AUETD (Auburn University)
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Integrating Computational Design in Interior Design: Exploring Potentials and the Environmental Setting of Adopters
No full textThis study explores the integration of computational design (CD) within the field of interior design, which—despite its vast potential for innovation—has been somewhat limited. This research introduces educational theories as an analytical framework, drawing parallels between design processes and learning processes, to analyze the functions of both the interior design process and CD within the context of cognitive work and learning experiences. Additionally, it examines the environment surrounding CD adoption by interior design practitioners, utilizing user acceptance theories such as the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT 2) and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DIT). A mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative research that analyzes the theoretical benefits of CD by comparing the design process with CD through the lens of educational theories, and quantitative research, using a survey to examine the environmental factors influencing CD adoption within the interior design industry, is employed. Through this survey, the study investigates the technological and organizational environments surrounding CD usage among interior designers. The comparative analysis reveals that CD can be beneficial for most design tasks that require various cognitive abilities and even has the potential to expand into metacognitive experiences. This finding supports the survey results on hedonic experiences. The survey also provides insights into CD adopters’ usage and professional environments, highlighting the crucial role of educational institutions in technology adoption and the appropriate conditions for its implementation.
This research proposes a conceptual framework aimed at supporting the broader adoption of CD in interior design. By enhancing understanding of the practical applications of CD, this framework provides a foundational model for comprehending the various factors that influence technology adoption and its cognitive benefits
Enhancing Food Safety in Indoor Agriculture in the United States: Developing a Need-Centered Curriculum Aligned with the Produce Safety Rule and Good Agricultural Practices
No full textUnstable crop prices and extreme weather led to reliance on hydroponic farmers by grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Safety concerns have arisen in indoor agriculture with recent recalls and outbreaks linked to Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. While training programs exist to educate conventional growers on reducing food contamination risks, there is currently a lack of targeted training for indoor growers to address their specific needs. These indoor growers do not have access to personalized training that supports them in acquiring the knowledge they need to comply with the current regulations and industry standards to minimize risks in their operation. The outputs of this research will be used as a foundation to develop training for indoor growers based on their specific needs. The study will be executed in two distinct phases. The results from a needs assessment survey (phase one) will provide information to guide the development of the customized curriculum (phase two) detailing procedures and food safety best practices based on scientific information. The curriculum material will be used to train educators and indoor growers at local and multi-state levels to facilitate knowledge gain on the specific and unique challenges that indoor agriculture operations face
Formation and Cleaning of Mineral Scale on Evaporative Cooling Pads Using a Farm Well-Water Source
No full textWell water is used as a primary supply for the evaporative cooling system on many poultry farms. The water quality from wells varies widely. Many producers have issues with the water being over-saturated with minerals that contribute to the scaling of the paper evaporative pads. Study one quantified the rate of mineral scale formation on evaporative cooling pads using one farm well-water source as 168 g per 1000 L of water consumed. Study two quantified scale removal from paper evaporative cooling pads at two scale levels (minimal vs. heavily scaled) using two water sources (well water and municipal). A total of 687 g and 1020 g of mineral scale was removed from the minimally and heavily scaled pads, respectively
Ovipositional Site Preferences and Characteristics of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.) (Blattodea: Blattidae), and Brownbanded cockroach, Supella longipalpa (Fabricius) (Blattodea: Ectobiidae)
No full textCockroaches are major pests in much of the United States, with the U.S. Census 2019 American Housing Survey reporting 14 million households with infestations. Oviposition substrate preference has been studied in various cockroach species. American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.) (Blattodea: Blattidae), and brownbanded cockroach, Supella longipalpa (Fab.) (Blattodea: Ectobiidae), have both been associated with medically significant pathogens and are peridomestic and domestic pest species respectively. Oviposition substrate preference has been studied in various cockroach species. However, there has been variability in substrates and bioassay methods without consideration for how different variables may affect choice. The aim of this thesis was to use similar methods to test how a variety of variables affected oviposition site selection in two cockroach species of different families. The aim of this study was to compare how oviposition site substrate preferences in American and brownbanded cockroaches differ in varying conditions. Using adult females of both species, we performed multiple-choice bioassays under both light and dark conditions at room temperature (~22C). In these bioassays, one gravid female cockroach was placed into a sweater box with either five indoor substrates (carpet, extruded polystyrene foam insulation, paperboard, painted plywood, and unpainted plywood) or five outdoor substrates (gravel, sand, soil, tree-bark, and terracotta pottery). Cockroaches were given 36 hours to oviposit in the substrate of their choice. Further experiments were performed to clarify preference in American cockroaches (removal of Expanded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) as an option and comparison of two forms of XPS) due to strong preference in light (90%) and dark (60%) conditions for XPS, and oviposition site selection process in both. Outdoor results showed a preference for sand, soil, and bark in both species. Indoor results showed a preference for unpainted wood in brownbanded cockroaches and XPS in American cockroaches. Then, ethograms were constructed using continuous sampling to generate time activity budgets and transition matrixes of behaviors associated with oviposition site selection
Interdisciplinary Interactions Between Humans and the Natural World
No full textHumans interact with nature in a variety of different ways. The goal of this work is to examine these interactions through three distinct disciplines: environmental psychology, geoscience education, and environmental geology. Here, quantitative and qualitative analyses are used in projects that consider the ways humans think about, learn about, and are affected by the natural world. The first study examines on environmental risk perceptions related to changes in outdoor activity during COVID-19 legislative shutdowns and finds that environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviors are more closely tied to societal values, worldviews, and political leaning. The second project explores the motivations, benefits, and barriers of implementing virtual field experiences in geoscience-related educational spaces. The results indicate that filling the instructional gap caused by canceled field trips and field courses due to COVID-19 regulations was the primary motivation behind virtual field experience implementation. Accessibility for students who otherwise may not have been able to participate was the primary benefit cited, while the most noted barriers were a lack of time, software development skills, and access to technological resources. Finally, the third project focuses on the source, distribution, and attenuation of radon in private groundwater wells in two rural communities of northeast Alabama that saw a higher-than-average occurrence of several types of cancer. Using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry we found uranium and thorium—potential radioactive parents of radon—at concentrations higher than average levels in Earth’s crust in the areas around the communities. Periodic groundwater sampling from two small-scale water filtration systems and a background water well indicates the ability of the filters to effectively remove radon from groundwater with regular filter replacement
The Role of OPDA Signaling in Induced Systemic Defenses Against Biotic and Abiotic Stresses
No full textPlants are vulnerable to a range of biotic and abiotic stressors, which hinder their growth and reduce agricultural yield. Existing management strategies fall short, lacking durable resistant/tolerant cultivars and nontoxic, low-cost pesticides, necessitating an urgent breakthrough, which is not necessarily forthcoming due to an incomplete understanding of plant defense mechanisms and plant growth and defense tradeoffs, a major problem in genetic engineering for plant stress resilience. To understand if and how plants co-ordinate growth and defense responses, we exploited the role and mode of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)-mediated ‘induced systemic resistance (ISR) and tolerance (IST),’ phenomena capable of priming broad-spectrum durable resistances without the usually accompanied growth penalty to biotic and abiotic stresses, respectively. This study describes that 12-oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA) acts as i) local defense and ii) long-distance phloem-mobile systemic defense signals in ISR, stimulating the cyclophilin 20-3 (CYP20-3)-mediated activation of two-component system, consisting of glutaredoxin transcriptional regulators (e.g., GRX480) and TGA transcription factors (e.g., TGA2, TGA5, TGA6). The GRX/TGA pathway then recruits the nonexpresser of PR1 (NPR1) and conveys both OPDA and salicylic acid (SA) signaling, which prime disease resistance in local and systemic tissues against a broad range of pathogens, including bacterial and fungal microbes and plant parasitic nematodes. Besides biotic stresses, the crosstalk between OPDA and SA signaling simultaneously runs ‘growth and defense machinery’ against abiotic stresses, especially drought. Recently, we have identified two drought-responsive genes, RESPONSIVE TO DESICCATION 29 (RD29)A and RD29B, which are located downstream of the GRX/TGA system, playing an important role in IST development. In the present study, we also found −for the first time− that plants can coordinate cellular multitasking by the circadian rhythmic expression of RD29A, which acts as a noncanonical esterase/hydrolase, and relay CYP20-3/OPDA signaling in priming IST against drought. Although RD29B is also induced by PGPR, we found it to be physiologically distinct from RD29A, acting as a constitutive gene positioned upstream and controlling RD29A-dependent/independent defense responses. Together, we hypothesize CYP20-3-dependent OPDA signaling as a key node helping balance growth and defense against various stresses, synergistically optimizing plant fitness
INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE ON CLIMATE VULNERABLE PAVEMENT BASE AGGREGATES
No full textIn view of alarming projections of increased climate water stressors, and considering the subsequent effect on the integrity and performance of pavement systems, there is a need for solutions to reduce the effect by making our pavements more sustainable and resilient. Given the increased frequency of heavy rainfall, there is a high probability that pavement base aggregates in the field, particularly in coastal regions, become saturated and remain so for an extended period of time. The increase in moisture content can reduce the mechanical properties, resilient modulus (MR) and shear strength, of base materials. In several states, climate vulnerable rocks, such as limestone and limerock, are the primary rock types crushed and used in roadway construction as pavement base aggregates. In recent years, the number of requests for approval of locally mined limerock in Alabama has increased due to the potential economic and environmental benefits associated with its use. However, the potential moisture susceptibility of these types of rock is a concern that has not been fully addressed, as it can impact the pavement long-term performance.
In this study, a reliable adaptive approach using a bottom-loading device for laboratory MR testing was used to evaluate the effect of moisture, over a broad spectrum of moisture conditions ranging from a very dry state to complete saturation, on the mechanical behavior of climate vulnerable pavement base aggregates. Limestone (three sources) and limerock (four sources) were the two aggregate types used and their differences were studied in depth because distinguishing between them can be challenging and there is limited information available on this comparison in the literature. The laboratory tests results showed that the MR and the triaxial shear maximum strength of limestone and limerock increased significantly with decreasing moisture content when drying from the optimum moisture content. When saturated, limestone and limerock aggregates mostly experienced a reduction in their MR. This reduction was significant for aggregates that contained a large number of particles finer than 4.75 mm and/or 0.075 mm and had a high content of clay-like materials or plastic fines.
Furthermore, the factors contributing to the impact of moisture were identified and a practical and cost-effective method was proposed to evaluate the moisture susceptibility of unbound base materials for quality assurance purposes. The results demonstrated that the fine aggregate content, fines content, plastic fines content, and fine aggregate angularity most influence the moisture susceptibility of base aggregates when moisture content exceeds the optimum moisture content. A threshold chart was developed for these influencing properties and a set of rapid tests was recommended to serve as moisture susceptibility evaluation methods during material selection and quality assurance testing in the field and laboratory. A case study confirmed the validity and reliability of the threshold chart.
Finally, the existing constitutive models used to predict the MR of pavement base aggregates at different moisture levels during pavement design were evaluated to determine their accuracy at saturation. The models were found to be more accurate and even conservative when predicting the MR of saturated base aggregates with low moisture susceptibility. However, the models were erroneous in their prediction and overestimated the MR at saturation of highly moisture susceptible pavement base aggregates. A method was proposed to improve the accuracy of the prediction models for saturated base aggregates with high moisture susceptibility.
The findings of this study help advance the state-of-the-art knowledge of the moisture effect on pavement materials. They are valuable for pavement design and construction material selection to achieve more sustainable and climate-resilient pavements. The proposed methods can help ensure that the unbound base materials selected for construction have the ability to retain their stiffness or recover from the effects of climatic events in a timely and efficient manner
Three-Dimensional Crater Formation Measurements During Plume-Surface Interaction in a Reduced Gravity Environment
No full textPlume-surface interaction experiments were conducted in a 4.27 m tall drop tower facility to achieve 0g conditions, where g is Earth gravity at 9.81 m/s^2. Following the drop tower experiments, Martian (0.38g) and Lunar (0.16g) gravity conditions were simulated via parabolic flight. A stereo photogrammetry technique was used to capture crater formation under these gravity conditions, allowing for the quantification of the effect of gravity on crater depth and volume evolution. Three nozzle heights of 25D, 40D, and 50D, where D is the nozzle exit diameter, and three nozzle pressures of 5, 10, and 15 psig were investigated using the drop tower at both 0g and 1g. Results from the 0g experiments were compared to the results obtained using the same nozzle heights and pressures under 1g. The results indicated that crater evolution occurred more rapidly during 0g conditions, resulting in deeper and wider craters compared to those formed under 1g. During the parabolic flight, five nozzle heights between 25D and 60D at 15 psig were tested. It was found that the trend of more rapid crater evolution with decreasing gravity followed for Lunar and Martian gravity
The Dynamics of Eukaryotic Ribosomal Translocation
No full textProtein synthesis is an important but complex process that supports life in all domains and takes place in a molecular machine called the ribosome. Numerous atomic structures of ribosome complexes have been resolved and provide snapshots of protein synthesis. Although structural studies describe the global information of translation at the atomic level, they do not report on the dynamic processes of initiation and elongation. The traditional kinetics method provides overall translation dynamics, but it is challenging to study multistep, heterogeneous translation systems. Consequently, the mechanisms and dynamics of translation remain poorly understood. To study real-time protein synthesis, we focus on applying the single-molecule method. Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) can track the movement of the ribosome in real-time. We developed a eukaryotic smFRET system that reports on the intersubunit conformation of the ribosome. We employed it to reveal the mechanism of translocation of both internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and tRNA-mRNA translation. Our results demonstrated that the mid and late stages of ribosomal translocation are thermally driven, providing direct evidence that the ribosome is a Brownian molecular motor. Finally, we discuss the potential other applications of the developed system and explore possible directions for expanding current single-molecule toolboxes
Confined Cell Migration: The Role of Fluid Flow as a Physical Cue
No full textCell motility is an essential and complex phenomenon that regulates several physiological and pathological processes in vivo, from embryonic development and tissue regeneration to disease progression. It is widely accepted that migrating cells are able to adapt to a variety of biophysical signals, including substrate stiffness, viscoelasticity, pressure, etc., that in turn can mediate the mechanism and efficiency of cell motility. This research area is of particular interest to me because migrating cells to target sites frequently encounter confinement and forces from various types of fluid flow, such as blood flow and interstitial fluid flow. The mechanosensing mechanisms by which cells sense, interpret, and respond to these physical cues from their microenvironment in vivo have yet to be fully understood. Combining engineering concepts and tools with advanced cell and molecular biology knowledge and techniques has equipped us to investigate highly active mechanisms of cell locomotion.
Using PDMS-based microfluidic devices that allow fine-tuning the degree of confinement and fluid flow rates combined with live cell imaging, we were able to detect, isolate, and characterize highly migratory presenescent hMSCs based on their innate ability to move towards injured and inflammatory tissues. Migratory populations exhibit higher proliferation capacity and a lower level of DNA damage and cellular senescence. Subsequently, we were intrigued to investigate the impact of fluid forces on confined cell migration. We identified molecular mechanisms governing migratory responses observed in tightly and moderately confined microenvironments. The importance of actomyosin repolarization, intercellular calcium, ion transporters, mechanosensitive ion channels, and nuclear stiffness were demonstrated.
Further research and development will hopefully generate innovative therapies, improve existing treatments, and enhance a general and fundamental understanding of cellular processes in their microenvironment, leading to profound implications for both science and medicine