Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Recent Asteroid Disruptions In The Solar System, Jarrett Dieterle, Kate Shenk, Rhiannon Hicks, Skylar G. Butler, Ian Donnelly, Ethan Fajardo

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

We study the dynamical evolutions of the byproducts of recent asteroid disruptions to understand the population of small particles in near-Earth and cislunar space, which can post threats to spacecraft, satellites, and long-term lunar missions like Artemis. To assess this population, we track the dynamical evolution of dust particles created in a catastrophic asteroid disruption. Particle sizes ranging from a few microns to a few cm are modeled using a code that accounts for both the gravitational and radiative forces to accurately predict the orbital elementals of the dust particles in the Datura and Emilkowalski asteroid clusters. The resulting models …

Modeling Predictions Of The Performance Of Tube Bank Heat Exchangers With Phase Change Materials, Jared C. Williams, Casey Troxler

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

As decarbonization of the power grid increases with renewable power generation sources, the intermittent nature of power generation also increases. With intermittent sources of power, there is a greater chance of excess power at specified parts of the day. To ensure that all power generated can be used rather than lost, ways to store excess energy need to be investigated. Currently the most prevalent form of energy storage is through electrochemical batteries. Electrochemical batteries however, are expensive and require added infrastructure for deployment. An alternative to electrochemical batteries is thermal energy storage (TES), that can aid in reducing buildings heating …

Leveraging Drug Repurposing: A Strategic Approach To Combat Bacterial Infections., Wesley Flewelling, Anderson Y. Jeon, Giovanni Benjamin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Aerospace physiology

Leveraging Drug Repurposing: A Strategic Approach to Combat Bacterial Infections.

Author Information: Wesley A. Flewelling, Anderson Y. Jeon and Giovanni Benjamin

Faculty mentor: Dr. Alba Chavez

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains poses a critical threat to global public health, necessitating innovative strategies to address this challenge. Drug repurposing, the process of identifying new therapeutic uses for existing drugs, has emerged as a promising approach to Accelerate the development of effective treatments for bacterial infections. This research aims to highlight the importance of drug repurposing in the context of bacterial infections in an effort to emphasize the …

International Students Sense Of Belongingness And Motivation On Academic And Flight Performance, Sophie Chanoux, Andrew Dattel

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

There are many factors that can affect international students’ success in flight training. Motivation, confidence, and internal achievement factors such as locus of control (LOC) and self-efficacy are important in successful learning. Moving to a new country, where language and customs may be quite different from one’s own, may adversely affect one’s confidence. A feeling of belongingness might affect students’ confidence, therefore affecting flight training performance. Belongingness can be measured by social and academic club membership, engagement in social activities, confidence in English, etc. This study explored the relationship between self-reports of social activities and confidence with academic performance and …

Gem3 Propellant Viability Test, Matthew Karten

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Since the inception of rocketry, there has been a clear tradeoff between efficiency and simplicity. The GEM3 Optimized Orbital-class Nozzle engine aims to provide operational efficiency comparable to traditional bipropellant engines while relying on infrastructure similar to monopropellant-based systems. This is achievable through GEM3’s electrical ignition properties and its ability to create a sustained combustion reaction when provided with only a supply of propellant. The main objective of this project is to conduct research and gather data on this propellant’s viability and application for launch vehicles intended to reach Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond. This will be completed over …

Femoral Vein Translocation For Complex Hemodialysis Access, Alexander Mikhail, Tim Legare, Priscilla Tanamal, Taylor Gwin, Wajeeh Irfan, Malachi Sheahan, London Guidry, Johnathan Shellack

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Reboa Use In Obese Patients: Analysis Of The Aast Aortic Occlusion For Resuscitation In Trauma And Acute Care Surgery (Aorta) Database, Madeline Plunkett, Avni Shridhar, Juan Duchesne, John P. Hunt, Alan Marr, Lance Stuke, Patrick Greiffenstein, Johnathan Schoen, Christa Zino, Samantha Baker, Alison A. Smith

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Burden Of Burns: An Analysis Of Public Health Measures, Anastasiya Ivanko, Anna E. Garbuzov, Randy Kearns, Bart Phillips, Erica Murata, Denise Danos, Jonathan E. Schoen, Herbert A. Phelan, Jeffrey E. Carter

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Bald Cypress “Knees” Contribute To Methane Emissions In A Bottomland Hardwood Wetland, Skylar Ross

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Bald Cypress “Knees” Contribute to Methane Emissions in a Bottomland Hardwood Wetland

Skylar Ross¹, Niklas Klauss¹, Marissa Miles¹, Bassil El Masri¹, Jessica Moon¹, Kabiraj Khatiwada², Benjamin Runkle², Gary Stinchcomb³

^{1 Murray State University, Murray, KY;}

^{2 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; and}

^{3 University of Memphis, Memphis, TN}

Project Abstract:

Relatively little is known about carbon source-sink dynamics in bottomland hardwood wetlands. Identifying carbon pathways and their dominant controlling factors within these systems is critical. Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a dominant tree …

The Inflammatory Response Of Patients With Major Burns And Traumatic Injuries, Sophia Trinh, J. Robinson, J. Dennis, C. Fontenot, O. Warren, Jeffrey Hobden, Jonathan Schoen, Herbert Phelan, Jeffrey Carter, Alison A. Smith

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Disparities In The Multidisciplinary Management Of Pancreatic Cancer Patients In Louisiana, Aimee Galatas, Hannah R. Malinosky, Andrew G. Chapple, Mckenzie Hargis, Mohammad Al Efishat, John Lyons, Valentine N. Nfonsam, Omeed Moaven

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Positive Surgical Margins For Neuroendocrine Cancers, Sarah Jacques, Nicholas Skill, J. Philip Boudreaux, Rancharan Thiagarajan, Mary Maluccio

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Framework For A Case Study Based Course In Safety And Mission Assurance In Human Spaceflight, Liz Bosch, Joshua B. Mcgurn

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The feasibility of sending humans to space primarily relies on: is it safe enough? There are few to no courses offered in engineering curriculums that address Safety and Mission Assurance (S&MA) for space systems, and there is a lack of instruction of safety culture, where ethic plays a major role, in current engineering educational strategies, which produces an academic gap. This research proposes a learner-centered course framework to improve engineering teaching strategies and address conceptual understanding of systems engineering, while avoiding single-solution approaches. The framework is also tailored to be interdisciplinary with a macroscopic level overview. Research on ethics shows …

Finasteride Affects On Planaria Regeneration, Ja'hann M. Hannor

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Aerospace physiology observes Cell reproduction within humans and how different substances and different environments can affect cell reproduction among all species. The species that is being observed is known as planaria from the class known as turbellaria, the planarian is an excellent model system. Planaria has been used within the microbiology community to observe the regenerative properties they possess and how different environmental factors affect the rate of regeneration. In previous research, we have observed that microgravity and ultraviolet light significantly impair planaria regeneration. In the present study we aim to study the effect of Finasteride in cell regeneration. Finasteride …

Fiber-Reinforced Composites, Rebecca Macdonald

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Fiber-reinforced composites are an increasingly used material technology in industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, and sports equipment, all in which are focusing on more new research. This research into literature was conducted to investigate both currently used and currently researched advancements of fiber-reinforced composites and their applications. A comparison of fiber-reinforced composites to traditional materials was completed, including investigating the key characteristics and properties that make these composites suitable for all types of engineering applications. Furthermore, how mechanical properties and performance of the composites are affected by different types of fibers used within them was evaluated. Performance in the …

Fe-Pinn Optimization, Christina Bocirnea

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This research enhances a novel finite element physics-informed neural network (FE-PINN) framework in order to optimize efficiency and results. The enhancements include tuning hyperparameters and considering new methodology in constructing the model architecture. This study achieved near convergence of model prediction to actual data and successfully incorporates finite element discretization into a neural network model.

Exploring The Potential Of Recyclable Pdms-Based Polymers For Self-Healing, Flexible Sensor Applications, Forrest Dohner

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Self-healing polymers have gained much attention in recent years for applications that range from coatings on aircraft to medical devices. The nanomaterials lab at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University has created a novel polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based material that can intrinsically heal at room temperature. The mechanism that allows for intrinsic self-healing is attributed to urea moieties, a functional group that exhibits both strong and weak hydrogen bonding. The reported self-healing material allows for small holes and rips to be repaired in approximately 24 hours. This material also demonstrated excellent stretchability allowing for a high elastic limit, where the material can return …

Exploring The Dynamics And Impacts Of Failed Teamwork In The Flight Deck: A Case Study Analysis Of Contributing Factors And Mitigation Strategies, Landon S. Cone

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Crew Resource Management (CRM) is a crucial concept in aviation, emphasizing the coordinated use of all available resources, including human, equipment, and information, to ensure safe and efficient flight operations. CRM aims to enhance communication, decision-making, and situational awareness among flight crew members, thus reducing errors, mitigating risks, and improving overall operational efficiency. The CRM competencies include leadership, teamwork, and decision-making. The National Transportation Safety Board has determined poor teamwork was a contributing factor of major aircraft accidents. This ongoing project aims to investigate the teamwork competency within the operational hierarchies of Part 121 and Part 135 operations by examining …

Exploring Micro-, Meso-, And Macro- Thriving In Engineering: Implications For Engineering Education And Engineering Ethics, Rachel Swan, Julianna Gesun, Bryan Watson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This research explores and advocates for including engineering thriving as a crucial component of engineering ethics education with implications at the micro-, meso-, and macro-levels. Engineering directly impacts the thriving of society (at the macro-level) and organizations (at the meso-level), yet the education of engineering students is not known for thriving (yet). To design products that serve to improve the thriving of diverse populations and societies, it is an ethical necessity to provide an education that strives for thriving at the micro-level to maintain the integrity of engineering at the macro and meso-levels.

Prior work on engineering thriving has largely …

Exoplanet Research With Nasa's Exotic, Ahnika Gee, Kylie Boyer, Cole Gresham, Anthony Raduazzo, Cassandra Mcginley, Kate Shenk, Sally Kingan

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The investigation of exoplanets is a relatively recent field with abundant potential. The launch of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) in 2018 marks an exponential increase in the amount of exoplanets we can study. 420 planets have been confirmed as of Feb 21st 2024, and as of Feb. 16th 2024, 7,071 exoplanet candidates are actively being researched. While TESS has been pivotal in expanding the field of exoplanet research, it has become equally important for ground-based observations to determine whether or not the transits detected by TESS are exoplanet systems. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) exoplanetary community …

A Multi-Center Study Of Perioperative Hepatic Angioembolization As An Adjunct For Management Of Major Operative Hepatic Trauma, Paige Deville, Alison A. Smith, Jennifer T. Cone, Lea Hoefer, Delbrynth P. Mitchao, Kenji Inaba, Ryan Kostka, Jennifer Mooney, Allison Mcnickle, Douglas Fraser, Benjamin Martinez, Charles Patrick Shahan, Thomas Schroeppel, Alexander Cavalea, Paul Bjordhal, Benjamin Axtman, Maxwell Braverman, Kyle Dammann, Alexander Zorrilla, Alan B. Marr

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Multi-Institutional Study Examining Intraoperative Entrustment And Resident Sex, S. Baker, J. Evans, N. Matusko, B. Lindeman, S. Choi, R. Minter, M. Cook, K. Brasel, G. Sandhu

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Sustainability Of Electric Vehicles, Shreya Sapkota Dhakal

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Fuel-based vehicles emit harmful pollutants, in that regard, electric vehicles (EVs) could be a viable sustainable solution. This study investigates the impact of shifting to electric vehicles on air quality in five counties in Florida encompassing major cities namely: Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Orange, and Leon from 2018 to 2022. Utilizing the US EPA’s MOVES software, five criteria air pollutants are investigated namely: carbon-monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and fine and coarse particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) in addition to carbon dioxide greenhouse. This study utilizes the Triple Top Line sustainable model, to address the three …

Energy Storage Systems, Rebecca Macdonald

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

In the current world, effective energy storage is an essential technology to allow life to continue moving. With the ever-evolving energy markets and climate change mitigation efforts, research into new trends and future advancements in energy storage is an increasingly important topic. This research into current literature was conducted to investigate the current different types of energy storage systems available and the current advancements being researched within energy storage systems. To begin this research, how the current energy systems function, their key characteristics, and the performance metrics used to evaluate them were found. Next, other key important influencing factors such …

Developing A Sustainable Air Quality Monitoring Methodology Through The Use Of Low-Cost Sensors., Ahsan Ali

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The World Health Organization reports that outdoor air pollution is responsible for the deaths of over seven million people worldwide. Particulate matter has been recognized as a detrimental pollutant in the atmosphere. Traditional PM monitoring methods, limited by their urban/regional focus, high costs, and size, fail to capture the detailed spatial and temporal variations in PM concentrations, particularly in underrepresented urban and remote areas, thus they are unsustainable. Consequently, these constraints bring about the need for more sustainable methods. Low-cost air quality sensors offer a sustainable way to monitor particle matter and reduce atmospheric pollution due to their low cost, …

Detecting Uv Filters In Fish Tissue, Angel Hinojosa

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

UV filters, present in many personal care products like sunscreens, pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems. In alignment with the One Health Framework (a WHO initiative), this study aims to quantify the accumulation of various UV filters, alongside other toxins, in fish specimens from the Indian River Lagoon and its contributing waters. While the overarching project is ongoing and involves multiple stakeholders, this work presents a narrative literature review on the sample preparation, extraction, and GC-MS and HPLC-MS quantification of five common UV filters: benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), octocrylene, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC) and homosalate. The literature review reveals a …

Detecting Stellar Rotation With The Synchrosqueezing Wavelet Transform, Cassandra Mcginley, Mariel Lares Martiz, Terry Oswalt, Derek Buzasi

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The main goal of Gyrochronology is to determine stellar ages by understanding how stars slow down in their rotation as they age. In order to achieve such a goal, rotation periods must be determined with high precision. Various tools are available for determining stellar rotation periods, such as the AutoCorrelation Function (ACF), Lomb Scargle periodograms, or Classical Wavelet analysis. However, each method has strengths and weaknesses when applied to determining stellar rotation rates. One weakness of Classical Wavelet analysis is the relatively low precision with which periods are determined. A new algorithm for wavelet analysis, called Synchrosqueezing Wavelet Transform (SWT), …

Designing The Future Of Amateur Astronomy: 3d Printed Telescopes, Ahnika Gee, Robert Thibodeau, Nicholas Trunzo

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This research delves into the symbiotic relationship between engineering and astronomy through the reengineering of telescopes, emphasizing user-friendly design and cost-effectiveness. Focused on a 8-inch primary mirror and a 1.75-inch secondary mirror, our objective is to streamline the telescope's functionality for the benefit of engineering and astronomy students. Employing a systematic engineering design process, we are currently designing the telescope to be 3D printed with PLA filament, eventually culminating in a collapsible telescope structure. It will be supported by aluminum extrusion and secured with hexagonal endcaps. This design ensures easy handling and facilitates cost-effective production, with spare parts readily reproducible. …

Data-Driven Methods For Partial Differential Equations, Josephine Parker, Oliva Holdeman, Collin Sunes, Lola Torres, Caleb Chronowski

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This research explores recent advancements in solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) through a fusion of data-driven methods and Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs). Traditional numerical techniques encounter challenges with complex systems in modeling diverse physical phenomena. The study focuses on applying PINNs to efficiently solve elliptic PDEs, crucial equations in scientific and engineering disciplines. Elliptic PDEs, known for their steady-state nature, pose challenges for traditional methods due to high computational costs over complex domains. The research utilizes a comprehensive dataset, synthetically generated for PINN training and accuracy validation. The study introduces a novel approach to constructing a PINN that not only …

Data Reduction From Southeastern Association For Research In Astronomy Telescopes And Analysis With Multiple Surveys For Slow Rotating Stars For Gyrochronology, Ahnika Gee, Kylie Boyer

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Gyrochronology, the method of estimating the ages of stars from their rotation rate, relies on precise measurements of minute changes in brightness. In addition, stars with long rotation periods require longer time coverage than is usually provided by single-mission space-based observations. To improve the detectability of rotation periods longer than tens of days, we supplemented data from space-based missions such as NASA’s Kepler, K2 and Transiting Exoplanetary Survey Satellite (TESS), ESA’s Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA) with ground-based data from the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA) telescopes, enhancing accuracy. We used the 0.9 m telescope at the …