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The virtual funeral
No full textThis thesis brings together traditional art practices and interactive technology to create immersive visual experiences that address war, displacement, and the fragile idea of home. Contemporary representations of conflict often appear as flat images or brief news segments that create emotional distance. This thesis responds to that distance by considering how visual and interactive forms can restore the weight of conflict and allow its impact to be felt rather than passively viewed.
Through a combination of painting, photography, digital manipulation, videography, and augmented reality (AR), the thesis develops layered environments that move between stillness and motion, and between presence and absence. The paintings provide material grounding, while the AR overlays introduce unfolding sequences of destruction that extend beyond the surface of the canvas. This interaction requires the viewer to shift position and renegotiate their relationship with the artwork, creating a space where the tension between visibility and erasure becomes central.
The thesis emphasizes that the loss of home is not only a physical event but also the collapse of safety, belonging, and emotional continuity. By merging analog and digital approaches, the work seeks to transform the viewer from a distant observer into an active witness, offering a deeper understanding of how war reshapes the spaces people inhabit and the ways they perceive themselves within those altered environments
To thrive or not to thrive: Using nutrient dynamics to gain functional insights for engineering microbial growth environments
No full textThe rapid increase in population and the shift in consumption patterns have created an issue of constant and growing waste production. The current waste management methods such as landfilling and incineration have worsened other environmental issues that threaten the quality and longevity of life on earth for humans and other living beings. As a result of heightened production in various industries to meet the needs of society, we are now slowly but surely facing the effects of global warming, habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and the emergence of dangerous superbugs. Hence, waste valorization techniques present great potential turn disposed material to valuable products. Using principles of microbial growth, we can identify waste streams that carry nutrient-rich profiles suitable for fermentation and use them in microbial processes for the production of value-added chemicals. We can also leverage the information that these waste streams present to mitigate challenges that arise from improper waste management. We can gain insight into where and how fluctuations in waste streams impact the growth of unwanted species, and focus on proper prevention strategies. It is important to remember that waste does not discriminate between a producer organism or a superbug. So, these streams carry great potential for disaster just as much as innovation. In this document, we explore ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly’ of waste valorization and how nutrient optimization can come into play to enhance processes when needed, but control and suppress them in other cases
Materials-Microstructure-Performance Mapping in Organic Photovoltaics
No full textOrganic photovoltaics (OPVs) require joint optimization of materials parameters and active-layer microstructure to maximize device performance, including short-circuit current, . We present a material property and microstructure-aware surrogate that predicts across diverse donor-acceptor systems and microstructures while providing calibrated uncertainties and interpretable design rules. We curate a 25k-sample, physics-informed dataset by sweeping electron and hole mobilities (, ) and exciton lifetime () across multiple microstructure classes, and derive a compact feature set that couples materials parameters with graph-based microstructure descriptors (interfacial area, and connectivity/tortuosity) to predict . A lightweight random-forest model achieves 2 ≥ 0.98 with ≤ 40% of the data used for training, and maintains accuracy under material-wise holdouts (i.e., material property holdouts). Partial-dependence analyses reveal regime transitions in the coupled design space: at low mobilities and short , performance is dual-transport-limited; beyond a mobility threshold, (hence ) and interfacial proximity dominate . The framework accelerates exploration of material-microstructure trade-offs, identifies whether to intervene via material (mobilities, and ) or processing (phase-separation length scale, connectivity, interfacial area), and is extensible to other organic optoelectronic systems. Code, features, and data are released to enable reproducibility and reuse.This is a preprint from Baishnab, Nirmal, Ankush Kumar Mishra, Hao Liu, Enrique D. Gomez, Olga Wodo, and Baskar Ganapathysubramanian. "Materials-Microstructure-Performance Mapping in Organic Photovoltaics." (2026). doi: https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.10001690/v1.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Awards CMMI-2053760, DMREF-2523282 and DMR-2323716, and by the Office of Naval Research under Award N00014-19-1-2453. We also acknowledge computing support from NSF ACCESS
Fabrication and characterization of vat photopolymerized hydrogel scaffolds for biomedical applications
No full textThere is a growing disparity between organ demand and supply, causing researchers to explore strategies to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs. The most promising solution is the combination of 3D printing with regenerative medicine and tissue engineering to print patient-specific tissues and organs. In tissue engineering applications, an essential component is the development of mechanically robust, biocompatible scaffolds. In this study, hydrogel scaffolds composed of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), were fabricated using a vat photopolymerization 3D printing. Scaffolds were printed in triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) gyroid geometries to replicate complex tissue geometries and prove the feasibility of printing complex geometries with hydrogel materials. Mechanical behavior of the resins before printing and printed scaffolds was assessed via rheological, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and compression testing. Compression testing was used to evaluate the mechanical integrity of the scaffolds across 50% to 80% porosities, 3mm x 3mm x 3mm to 6mm x 6mm x 6mm unit cell sizes, and 25:1 to 500:1 crosslinker concentrations. Cell viability testing was also done to evaluate the biocompatibility of the printed scaffolds. Results showed that with higher crosslinker concentrations and decreased porosity, compressive moduli of 2.3 MPa could be achieved. Compressive moduli ranged between 0.003 MPa to 2.3 MPa. DMA testing also indicated scaffolding had defined linear viscoelastic regions (LVE) and thermally dependent behavior. Mechanical performance of the scaffolds falls near the ranges of some soft tissues such as cartilage and meniscus, suggesting a possibility for use in future biomedical applications. Cell viability was improved with variation of the photoinitiator but still requires further improvement. This study shows the feasibility of printing complex structures with tunable mechanical properties using hydrogel material, creating a potential use for patient-specific designs
A Specific Multilevel Fast Multipole Algorithm for the Electromagnetic Analysis of Large-Scale Finite Periodic Structures
No full textComputing electromagnetic properties of large-scale finite periodic structures (LFPSs) via the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) often suffers from heavy time and memory consumption. The main reason is that complex structures and high-permittivity materials in LFPSs need dense meshes, leading to a prohibitively dense near-field interaction (NFI) matrix. To overcome this drawback, during the MLFMA initialization, each leaf box is enforced to exactly encapsulate an identical periodic structure of the LFPSs with consistent mesh topology and basis function definitions. The NFI matrix can then be divided into several repeatable submatrices, while only those unique ones require computation and storage, thereby reducing the filling time and memory consumption of the NFI matrix by severalfold without sacrificing accuracy. Additionally, when the leaf boxes are overcrowded with basis and test functions, the matrix-vector products during the iterative solution are enhanced through dual accelerations: interpolative decomposition (ID) compresses the low-rank NFI matrix, while spherical harmonic expansion (SE) replaces numerical quadrature in k-space with spherical harmonic summations for far-field interactions. Two LFPSs with commonly rectangular and triangular lattice arrangements are computed to verify the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method.This is a manuscript of an article published as Liu, Jinbo, Zengrui Li, and Jiming Song. "A Specific Multilevel Fast Multipole Algorithm for the Electromagnetic Analysis of Large-Scale Finite Periodic Structures." IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation (2026). doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2025.3650282.This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62371427 and Grant U2241229, and in part by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant CUC24GF02
“Too small to be targeted:” Perceived Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities of Small-Scale U.S. Farmers
No full textAs agriculture becomes increasingly digitalized, farms face rising exposure to cyberthreats that jeopardize data security, productivity, and business continuity. This study examined small-scale crop and livestock producers’ perceptions of cybersecurity risks, their experiences with cyberattacks, and their information sources across 12 U.S. Midwest states. Guided by the Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF), a mixed-mode survey design was used, combining online and mail questionnaires distributed to 14,000 small farms between November 2023 and April 2024. Findings revealed that while most farmers were moderately familiar with cybersecurity concepts and recognized the importance of protective action, many underestimated their likelihood of being targeted. Farmers expressed the greatest concern over personal identity theft and computer viruses but were less aware of broader operational vulnerabilities. The majority practiced basic protective behaviors such as anti-malware installation and data backup, yet fewer implemented advanced measures like encryption or multifactor authentication. Media, friends, and relatives were the most frequently cited information sources, while formal channels such as Extension services were seldom used. Results underscore a critical need for cybersecurity literacy programs tailored to rural communities and smallholder operations. The study extends SARF by showing how interpersonal communication and perceived relevance shape risk awareness and protective behavior in the agricultural sector. The insights also hold international value, offering a model for strengthening digital resilience in global farming systems.This article is published as Rodriguez, Lulu, Kristine Micheletti, Shuyang Qu, and Fally Masambuka-Kanchewa. "“Too small to be targeted:” Perceived Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities of Small-Scale US Farmers." Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education 33, no. 1 (2026): 17-32. https://newprairiepress.org/jiaee/vol33/iss1/2
Viral evolution in the cosmos
No full textSpace travel exposes human beings to unique environmental stressors (e.g., radiation, microgravity) and induces significant physiological changes in hosts, profoundly impacting host–virus dynamics and creating conditions conducive to viral evolution. This chapter reviews current knowledge on viral behavior and evolution within the space environment, considering human, animal, plant, and spaceflight-associated viral sources. We discuss how spaceflight factors, coupled with host immune dysregulation, metabolic and hormonal shifts, altered cellular characteristics like membrane fluidity, and mitochondrial dysfunction, can influence viral replication, latency, transmission, and genetic variation. The well-documented reactivation of latent human herpesviruses (e.g., cytomegalovirus , Epstein-Barr virus, varicella-zoster virus, herpes simplex viruses) during space missions serves as a critical example of these effects, highlighting health risks within the confined built environment of spaceflight, which itself fosters unique viral transmission and coevolutionary scenarios. Methodologies for molecular diagnostics, genomic surveillance, data management and open data sharing, and advanced computational modeling, including phylodynamics, deep mutational scanning, and AI-based protein structure prediction, are explored as essential tools. Finally, strategies for mitigating viral risks during and after space missions are considered, alongside the broader implications of this research for long-duration space exploration, planetary protection, and terrestrial planetary health, emphasizing the critical need for continued investigation into viral adaptability in extraterrestrial settings.This chapter is published as Trovao, Nidia S., Alexander G. Lucaci, Nikhil Pradeep, Meher Sethi, Lisa M. Bono, Ruth Subhash Singh, Kevin B. Clark et al. "Viral evolution in the cosmos." Fundamentals of Space Medicine and Clinical Technology (2026): 67-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-32904-3.00009-
Depolymerization and polymerization in confined spaces
No full textThe massive production and usage of plastic products benefited the economy and brought convenience to our daily lives. However, as post-consumer plastic waste is generated, due to the inefficient recycling and slow degradation, the majority ends up in landfill or being incinerated. Plastics in landfills occupy the land resource, posing direct environmental pollution, and can form microplastics during the breakdown, which go through soil and water to end up in the food chain and potentially affect human health. On the other hand, the incineration of plastic waste could release toxins from the combustion of chlorine-containing additives and greenhouse gases, such as CO2. Neither method provides a sustainable solution to solve the ever-growing waste stream. Currently, only approximately 10% of the waste is being recycled into new materials on average. Plastics that went through mechanical recycling often possess lower values than the original commodity. Thus, after a certain number of cycles, the quality will be too low to be further recycled. These challenges made people realize the importance of valorizing plastic waste through chemical recycling.
Motivated by this issue, this thesis focused on the following aspects. Catalysts are rationally designed, synthesized, and applied to the corresponding reaction. Metal or metal oxide nanoparticles are introduced into mesoporous silica materials to achieve the desired metal loading. The materials prepared in different conditions or on different supports are evaluated and compared.
In the first project, we aim to address the rising plastic crisis by developing novel catalysts for the hydrogenolysis of polyethylene. Using the earth-abundant ZrO2 catalysts, we explored the catalytic performance under different conditions in a batch reactor. The catalysts prepared in different methods showed distinct activity and selectivity. The amorphous ZrO2 small clusters showed the formation of olefins in gaseous and liquid products.
In the second project, we focused on polymerizing low-strained cyclic alkenes into linear polymers using the anchored Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst. By incorporating the Ru carbene catalyst in porous supports via thiol-ene click chemistry, we were able to achieve a high conversion and low dispersity using cyclooctene, cyclopentene, norbornene, and dicyclopentadiene
Affirmative Action in India with Hierarchical Reservations
No full textIndia implements the world’s most complex affirmative action program through vertical and horizontal reservations. Although applicants can belong to at most one vertical category, they can qualify for multiple horizontal reservation categories simultaneously. We examine resource allocation problems in India, where horizontal reservations follow a hierarchical structure within a one-to-all horizontal matching framework. We introduce the hierarchical choice rule and show that it selects the most meritorious set of applicants. We thoroughly analyze the
properties of the aggregate choice rule, which comprises hierarchical choice rules across all vertical categories. We show that the generalized deferred acceptance mechanism, when coupled with this aggregate choice rule, is the unique stable and strategy-proof mechanism that eliminates justified envy.Length: 38 pages
Original Release Date: February 16, 202
Model-Free Inference for Characterizing Protein Mutations through a Coevolutionary Lens
No full textMultiple sequence alignment (MSA) data play a crucial role in the study of protein mutations, with contact prediction being a notable application. Existing methods are often model-based or algorithmic and typically do not incorporate statistical inference to quantify the uncertainty of the prediction outcomes. To address this, we propose a novel framework that transforms the task of contact prediction into a statistical testing problem. Our approach is motivated by the partial correlation for continuous random variables. With one-hot encoding of MSA data, we are able to construct a partial correlation graph for multivariate categorical variables. In this framework, two connected nodes in the graph indicate that the corresponding positions on the protein form a contact. A new spectrum-based test statistic is introduced to test whether two positions are partially correlated. Moreover, the new framework enables the identification of amino acid combinations that contribute to the correlation within the identified contacts, an important but largely unexplored aspect of protein mutations. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our proposed method is valid in terms of controlling Type I errors and powerful in general. Real data applications on various protein families further validate the practical utility of our approach in coevolution and mutation analysis.This preprint is made available through arXiv at doi: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2601.1556