Open Research Oklahoma (Oklahoma State Univ.)
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Abraham Lincoln: The strategic path to emancipation and preservation
No full textDespite being one of the most well-known American presidents, of whom countless works of scholarship have been constructed, Abraham Lincoln has often been misrepresented as hesitant and tentative in his approach to abolishing slavery. Instead, his dedication to preserving the nation has been cited as his most vital imperative. This paper will argue that this is not the case. While Abraham Lincoln was dedicated to the preservation of the Union, the idea of equality for all was equally important to him, and his ultimate goal was always to dismantle the practice of slavery. Nevertheless, his dedication to the Constitution and adherence to lawfulness kept his personal desires in check, thereby restraining him to accept that a moderate pace toward abolition was the only way to achieve his goal. Utilizing Lincoln's letters and speeches, along with the writings of a number of his colleagues, this paper will show that Lincoln possessed the political cunning to understand that each step toward abolition required precise timing for its execution and that appearing too radical would only hinder the case. To this end, he skillfully used his aptitude for linguistics to his advantage, catering his words to his audience. In addition, he understood how to manipulate the media to his advantage as well. Masterfully, he played the political long game in order to achieve his objective, the abolition of slavery, while simultaneously, executing his duty as Commander in Chief, managing to navigate and win America's bloodiest and most defining war. In the end, although it required Lincoln's most noble sacrifice, he managed to hold together a fragmenting nation while simultaneously achieving his primary goal of ensuring the freedom of four million enslaved African Americans
Lived experiences of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma members in the Ferguson College of Agriculture
No full textNative Americans represent one of the smallest populations in Higher Education. Native American tribal nations have supported members attending higher education since the enactment of forced removal treaties. Although student numbers continue to increase, Native Americans still only represent 1% of the total Higher Education population. This study explored the lived experience of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma students enrolled in the Ferguson College of Agriculture at Oklahoma State University. To fully understand the lived experiences of Oklahoma State University undergraduate and graduate students who are Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma members, a phenomenological study using in-depth personal interviews was chosen. Eleven interviews were conducted in Edmond Low Library. Interviews were coded using in-vivo coding. Five themes emerged from the data: (a) support systems in the Ferguson College of Agriculture; (b) (in)visible heritage and assimilation; (c) the collective pursuit and legacy of higher education; (d) the FCA as a means to their end; and (e) their journey to an agricultural college. Throughout these five themes, five conclusions and implications were derived: (a) the cultural value of a collective system of support was important for these Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma members to succeed at OSU and in the FCA; (b) these Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma members came to college with a limited connection to their heritage and might not be cognizant of assimilation; (c) the role of family was a value and motivating factor derivative of tribal culture for these members; (d) these Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma members were focused on their career path, not necessarily belongingness through their tribal heritage in their academic experience; (e) these Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma members did not intentionally choose the Ferguson College of Agriculture. Overall, these students felt supported in the Ferguson College of Agriculture. However, these participants might not be looking for a sense of belongingness through their tribal heritage. Due to this perceived detachment, participants simultaneously perceived that their Native American heritage was both visible and invisible around the campus of OSU and in the FCA
This sucks! Development of UAS sample collection device for dolphin health assessment
No full textMarine biologists can monitor the stress of cetaceans by collecting and analyzing the hormone cortisol contained in mucus that is produced from their blowhole during exhalation. To collect mucus samples, a developed collection mechanism attached to an Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) will be deployed from land or watercraft, travel to a specimen of interest, collect a sample, and keep it intact while delivering the sample back to researchers. This approach is less invasive compared to existing methods that require the capture of wild cetaceans. Current UAS being used for this mission are usually quadcopters with Petri dishes fixed to their frame. To improve upon this design a fixed wing UAS is used for improved endurance, with a collection system capable of active sampling. The collection system uses an Electric Ducted fan to pull samples into a fine mesh as the aircraft passes through the blow field. Results from PIV Experiments and flight tests over a dolphin chuff simulator were used to validate the new system's capability for sample collection in the field, followed by field tests on live dolphins at Dolphin Quest Bermuda to determine the system's effectiveness
Cytauxzoonosis: Insights into prevalence, prevention, and pathogenesis
No full textCytauxzoonosis is a fatal tick–borne disease in domestic cats caused by the apicomplexan parasite, Cytauxzoon felis. While different Cytauxzoon species have been identified in various countries, C. felis is the sole species found in the United States (US) and is known to cause a fatal disease in domestic cats. Infections of C. felis in the US are limited to areas where the natural reservoir host, the bobcat (Lynx rufus), and the known tick vectors, Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis, are present. Currently, there is no cure for cytauxzoonosis, and the difficulty in studying this parasite in vitro has hindered the development of therapeutics and the identification of vaccine candidates. Additionally, our knowledge of the overall prevalence of C. felis in natural reservoirs is limited. With an increasing number of cases being reported each year, there is an urgent need to delineate reservoirs and propagation potential of C. felis, and to develop new methods for understanding pathogenesis. These studies focus on three critical aspects of cytauxzoonosis: (1) the 'prevalence' of C. felis in bobcats, (2) the 'prevention' of cytauxzoonosis using a new vaccination strategy, and (3) the 'pathogenesis' of C. felis infection by developing an in vitro system to replicate the parasite infection and replication. Our data revealed a higher prevalence of C. felis infections in bobcat populations in Oklahoma compared to previous studies, identifying areas with both high and low prevalence and an expansion in the geographic distribution. The vaccine strategy we employed yielded promising results, significantly reducing clinical signs in vaccinated cats by inducing a robust humoral and cellular immune response. Lastly, we successfully replicated C. felis infection in vitro using activated feline embryonal macrophages and lysed blood from acute C. felis infections, shedding light on the development of new therapies and diagnostics for cytauxzoonosis. Collectively, our data provide important insights into three different aspects of cytauxzoonosis, and we believe that these results can ultimately contribute to mitigating cytauxzoonosis and improving feline health
Utilizing computational methods to characterize various condensed matter systems
No full textQuantum systems, whether quantum dots or semiconducting materials, are complex systems that require thorough and timely investigation, needing both theoretical and experimental ventures. The work presented in this dissertation surrounds utilizing computational methods to investigate (i) the dynamics of charges in quantum dot systems and (ii) the material properties of perovskite systems.
Quantum systems (i.e., quantum dots) are particularly susceptible to outside perturbations, such as surrounding impurities, which make nanoscale technologies of this design cumbersome. Introducing impurities produces a potential that can couple nearly degenerate eigenstates and increase the probability density around stable periodic orbits of the classical analog, thereby producing perturbation-induced (PI) scars. Applying Husimi maps to scars of this origin allows for understanding the system’s underlying dynamics and assessing their controllability. Specifically, Husimi projections reproduce the classical resonance of PI scars and reveal hidden features of turning and self-crossing points along the scar path of the wave function, where they’re speculated to be the source of hindrance for coherent control.
Semiconducting materials such as organometal halide perovskites have been explored for various applications, including solar cells, solid-state lighting, and latent fingerprint detection. That said, Pb-toxicity limits these materials’ applications on a commercial scale, prompting the need for Pb-free/reduced materials with similar optical and electronic properties. Creating a Pb-reduced FAPbI3 material by means of Sr-doping allows a reduction of Pb while aiming to retain the desired Pb-like material properties that make it a strong candidate for single-junction solar cells. Additionally, producing Pb-free low-dimensional metal halide (LDMH) perovskites leads to the fabrication of a class of materials that are attractive due to their promise in LEDs, X-ray imaging, and latent fingerprint detection.
Computational characterization is essential for developing strategies in designing and implementing technologies based on these quantum systems
Mathematical programming models for network influence optimization problems with stochastic interactions
No full textThis dissertation focuses on mathematical programming models for two related studies in network influence optimization. The first study considers a model of network influence using a Markov chain. The model assumes that inactive nodes can be activated by active in-neighbors or external factors. The activation time of a node is random and depends on control variables that can be adjusted by a decision-maker with a limited budget, who aims to minimize the time until all nodes in the network are activated. We prove that optimizing either the expected Network Activation Time (NAT) or its tail probabilities is an intractable (EXP-hard) problem. Instead, we focus on a stochastic upper bound for the NAT, and we demonstrate that both the expected and tail probabilities of this bound are minimized when the minimum sojourn rate of the Markov chain is maximized. We also show that the Network Activation Time Problem (NATP) can be transformed into an efficiently solvable convex optimization problem. To efficiently solve the NATP, we present a cut generation algorithm that can solve many instances of the problem in a matter of seconds to minutes. In the second study, we propose a new optimization problem called the Influence Coverage Optimization Problem (ICOP), which involves maximizing the influence over a network while considering the location of nodes on the plane. The problem assumes that nodes can be influenced by active in-neighbors or by entering the coverage area of a physical ad or a Geo-fence. The goal is to place a fixed number of ads or Geo-fences and adjust network influence rates to minimize the NAT. Assuming the Markovian framework to model the ICOP, we show that this problem is NP-hard, and we present MIP formulations for three different coverage modes. We also use various enhancements such as valid cuts, a fast heuristic based on the k-means algorithm, ‘big-M’ reformulations, and an Iterative Decomposition Branch-and-Cut (IDBC) algorithm to solve the problem. Furthermore, we introduce an alternative discrete formulation using critical intersection points. Our experiments show that the IDBC algorithm can provide optimal solutions within seconds or minutes for most instances, and that the ICOP can outperform a Geo-fence coverage model that does not consider network interactions when making location decisions
Size measurement and filled/unfilled detection of rice grains using backlight image processing
No full textMeasurements of rice physical traits, such as length, width, and percentage of filled/unfilled grains, are essential steps of rice breeding. A new approach for measuring the physical traits of rice grains for breeding purposes was presented in this study, utilizing image processing techniques. Backlight photography was used to capture a grayscale image of a group of rice grains, which was then analyzed using a clustering algorithm to differentiate between filled and unfilled grains based on their grayscale values. The impact of backlight intensity on the accuracy of the method was also investigated. The results show that the proposed method has excellent accuracy and high efficiency. The mean absolute percentage error of the method was 0.24% and 1.36% in calculating the total number of grain particles and distinguishing the number of filled grains, respectively. The grain size was also measured with a little margin of error. The mean absolute percentage error of grain length measurement was 1.11%, while the measurement error of grain width was 4.03%. The method was found to be highly accurate, non-destructive, and cost-effective when compared to conventional methods, making it a promising approach for characterizing physical traits for crop breeding.Biosystems and Agricultural Engineerin
Development and commissioning of a variable capacity experimental infrastructure for a novel three fluid heat exchanger
No full textOne of the major problems with using renewable energy is the mismatch between power generation and demand as renewable energy generation and energy usage from HVAC equipment depend on unsynchronized natural factors. To reduce this supply-demand mismatch many researchers suggested using thermal energy storage to shift cooling and/or heating loads. A thermal energy storage (TES) tank can be integrated with building heating and cooling systems using several methods described in the open literature. This thesis explores a novel method to integrate water-based TES with an indoor air coil using a three fluid heat exchanger (TriCoil(TM)). The three fluid heat exchanger will thermally connect water from the TES, refrigerant from the outdoor unit, and indoor air. A test setup has been developed inside the Psychrometric Coil Testing Facility of Oklahoma State University (OSU) to test the TriCoil(TM). The heat balance of the test setup for different operation modes and test points was within +/-5%. An uncertainty analysis has been performed on the test results and major sources of uncertainties have been identified. In the experiment done for this thesis, water from the TES was successfully charged up to 15 kW (cooling) with a log mean temperature difference (LMTD) of 18.5 K using a 4-ton capacity outdoor unit. TriCoil(TM) was also used to discharge the water from TES with a max capacity of 11.5 kW (heating) with an LMTD of 8.7 K, a water flow rate of 1700 kg/h, and an airflow rate of 1600 CFM
Toward autonomous mobile Mocap: Motion enhancement and robotic computing
No full textHuman motion capture (Mocap) has a variety of applications ranging from animation creation to entertainment, from biomechanical studies to clinical applications. There are three major Mocap technologies: marker-based optical systems, IMU-based sensors, and markerless vision-based ones. Especially the most recent depth sensor-based mocap (D-Mocap) has attracted tremendous attention due to its affordability and flexibility, as well as its potential to bring a practical mocap tool to a clinical or home setting. However, D-mocap data often suffers significant errors due to random noise, self-occlusion, and other algorithmic limitations, hindering its wider applications. In addition, most markerless mocap systems, including D-mocap, have a limited capture volume, which makes it hard to capture long-range motion, such as in clinical gait analysis where multiple walking cycles are necessary. In this dissertation, we are focused on two major research topics that will lead to the development of an innovative autonomous mobile mocap platform which supports robust and accurate multi-view motion capture “on-the-go” for clinical applications. The first is the computational approach to enhance the motion quality of D-Mocap data to be clinically and medically relevant, and the second is an omni-wheeled robotic platform and a virtual simulation tool that are to be used to study and develop multi-view and human-centric motion capture solutions. In the first study, we propose several novel motion enhancement methods to refine D-Mocap data: (1) We apply the Tobit model to model D-Mocap data at the joint level, and then we introduce a novel Tobit Particle Filter (TPF) to enhance the accuracy and robustness of joint-level position and angle estimation; (2) We apply the differential evolutionary algorithm (DE) to improve the stability and consistency of the skeleton structure from sequential D-Mocap data along the time; (3) We synergistically integrate joint-level TPF filtering with skeleton-level DE optimization to improve motion trajectories of body joints to be more kinematically admissible and the skeleton-level structure more anthropometrically stable. In the second study, we develop a new autonomous mocap platform that integrates a mecanum-wheeled robot, a mini-PC, an LCD display as well as 3D-printed shell. In addition, we develop a ROS-based mecanum-wheeled robot simulator environment that can be used to study multi-view human tracking and following along with optimized long-range mocap performance. These two hardware and software solutions pave the path for the future investigation and development of a low-cost autonomous mobile mocap system that has great potential to be used in many clinical and homecare applications
Effects of resistance training of the ankle-foot system on dance-related exercise and performance
No full textDancers have a 90% injury rate compared to 20% observed in rugby and football athletes. Preventative equipment or techniques, such as braces or taping, are less available to dancers to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the sport.PURPOSE: To improve dance-related jump technique and force production with a 6-week resistance training program.METHODS: Six women (19 ± 1 yrs) in competitive dance completed resistance band rehabilitation exercises of the foot and ankle two times a week for 6 weeks. Before and after training, the dancers performed a standing bilateral jump to single-leg landing (take-off and landing peak force [N], loading velocity [N/s]) and maximal isokinetic plantar- and dorsiflexion (30°, 60°, 120° s-1[N/m]) of the dominant limb. Statistical analyses (p≤0.05) included paired samples t-tests (pre- vs post-intervention) and correlations (%Δ).RESULTS: There were no changes in take-off peak force (pre: 1445 ± 318 N, post: 1375 ± 207 N, p = 0.661), landing peak force (pre: 1157 ± 216 N, post: 1228 ± 290 N, p = 0.253), loading velocity (pre: 9803 ± 3033 N/s, post: 10545 ± 856 N/s, p = 0.208), or isokinetic peak force for 30° s-1 (plantar pre: 42 ± 31 N/m, post: 45 ± 35 N/m, p = 0.478; dorsi pre: 26 ± 10 N/m, post: 23 ± 3 N/m, p = 0.465), 60° s-1 (plantar pre: 27 ± 23 N/m, post: 31 ± 26 N/m, p = 0.222; dorsi pre: 17 ± 1 N/m, post: 18 ± 4 N/m, p = 0.603), or 120° s-1 (plantar pre: 20 ± 14 N/m, post: 22 ± 19 N/m, p = 0.466; dorsi pre: 13 ± 1 N/m, post: 15 ± 5 N/m, p = 0.313). There were significant and strong correlations between the %Δ in loading velocity and %Δ in 120° s-1 plantarflexion force (r2 = 0.719, p = 0.033) and %Δ in 120° s-1 dorsiflexion force (r2 = 0.787, p = 0.018), and between %Δ in take-off peak force and %Δ in 60° s-1 dorsiflexion (r2 = 0.887, p = 0.005) and %Δ in 120° s-1 plantarflexion (r2 = 0.666, p = 0.048).CONCLUSION: While there were no significant changes in pre- to post-testing measures, a greater change in plantar- and dorsiflexion force performed at 60° and 120° s-1 were strongly correlated with improvements in loading velocity and take-off peak force. Further, each dancer reported a noticeable increase in both stability and control in performance following the program. Our findings indicate that dancers should focus on improved power production to improve stability and take-off mechanics, which may reduce injury risk in this population