Balentine

Theses and Dissertations

Tornado warnings are life-threatening situations, and since the public uses television as the main source for tornado warning information, it is important to know how different visuals and messages are influencing the opinions and intentions of people. This research found that participants were more apt to say they would shelter if they were shown a tornado video than a radar video displaying storm-relative velocity or correlation coefficient, while seeing the tornado brought out a heightened level of anxiety and fear. Participants were most influenced by a call-to-action statement spoken by the meteorologist. Participants expressed negative feelings after being asked to …

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, And Cardiovascular Health Of Adults With And Without Down Syndrome, Brantley Kyle Ballenger

Theses and Dissertations

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Adults with DS have cardiovascular and metabolic alteration, which may lead to an increased number of cardiovascular disease risk factors in this population. Such impairments may affect their ability to exercise and perform moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Moreover, MVPA may affect arterial health differently in adults with DS due to endothelial dysfunction and sympathetic impairment. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate differences in cardiovascular health and physical activity (PA) profiles between adults with and without DS. Specific aims of this dissertation …