Furman University

Furman University
Not a member yet
    10368 research outputs found

    Testing the Feasibility and Performance of a Highway Traffic Turbine that Generates Electricity from the Air Turbulence Generated by Oncoming Traffic on Public Roads

    No full text
    The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions in relation to global climate challenges has emphasized the necessity for renewable energy applications. With some of these solutions, wind energy stands out due to its wide abundance and potential for technological advancement. The following study explores the design, fabrication, and testing of a vertical-axis wind turbine optimized for energy harvesting along public motorways using fabricated aluminum-carbon fiber wind blades. The research focuses on harnessing turbulent airflow generated by high-speed vehicles to convert kinetic energy into electricity for nearby infrastructure or the energy grid. An in-depth literature review supports the overall feasibility of this approach, highlighting advancements in the aerodynamic sector and overall material innovation. The methodology includes designing and fabricating turbine blades with carbon-aluminum composite wind turbine extenders, testing under controlled motorway conditions, and analyzing total voltage outputs from 30 trials with vehicles passing at 45 mph. The results demonstrate the impact of the blade modifications on turbine efficiency and underscore the potential of vertical axis wind turbines as a sustainable energy solution for urban infrastructures. The following study aims to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical implementation, contributing to the development of cost-effective, portable, and efficient renewable energy technologies in the wind energy sector

    Integrating a hybrid Machine Learning approach for stock price prediction and realistic modeling

    No full text
    The stock market’s increasing volatility makes predicting accurate trends more challenging. Since the stock market influences the economy, precise predictions help investors maximize profits or minimize losses. This paper proposed a hybrid approach to enhance stock market predictions with high accuracy by integrating multiple models, stock market indicators, stock options, realistic modeling, and news sentiments. It was hypothesized that this approach would yield low error margins and realistically model the stock market while minimizing computational intensity. The model achieved a mean absolute percentage error of 2.93%, demonstrating high prediction accuracy compared to actual prices. Data were sourced from Yahoo Finance, including stock prices, options, indicators, news, and other financial data. Monte Carlo simulations trained, tested, and validated machine learning models. Mathematical modeling techniques were also employed to ensure accurate predictions and disciplined modeling. A paired linear regression test was conducted to analyze prediction accuracy across training and testing datasets. Under a 95% confidence level, the p-value of 0.6047 was greater than the ��-value of 0.05, indicating the hybrid model architecture is a dependable, precise, and efficient alternative to conventional prediction models

    The Effects of Magnesium Glycinate vs. Magnesium Citrate on the Growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus in Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions

    No full text
    Despite numerous studies on the importance of magnesium intake, little is known about the variations between different forms of magnesium and their interactions with gut bacteria. Magnesium is essential for many bodily functions, and its absorption in the intestines is key for maintaining levels that support muscle function, nerve transmission, and energy production; however, its effects on probiotics have not been thoroughly investigated. With many magnesium supplements available on the market, questions arise regarding which is most effective. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of magnesium glycinate versus magnesium citrate in promoting the absorption of Lactobacillus acidophilus, and to determine which form enhances uptake more effectively. It was hypothesized that the addition of magnesium glycinate or citrate to a L. acidophilus mixture would improve absorbance, with glycinate yielding higher results. Three experimental groups were examined with the addition of L. acidophilus in the MRS broth: one group without magnesium, one with magnesium glycinate, and one with magnesium citrate. Using a SpectroVis Plus spectrophotometer, absorbance units (AU) were assessed based on the intensity of transmitted light. The one-way ANOVA test, conducted with an alpha level of 0.05, revealed significant differences between the control group and each of the experimental groups (F(2, 87) = 12.54, p \u3c 0.001). Therefore, it was concluded that there was a significant difference in AU between the control group and the magnesium citrate and magnesium glycinate trials

    Giving Back to Move Forward

    No full text
    Furman gave me an opportunity that significantly charted the course of my life

    Table of Contents, and Introductory Information

    No full text

    Rebecca and Rhododendrons: Female Identity in Interwar Britain

    No full text

    Fixing Our Footwork

    No full text
    The Agility Ladder with Pins to Lock into the Ground and Adjustable Rungs is a revolutionary training tool designed to improve athletic performance while minimizing movement during use. This innovative ladder features a pin system that securely locks the ladder into the ground, preventing unwanted shifts during intense training sessions. With adjustable rungs that can be easily locked into place, the ladder ensures a consistent training surface, reducing overall movement by 90% and allowing athletes to focus on precision and speed

    UpRight

    No full text
    Maintaining proper posture is becoming increasingly difficult due to the rapid advancement of technology. This postural degradation can have severe effects on the spine, muscles, stomach, and intestines, contributing to conditions such as back pain, acid reflux, and constipation. With the widespread use of office jobs, gaming, schooling, and smartphones, this issue has become a common concern. To address this, we propose a posture trainer designed to help users correct their posture independently through simple, consistent reminders. This solution involves a wearable device that can be discreetly worn under clothing. A flex sensor will be placed along the user\u27s spine and calibrated to detect proper posture. If the sensor detects significant deviation from the ideal posture over an extended period, it will trigger a vibration as a reminder to correct the users posture. Success will be measured by the accuracy of the deviation threshold that activates the reminder and by the seamless functioning of all device components. Through extensive research, we reviewed previous studies on the causes and effects of poor posture. Notably, a prominent study from Hong Kong found that trunk asymmetry (poor posture) worsens with increased technology use, which is linked to musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial abnormalities. Our posture trainer aims to prevent or mitigate these health issues by promoting posture awareness and encouraging habitual correction, providing a practical solution to a growing concern

    Investigating if Abnormal Gait and Muscle Activity Stems from Differing Walking Speeds

    No full text
    There is a lack of human locomotion studies that examine how neurological injuries may affect an individual walking at different speeds. My summer research worked to determine if individuals with spinal cord injuries’ (SCI) gait and muscle activity was abnormal because of their abnormally slow walking speed or neurological injuries. To observe the effect of different walking speeds on the gait cycle, I hooked up participants to electrodes placed along their leg and on the muscles I analyzed including the soleus, medial gastroc, lateral gastroc, and tibialis anterior with activity seen on an EMG. Once both SCI and Non-SCI participants were hooked up, I had them walk on a treadmill at as many speeds as they could walk at which ranged from 0.3m/s to 1.8m/s. While participants walked, I delivered a stim in a mixed peripheral nerve which is a nerve with both a sensory and motor nerve in order to receive an H-reflex. Additionally, I delivered a high enough stim to trigger activity in the motor nerve at the same time which causes a muscle twitch and results in an M-wave. After analyzing the data we collected on Matlab, I created various sweeps of locomotor EMGs and H-reflex amplitudes of our chosen muscles. These results indicated that abnormal gait and muscle activity likely stems from SCI’s walking speed and not neurological injuries because there were similarities in both SCI and Non-SCI participants\u27 activity when walking at slow speeds

    A Hybrid Cooling System Utilizing Active Air and Phase Change Material Polyethylene Glycol in a Lithium-ion Battery Pack

    No full text
    Batteries have become one of the most important components of electronic devices. However, a large issue lies in overheating batteries, which decreases their performance and lifespan. Although cooling systems have been researched to combat this, the combination of phase change material polyethylene glycol (PEG) and fans has not been observed. The purpose of this study was to determine if a hybrid system consisting of PEG and air cooling would decrease temperatures compared to individual cooling systems such as just air cooling. It was hypothesized that the hybrid cooling system would have lower overall temperatures as compared to individual active and passive cooling systems as combining the two methods has been found to decrease temperatures in batteries (Mohammed et al., 2024). Four Lithium-ion batteries were taken and connected to twelve 0.5Ω resistors in a 4 series 3 parallel. Tests were conducted using no cooling, forced air cooling, PCM cooling with PEG, and a hybrid system combining forced air cooling and the PEG, and temperatures were measured every 2 minutes for 6 minutes. Based on a two-way ANOVA test with a p \u3c .05, (F(3, 234) = [132.81], p \u3c .0001) between cooling methods and (F(2, 234) = [262.37], p \u3c .0001) between time, so the null hypothesis could be rejected. A post-hoc Tukey test was performed and all except the forced air vs PEG comparison were significant. Therefore, there is significant evidence that a hybrid cooling system consisting of PEG and fans could decrease temperatures more than individual systems

    4,052

    full texts

    10,368

    metadata records
    Updated in last 30 days.
    Furman University
    Access Repository Dashboard
    Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇