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Evaluating Relative Localization in GPS-Denied Environments Using Starling2 UAVs
No full textThis paper presents preliminary results from a study that evaluated vision-based methods for relative localization in GPS-denied environments using Starling 2 drones as test agents. For distributed multi-agent coordination, robot-to-robot localization is critical. In this direction, we evaluate two vision- based detection methods: fiducial-marker based and neural network-based. We use a You Only Look Once (YOLOv8) neural network for drone detection for the on-board localization method. The model was trained from scratch and fine-tuned on a custom dataset. The model performance was 0.94 for [email protected] and 0.63 for [email protected]:0.95. The results demonstrated robust detection under diverse visual conditions. Additionally, we benchmark an open source vision-based localization method against ground-truth data from an OptiTrack motion capture system. Experiments were conducted over three fixed distances between agents to evaluate spatial performance and drift. Results show that while the OptiTrack system provides high-fidelity reference trajectories, the Starling2 onboard sensing pipeline - using AprilTags and visual odometry - achieves promising localization accuracy, with increasing drift at larger separations. These findings support the viability of lightweight, GPS-free localization in autonomous multi-agent applications. Both the AprilTag and YOLOv8-based detectors demonstrated promising potential for scalable, lightweight, GPS-free multi-agent robot localization
Comparison between AuNP and TiO2NP Nanocarriers for the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
No full textChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the most fatal diseases in the world, leading to lung tissue damage and persistent inflammation. Patients with COPD are typically treated with a bronchodilator and steroids to alleviate bronchoconstriction and inflammation; however, the steroids have limited effects. Inhaled nanomedicine utilizes small agents that facilitate pulmonary-targeted delivery, which improves the absorption and potency of the medication. Over a century ago, Paul Ehrlich proposed the \u27magic bullet\u27 theory—targeting diseases precisely while minimizing side effects. Recently, nanomedicine has emerged to support Ehrlich’s theory by fostering nanoparticle drug delivery systems, such as gold (AuNPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs). Thus, this literature review aims to analyze and compare gold and titanium dioxide nanoparticles as carriers for COPD treatment for pulmonary and systemic applications. An analysis of over 60 PubMed research studies from the last twenty years compared the biodistribution, immunotoxicity, inflammation-causing abilities, and cellular interactions of AuNPs and TiO2NPs. The findings suggest that positively charged, small AuNPs are distributed and cleared quicker than other nanoparticles. However, smaller AuNPs can also cause toxic effects in the digestive and vascular systems. In contrast, TiO2NPs have been shown to cause strong pulmonary inflammation with immune cell accumulation, which occurs through repeated exposure and correlates with size and agglomeration. Ultimately, both AuNPs and TiO2NPs have benefits, but AuNPs demonstrate greater potential for safe and effective COPD treatment, promoting further clinical trials and research on their targeted drug deliveries
The role of estrogen in lung health
No full textEstrogen, a key sex hormone, significantly influences lung health by modulating inflammation, immune responses, and disease progression. It impacts over 50% of women worldwide, yet the precise mechanisms underlying these effects remain misunderstood. This study evaluates how estrogen influences inflammation and disease progression in lung health, focusing on hormonal imbalances. A systematic review of PubMed and Scopus peer-reviewed literature (2000–2024) was performed. Thirty studies were selected considering their relevance for the role of estrogen in asthma, inflammation, lung cancer, and fibrosis. Studies that were included were experimental models to study estrogen receptors and hormonal effects on disease severity. Experiments also investigated the effect of estrogen receptors on immunity and the hormonal component in the severity of disease. Findings revealed that 50% of women with lung adenocarcinoma are non-smokers, and premenopausal women have lower survival rates. Experimental models revealed that estrogen exacerbated lung fibrosis, particularly in women with low gut microbial diversity. Estrogen metabolism was also linked to the development of lung cancer, revealing its impact on inflammatory and disease results. These findings align with previous studies showing that estrogen receptors modulate inflammatory pathways in lung cancer. Future research should explore estrogen receptor-targeted therapies and the interplay between hormonal and microbial factors in lung disease management
Forum, Volume 49, No. 2, Summer 2025
No full textContents: Letter from the Executive Director -- Letter from the Secretary of State -- From the Editor -- Humanities Live -- Treasure -- Oral History -- Florida Seen -- Florida Reads -- The Saltwater Road -- The Hero with a Thousand Purses -- Indigenous Florida -- A Taste of Florida -- Environmental Humanities -- The Quizhttps://digitalcommons.usf.edu/forum_magazine/1099/thumbnail.jp
Teacher Inquiry: How Mathematics Discourse and Hands-On Learning Impact Student Outcomes and Teacher Attitudes
No full textIn this inquiry, the teacher worked alongside a university mentor to develop, monitor, and analyze the teacher’s wonderings. In a 3rd grade classroom, the teacher wanted to explore how hands-on and discourse strategies could impact mathematics achievement for all students. Specifically, the teacher explored how utilizing hands-on activities and discourse strategies in collaborative groups could lead to increased engagement and better outcomes for her exceptional student education (ESE) population in learning multiplication and division. Throughout the inquiry, the teacher used checklists, anecdotal notes, and student exit ticket scores to monitor student progress. At the end of the inquiry cycle, the teacher discovered that the strategies helped to improve outcomes for all students in different ways that was unexpected. This led to interesting discussions about the teacher’s inquiry and led to more wonderings that the teacher will pursue to add to her pedagogical toolkit. Overall, this paper discusses the impact of this inquiry on the teacher’s thinking and about how she can best serve all students in her classroom