17007 research outputs found
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Legacy Display
No full textA display in the Special Collections reading room with a poster titled Legacy detailing George\u27s life post-professional baseball and where his name is remembered. The table also displays a photograph of Richard and Gloria Davis, devoted researchers and donors to the archives, reintroducing George Sweatt to Pittsburg State.https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/sweatt_lecture/1037/thumbnail.jp
Pittsburg Flag, Stitching
No full textA close up photograph of the SMTN logo on one of the pennant flags on display. The stitching lines are visiblehttps://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/sweatt_lecture/1048/thumbnail.jp
Reading Room, Right Side
No full textRight side of the reading room in Special Collections. The photo spans from the timeline and Manual jersey in the back of the room to the high school display in the front.https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/sweatt_lecture/1051/thumbnail.jp
Phil Dixon & ROTC Student
No full textPhil Dixon with an ROTC student who holds Dixon\u27s book, Wilber Bullet Rogan and the Kansas City Monarchshttps://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/sweatt_lecture/1085/thumbnail.jp
Enhancing Thermal, Mechanical, and Chemical Performance of Bio-based Polyurethane Adhesives: The Role of Pentaerythritol Crosslinking in Castor and Soybean Oil Polyols
No full textWood adhesives play a crucial role in construction and manufacturing, but traditional adhesives often rely on environmentally harmful synthetic materials. This project explores a sustainable alternative by synthesizing bio-based adhesives derived from castor oil polyols (COP) and soybean oil polyols (SOP). The goal is to develop an eco-friendly adhesive that offers enhanced bonding strength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. Incorporating pentaerythritol as a crosslinker increases hydroxyl group availability, resulting in higher crosslinking density. This improvement enhances adhesive strength and thermal stability through the formation of a more rigid polymer network. Tensile strength testing revealed that SOP at 5 wt.% exhibited the highest room-temperature tensile strength (6.14 MPa), while COP at 5 wt.% achieved 5.05 MPa. At 90C, SOP at 10 wt.% retained a tensile strength of 4.73 MPa, outperforming COP at 5 wt.% (4.52 MPa), demonstrating superior high-temperature performance for SOP-based adhesives. The research methodology involves synthesizing polyols from renewable plant oils via epoxidation and ring-opening reactions, followed by their conversion into adhesives using methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and pentaerythritol. FT-IR spectroscopy and tensile strength testing were used to evaluate adhesive performance under varying weight percentages and temperatures. To further validate properties, additional tests-including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gel swelling tests, and water contact angle measurements- will assess thermal stability, crosslinking density, solvent resistance, and surface hydrophobicity. By developing high-performance bio-based adhesives, this study advances sustainable material innovation, reducing reliance on petroleum-based products while providing durable and robust wood bonding solutions
Advanced Dual-Cross-Linking Strategy for Upgrading Formaldehyde-Free Olefin Adhesives
No full textAdhesives are extensively used in industry and construction, with formaldehyde-free options gaining popularity due to their enhanced safety and chemical stability. However, their water resistance remains a significant limitation. In this study, a simple and efficient strategy based on a physicochemical dual cross-linking synergistic net work was proposed to develop a new formaldehyde-free adhesive (IBMP-BT). The unique structure, featuring stable chemical cross-linking formed by amidation and a network of multiple hydrogen bonds, enables enhanced water resistance, strength, and toughness of the adhesive. The dry shear strength and toughness of the IBMP-BT adhesive reached 2.03 MPa and 0.600 J, respectively, representing improvements of 89.7% and 255.03% compared to those of the unmodified adhesive. The wet bonding strength of the lBMP-BT adhesive was 1.16 MPa, Significantly exceeding the requirements of China\u27s national standards. This innovative network design allows olefin copolymer store place traditional formaldehyde-based products, leading to the creation of high-performance adhesives
Biodegradable High-Molecular-Weight Poly (pentylene adipate-coterephthalate): Synthesis, Thermo-Mechanical Properties, Microstructures, and Biodegradation
No full textPoly (pentylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PPAT) is a promising biobased and biodegradable polymer that can replace polyethylene in flexible packaging films where biodegradability is desired. High-molecular-weight (100K-145 KDa) aliphatic-aromatic polyester PPAT was successfully synthesized, and the effects of reaction conditions on molecular weight were reported. PPAT polyesters were characterized for polymer compositions, number-average unit length, thermal transitions, and rheological properties. PPAT compression-molded films were characterized for crystallinity and tensile properties to correlate micro- and macroproperties. PPAT compression-molded films exhibited up to a 76% higher tensile modulus than compression-molded films from poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), making PPAT films potentially comparable with compression-molded films from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). PPAT is biodegradable in soil and freshwater environments with estimated 90% biodegradation times of 504-580 and 604-845 days, respectively, while PBAT takes 971 days in soil and 395 days in freshwater
Underwater Bonding with a Bio-Based Adhesive from Tannic Acid and Zein Protein
No full textHere, we present several adhesive formulations made from zein protein and tannic acid that can bind to a wide range of surfaces underwater. Higher performance comes from using more tannic acid than zein, whereas dry bonding requires the opposite-more zein than tannic acid. Each adhesive works best in the environment for which it was designed and optimized. We show underwater adhesion experiments conducted on different substrates and in various water types, including seawater, saline solution, tap water, and deionized water. Surprisingly, the water type does not significantly influence performance, but the substrate type does. An additional unexpected result was the bond strength increasing over time when exposed to water, contradicting general observations with glues. Initial adhesion underwater was stronger compared to benchtop adhesion, suggesting that water helps improve adhesion. Temperature effects were examined, indicating maximum bonding at around 30 C, followed by another increase at higher temperatures. Once the adhesive was placed underwater, a protective skin formed on the surface, preventing water from immediately penetrating the rest of the material. The shape of the adhesive could be easily manipulated, and once in place, the skin could be broken to induce faster bond formation. Data indicated that underwater adhesion was predominantly induced by tannic acid, which facilitated cross-linking within the bulk material and adhesion to the substrate surfaces. The zein protein provided a less polar matrix, helping to retain the tannic acid molecules. These studies introduce new plant-based adhesives for underwater applications and contribute to creating a more sustainable environment
Deep Learning Powered Classification and Analysis of Standard Heart Views in Ultrasound Imaging for Enhanced and Quicker Cardiac Diagnosis
No full textCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for approximately 17.9 million deaths annually, emphasizing the need for more efficient and accurate diagnostic tools. Echocardiography, the primary imaging modality for cardiac assessment, relies on manual interpretation, introducing variability and diagnostic delays. This project leverages deep learning to enhance echocardiographic analysis and automate key diagnostic tasks. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and a Vision Transformer (ViT) were trained on 1.4 million echocardiogram videos, achieving a validation accuracy of 93.7%. The models extract critical cardiac parameters, including Ejection Fraction (EF), End-Systolic Volume (ESV), End-Diastolic Volume (EDV), Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE), and many more, with mean absolute errors (MAE) of 3.1%, 4.5 mL, 6.8 mL, and 1.2 mm, respectively, compared to human annotations. To improve interpretability, a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) model integrates domain-specific knowledge to generate structured diagnostic reports. A vector search algorithm retrieves similar cases from an annotated database, allowing a comparison of patient metrics against historical trends. Additionally, a Large Language Model (LLM) enables interactive querying, helping clinicians refine differential diagnoses and contextualize findings. This approach demonstrates the potential of artificial intelligence to streamline echocardiographic analysis, reduce diagnostic variability, and improve accessibility to cardiovascular disease detection. The primary goal is to help general health professionals, who may lack cardiology expertise, interpret ultrasound images during emergencies while also assisting cardiovascular specialists in making diagnoses. This approach highlights the potential of artificial intelligence in echocardiographic analysis
Effect of Music on Children\u27s Development
No full textThis research explores the cognitive, emotional, and social benefits of music in the development of children, examining how music influences memory, intelligence, creativity, and emotional regulation. Music\u27s impact on the brain begins at a young age, with prenatal exposure shaping early emotional connections and language development. As children grow, musical engagement enhances cognitive functions such as spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and hand-eye coordination, fostering both fluid and crystallized intelligence. This research highlights how learning to play instruments strengthens neural pathways and improves skills such as categorization, motor coordination, and academic performance, especially in math. Music\u27s role in emotional development is significant, offering a means of self-regulation and enhancing social interactions. Music therapy is also discussed as a tool for improving cognitive, behavioral, and social skills, with particular emphasis on its benefits for children with special needs. While there are potential negative effects, such as rumination when listening to sad music, the overall benefits of musical education and exposure far outweigh these drawbacks. This research further emphasizes the role of music in enhancing creativity, confidence, and communication skills. Ultimately, this research argues that early and consistent exposure to music provides children with valuable tools for academic success, emotional well-being, social development, and personal growth, offering a comprehensive foundation for lifelong growth and learning