2025 Graduate Student Research Symposium

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  Computer Vision-based Firebrand Analysis: Dimensional Computation, Trajectory Prediction and Mass Estimation

  Anurodh Jha and Aixi Zhou Ph.D.

  Fires harnessed effectively have been a cornerstone of human advancement, yet their uncontrolled manifestations pose significant risks to lives, both natural and human-made environments, and the continuity of business. The incidence of wildland fires, wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires, and open urban fires represent some of the most challenging adversities faced by modern societies. Their catastrophic nature contributes significantly to the environment and has an impact on biodiversity, including both flora and fauna. Citing the studies that focused on investigating civilian fatalities from wildfires and studying their behaviors and the data from the Attorney Generals Department (AGD) bushfire life loss dataset, there were around 441 fatalities from four wildfires alone, the 2009 Victorian Bushfire, 2017 Portugal Forest Fire, 2018 Camp Fire California, and 2023 Maui Hawai wildfire. Out of which 27.67 % of deaths were in the United States alone. Citing the Nationwide data compiled by the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), the magnitude of fire-related incidents in the United States alone, with over 70,025 wildfires since 2000, have burned almost 7.0 million acres causing thousands of civilian casualties and injuries. The total cost incurred in damages from the costliest wildfires from the year 2000 to 2020 in the United States alone is $51.18 billion. Statistics like these underscore the urgent need for adequate fire management strategies for

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  Exploring the Role of Pleiotropy in the Adaptive Mechanisms of Silver-Resistant E. Coli

  Theresa Jones, Ishan Patel, Bryce Middleton, and Brittany Sanders

  Two-component response systems (TCRS) are key mechanisms by which prokaryotes acclimate to changing environments. While their role in acclimation is well-documented, their contribution to long-term environmental adaptation remains poorly understood. Understanding how Gene x Environment (GxE) interactions, epistasis, and pleiotropy drive these processes is crucial and has implications for clinical treatment strategies. This study investigated the role of pleiotropy in adaptive mechanisms of silver resistant E. coli strains. Six single cusS mutant strains, identified through experimental evolution and resequencing, and six silver-adapted populations were tested in the presence and absence of silver nitrate. Biolog Gen III 96-well phenotypic microarray plates were used to evaluate phenotypes under silver-selective and non-selective conditions. cusS mutations influence multiple traits, including pH tolerance, salt tolerance, antibiotic resistance, and carbon source utilization. All mutants exhibited reduced tolerance to extreme pH and saline conditions, suggesting shared fitness costs. Additionally, mutations conferred resistance to specific antibiotics and altered carbon metabolism, with enhanced growth on certain substrates but reduced versatility overall. This study highlights how adaptive cusS mutations reshape fitness through GxE interactions, epistasis, and pleiotropy, emphasizing the interconnected roles of genetic mutations, environmental pressures, and their impacts.

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  Assessing the Viability of Conventional Agriculture Practices within Solar Farm Environments

  Jennifer Kennedy

  The fundamental aim of this review is to inform readers about the active implementation of Agrivoltaics in the United States and various other nations. This innovative approach within traditional farming practices is proving its sustainability and potential profitability through successful practical applications. Its viability depends on the region, the specific crops cultivated, or the animals raised on the farm. Additionally, there is widespread scientific agreement that the acceleration of human-induced climate change constitutes a crucial global challenge, evident in escalating temperatures, rising sea levels, and the occurrence of catastrophic extreme weather events. These new practices could assist in reducing agricultural effects on greenhouse gas emissions in addition to other efforts that are currently underway. Transitioning from fossil fuels to solar energy offers a solution to combat climate change, but it is important to acknowledge that solar energy development presents its own set of challenges. While it is possible to mitigate many of the adverse environmental effects associated with solar energy development, some of the suggested mitigation techniques may be easier said than done. The goal of this report is to explore whether ground-mounted solar development on agricultural land can be made compatible with protecting land for food, feed, and fiber production, improving soil health, and increasing farm operation profitability (Makhijani, 2021)

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  Probiotic Properties of Yogurt Products Available in North Carolina

  Chetan Khoraniya

  Lactobacillus bulgaricus is an essential bacterium in yogurt production, contributing significantly to its distinctive characteristics. The significance of L. bulgaricus in producing high-quality yogurt is paramount, as it plays a crucial role in developing the smooth, viscous texture and tangy, cultured flavor that consumers seek. During the fermentation process, L. bulgaricus enhances the distinct sensory attributes of fermented products, such as flavor, texture, and aroma, contributing to the overall appeal of products. This study aimed to test the viability and probiotic properties of commercially available yogurt products in North Carolina. 67 plain yogurt products from 33 brands were screened, and 14 were shortlisted based on price, sugar content, and product labeling. These products were examined for the viability of Lactobacillus delbreuckii subsp. bulgaricus, an important starter culture in dairy industry. Our results showed that the average L. bulgaricus counts ranged from 0 to 7.97 Log cfu/mL. Out of 14 products tested, only 7 products have viable counts of L. bulgaricus on MRS media and 8 have shown viability on mRCM-Pyruvate media. Our findings indicated that most yogurt products in North Carolina contain viable yogurt culture at levels lower than those stated on the labels. These results suggest that we need to address concerns about the survivability of Lb. bulgaricus in yogurt products available in the market to deliver desired health benefits to the consumers.

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  Evolutionary Adaptation of T7 Bacteriophage to Silver Ion Exposure: Implications for AMR Mitigation

  Larisa Chila Kiki, Ugonna Morikwe, Franklin Ezeanowai, and Winslette McGee

  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a significant global concern, prompting increased exploration of alternative treatments such as bacteriophages and metals like silver ions. While these agents exhibit strong antimicrobial properties, the environmental accumulation of silver nanoparticles raises questions about their influence on microbial and phage evolution. This study examines how T7 bacteriophage adapts to high concentrations of silver ions through experimental evolution. For over 15 generations, ten independent T7 lineages were repeatedly exposed to elevated silver ion levels in Escherichia coli B cultures. The results showed that T7 bacteriophage developed resistance to silver ions, which also enhanced its infectivity of E. coli B. Genomic analysis revealed key mutations, particularly in the tail fiber protein gene (T7P52) and major head protein gene (T7P44), driving these adaptations. The tail fiber is an essential feature that determines the host range and aids the tail in attaching bacteriophage to the host. The major head proteins are essential in virion assembly and release from the bacteria host. These findings highlight the evolutionary flexibility of bacteriophages under selective pressure and suggest potential applications for phage engineering in AMR mitigation efforts.

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  Improved Synthetic Access to Longer Wavelength Functional AZO Molecular Photoswitches

  Samira Liggett

  Photoswitchable micelles hold significant promise for controlled drug delivery systems, but their reliance on ultraviolet light (365 nm) for photoswitching presents safety concerns for human applications. This research focuses on developing improved synthetic pathways to longer wavelength functional arylazopyrazole (AAP) molecular photoswitches through selective azo-Lewis acid chelation. A key challenge is controlling the chelation pattern to favor the smaller exocyclic chelate for photoswitching ability, rather than the larger endocyclic chelate, which prohibits photoswitching. This work explores a kinetic control approach to manipulate Lewis acid-azo chelation, successfully synthesizing precursor compounds: a hydrazone intermediate (50% yield) and a "power ring" structure through Knorr pyrazole synthesis (80% yield). Both compounds were characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. While some analytical results were inconclusive (FTIR data for both compounds and 13C NMR for the hydrazone), the UV-Vis spectroscopy showed promising evidence of azo bonding with strong signals suggesting photoswitching capability. The research provides foundational steps toward the future development of photoswitchable micelles capable of responding to longer, safer wavelengths of light for biomedical applications, particularly in photopharmacology and optogenetics. Future work will focus on introducing boron trifluoride under kinetic control conditions to achieve the target chelation

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  Integrating in-vitro neurovascular organoids and computational models for understanding Alzheimer's disease onset mechanism and progression

  Chioma Okey Mbata, Afoma Okafor, Charity Campbell, and Samuel Uzoechi

  Alzheimer’s disease (AD), known as the leading cause of dementia, currently lacks an early detection procedure and treatment. One in three older Americans die with AD dementia; 6.9million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia. This number is projected to double by 2060, including younger-onset dementia leading to AD. This research proposal seeks to provide answers to: What is the role of neuronal electrical circuits and activities in the onset and progression of AD? We hypothesize that oxidative stress initiates and accelerates AD, with the objective of developing a multidisciplinary platform that facilitates decoding the interaction of neurodegenerative-oxidative biomarkers in AD model; utilizing induced pluripotent stem cell techniques to develop in-vitro 3D mini brain organs in the form of neurovascular organoid models, and high-density microelectrode arrays to measure electrophysiological biomarkers of the developed models in real-time for understanding and tracking the AD progression. We will conduct assays for oxidative stress biomarkers (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, among others), integrating machine learning algorithms and HDF5 data format to analyze large datasets from our experimental procedures. Finally, we will evaluate the specificity and sensitivity (validation/correlation) of our findings for early diagnosis and therapeutic purposes in relation to AD unraveling.

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  Extreme Climate Variability over East Africa

  Joshua McCalla

  East Africa, located approximately within 15S-10N and 20E-55E, comprises parts of Ethiopia & South Sudan, eastern half of Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania. The region is characterized by complex topography including the Great East African Rift Valley, inland lakes and larger river systems. As a low-latitude region, the region receives its annual rainfall in one or two rain seasons: namely March-May, October, November or December-February. This study aims to analyze extreme climate variability as expressed by extreme rainfall and extreme droughts during the March-May season. We investigate variability by comparing a very wet and a very dry season during 2024 and 2022, respectively. Millions of people across East Africa were affected by the lack of rain and crop yield failure during 2022. The wet season in 2024 that resulted in flooding and associated crop and agricultural land damage will be compared with the drought year in 2022. Mechanisms that influence extremes will be studied. Additionally, extreme conditions associated with tropical cyclones such as Hidaya and Ialy will be investigated, and the impacts will be assessed.

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  Amplification-by-Polymerization in Volatile Organic Compound Sensing and CRISPR-Integrated Biosensing

  Daeshe' McCoy, Korin Murray, and Mekeeda Judah

  Breath-based diagnostics are emerging as effective tools for detecting respiratory diseases, including those caused by coronaviruses. The body produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which change in response to different health conditions and act as markers for specific diseases. VOCs impact on surface polymer growth introduces the idea of Amplification-by Polymerization (AbP)-assisted VOC detection. In this method, VOCs influence both DNA hybridization efficiency and polymer chain propagation, offering the detection signal readout in a detector-free fashion. Salmonella is listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the most common foodborne pathogens and it is a bacterium to trigger symptomatic infections while experiencing diarrhea, fever, etc. Genomic DNA from Salmonella as a target analyte can be used for assay development, verification, and validation in monitoring Salmonella contamination to secure food and food supply chain safety. The technology of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), a gene editing tool acting as precise molecular scissors to cut a target sequence, has incorporated with AbP to detect Salmonella for human health and food safety protection in a CRISPR-Cas12a and biosensing-based, rapid, sensitive, PCR-free fashion. Currently, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) cleavage and relevant reduced polymer growth have demonstrated the feasibility of the novel CRISPR integrated AbP method.

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  Using Topic Modeling and LLMs to Recommend CAPEC Attack Patterns: A Comparative Study

  Uriah Moore

  As technology becomes more prominent today, the need for cybersecurity increases. Software developers must develop secure software systems. Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) is a community resource developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as part of the Software Assurance strategic initiative of the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications. The CAPEC repository provides a collection of over 500 attack patterns, which contains information on software vulnerabilities and how they can be exploited using the given attack pattern. With the repository containing so much information, it can be challenging for software developers to identify which attack pattern is most relevant to their project. This project compares three methodologies for recommending relevant attack patterns: topic modeling, text embedding with OpenAI's GPT-4o-mini model, and prompting with the same model. These methods are evaluated based on the relevance of the recommended attack patterns to the software requirement specification project being tested. The CAPEC description and the prerequisites for each attack as criteria. A publicly available SRS will be used to evaluate these three methods. The results showed that the prompting method was the best-performing method for recommending attack patterns.

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  GSA NCA&T 3rd Graduate Research Symposium: Book of Abstracts (April 1, 2025)

  Ugonna Morikwe, Tia Pope, and Faith Zablon

  This Book of Abstracts showcases the scholarly contributions presented at the Third Annual Graduate Research Symposium hosted by the Graduate Student Association (GSA) of North Carolina A&T State University. Held on April 1, 2025, the event highlighted the creativity, innovation, and interdisciplinary research of graduate students across various colleges. The symposium theme, “Empowering Research, Driving Innovation,” celebrates forward-thinking scholarship and student leadership. This volume includes abstracts from five categories: Completed Research, Ongoing Research, Research Proposals, Theoretical & Literature Reviews, and Innovative Methods & Techniques.

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  Cellulose-based Biorenewable Hydrogels: Manuka Honey and Sustainable Polymers for optimized Wound healing

  Hoda Motaghed

  This systematic study investigates the development of biorenewable, cellulose-based wound dressings by incorporating antibacterial agents into advanced polymeric hydrogels. To enhance their therapeutic properties, Manuka honey is blended with biodegradable polymers, including chitosan, gelatin, bacterial cellulose, and PCL. Various fabrication techniques— such as electrospinning, hydrogel formation, and 3D printing —are employed to optimize the hydrogel composites' porosity, mechanical strength, and biodegradability. The controlled release of Manuka honey is designed to ensure sustained antimicrobial activity while promoting cell adhesion and tissue regeneration. Hence, this study addresses key challenges like antibiotic resistance and the demand for customizable, cost-effective wound care solutions; this research paves the way for improved wound healing strategies

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  Clean Energy Educational Technology with Virtual Technology

  Jessica Noutch

  This project focuses on the development of an integrated system within a virtual reality to simulate the energy utilization of a house powered by a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES => Solar Panels and Wind Turbine). The system is designed to demonstrate its functionality through a simulation displayed on ARC system screens. The VR environment currently features: A house with an exterior garage, 13 solar panels and 3 wind turbine installed in the backyard and 10 solar panels on the roof of the house. The next phase will include: Connecting the HRES to the house for energy collection, storage, and distribution. The key contribution: Connects the HRES to the house, enabling real-time energy flow, Implements energy storage mechanisms to store surplus energy for use during low/no sunlight conditions, Distributes energy efficiently to meet the house’s power demands, Simulates the entire process in a VR environment, allowing users to visualize and interact with the systems in real time. Using Unity and Unreal Engine, this project creates a more interactive and realistic simulation. The goal is to help users learn about sustainable energy by providing a visual and immersive experience of how HRSE is used.

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  Wearable Exoskeleton for Nuclear Waste Site Workers

  Nyamekye Nuamah

  From construction workers enduring frequent lifting and repetitive movements that strain muscles to assembly line workers whose repetitive hand movements increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome to dentists facing awkward hand positions that lead to wrist issues, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a pervasive challenge across various professions. While nuclear waste site workers are well-protected from external hazards such as radiation and chemical exposure by personal protective equipment (PPE), they remain vulnerable to MSDs due to the physical demands of their tasks. These disorders may result in pain and loss of function and are among the most disabling and costly conditions in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Exoskeletons are designed to offload weight by providing powered assistance to joints, allowing workers to perform tasks for longer periods without fatigue. Exoskeletons offer a great avenue to assist people in conducting repetitive tasks for longer hours without fatigue and stressrelated injuries. This research aims to develop an exoskeleton to reduce musculoskeletal disorders that affect bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and nerves due to repetitive motion or overuse of muscles by using wearable exoskeletons to aid workers in nuclear waste sites.

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  Automated Vulnerability and Resilience Analysis of Power Grids under Attacks (And Digital Twins)

  Simon Ocansey and Marwan Bikdash Ph.D.

  The increasing complexity of smart grids has made them susceptible to failures caused by both natural events and targeted attacks. This study presents an automated vulnerability and resilience analysis framework for power grids using digital twins. Our research focuses on identifying critical nodes whose failure could significantly impact grid performance. By leveraging complex network analysis and centrality measures, we assess the effects of various attack strategies on power grids. We enhance GridLab-D simulations with real-time monitoring using currdump and voltdump, develop Python libraries for Monte Carlo simulations, and quantify power losses using FOE, SOC, and SOLC metrics. Our approach integrates graph-theoretic techniques to construct adjacency matrices, enabling the computation of betweenness and eigenvector centrality. These metrics help identify the most vulnerable components in the network. Using Glimpse, we enhance network visualization, allowing for a more intuitive understanding of grid topology. Preliminary results from the IEEE-123 test network highlight the cascading failures caused by node and load-based attacks. By systematically analyzing power flow disruptions, we propose a Vulnerability Predictive Measure (VPM) to enhance predictive capabilities in power grid resilience assessments. Future work includes running 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations to refine our centrality-based vulnerability model and develop optimized grid protection strategies.

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  Development and Characterization of Next-Generation Genetically Encodable Fluorescent Biosensors of RSK, S6K, and ROCK Activity

  Oluseyi Ochima, Henry Uchenna, Stephanie Goodrich, and Debasish Kuila

  Human diseases like cancer can be attributed to the dysregulation of interrelated signaling pathways. Understanding these processes is crucial for predicting, diagnosing, and treating such diseases. Molecular imaging techniques, such as genetically encodable fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors have been developed to visualize dynamic signaling processes in living cells and organoids. However, they have a low dynamic range, allowing subtle regulatory processes to be missed. Therefore, we developed a series of kinase activity reporters (KARs) (ExRai-RSKAR, ExRai-S6KAR, and ExRai-ROCKAR) with enhanced sensitivity for these kinases based on the recently developed excitation ratiometric indicator (ExRai) architecture, based on the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity reporter, ExRai- AKAR2. These ExRai-based KARs showed enhanced dynamic ranges compared to their FRET counterparts, and they represent valuable tools for monitoring real-time changes in the activity profiles of RSK, ROCK, and S6K with high spatiotemporal resolution in cells and organoids. This approach may help identify biomarkers for associated diseases and examine the responses of these kinases to various pathological, pharmacological, and toxicological agents, improving our understanding of disease mechanisms and facilitating the development of specific therapies.

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  Bolstering Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change Among Farmers in Hurricane-Prone Areas in United States

  Omowunmi Odeyomi

  Agriculture is a risky enterprise because of its dependence on climatic conditions, and the time lag between decision-making and actualizing returns for the enterprise. The Federal Crop Insurance Program is an institutional mechanism through which the government helps farmers cope better with risks by providing subsidies on premiums. Farmers that adopt crop insurance can share the loss incurred with others in the same area with other adopters. Farmers face lots of climate-induced risks such as droughts, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, etc. Farmers in the southeastern US are prone to hurricanes that have increased in severity and frequency due to climate change. We contribute to providing information on the adoption of the Hurricane Index Protection- Wind Index (HIP-WI) Program by using data from Risk Management Agency for information on the policy to quantify adoption levels in States affected by hurricanes. We examined variabilities to identify areas of needed interventions and the results showed that states like North Carolina (13.6%) and Florida (3.9%) have experienced reduction in adoption rates while the adoption rate for Georgia has by 43.29%. This study suggests that more educational and extension intervention programs should be made available to the affected regions with low adoption rates.

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  Joint Effects of Lifestyle Habits and Heavy Metals Exposure on Chronic Stress Among U.S. Adults: Insights from NHANES 2017–2018

  Esther Ogundipe and Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi

  Chronic stress, characterized by sustained activation of physiological stress responses, increases the risk of various health conditions. Allostatic load (AL), a biomarker of cumulative physiological stress, reflects this burden. This study examines the combined effects of lifestyle habits (alcohol consumption and smoking) and environmental exposures (lead, cadmium, and mercury) on AL using NHANES 2017–2018 data. Descriptive analysis showed mean lead, cadmium, and mercury levels of 1.23 μg/dL, 0.49 μg/dL, and 1.37 μg/L, respectively, with a mean AL of 3.57. Linear regression indicated that alcohol consumption was significantly associated with increased AL (β = 0.0933; 95% CI [0.0369, 0.1497]; p = 0.001). Other exposures, including lead (β = −0.1056; p = 0.157), cadmium (β = −0.0001; p = 0.999), mercury (β = −0.0149; p = 0.773), and smoking (β = 0.0129; p = 0.508), were not significant. BKMR analysis confirmed alcohol’s strong importance for AL (PIP = 0.9996) and highlighted a stronger interaction between alcohol and cadmium at higher exposure levels. In contrast, lead, mercury, and smoking showed minimal effects. Findings underscore alcohol consumption and cadmium exposure as key contributors to increased AL, emphasizing the need to consider lifestyle and environmental factors in stress assessment.

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  Evaluating Food Accessibility: Analyzing the Impact of Fresh Mobile Markets Using the Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Method

  Motunrayo Ogunmola, Lauren B. Davis Ph.D., Shona D. Morgan Ph.D., and Dwight W. Lewis Jr. Ph.D.

  Food insecurity persists as a pressing issue in low-income and low-access (LI/LA) communities, where physical and economic barriers limit access to nutritious food. This study evaluates the impact of Fresh Mobile Markets (FMMs) on food accessibility in Greensboro, NC, using the Enhanced TwoStep Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) method. Unlike traditional traveltime-based measures, the E2SFCA method accounts for both the supply of food assistance facilities—FMMs and food pantries and the demand from surrounding low-income households, offering a more robust spatial analysis. Accessibility was assessed at the U.S. Census block group level, mitigating the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) and ensuring more precise estimates. Comparative analysis between travel time to the nearest facility and E2SFCAderived accessibility scores reveals disparities, with travel-time measures often overestimating access in densely populated, high-need areas. Preliminary findings suggest that integrating FMMs into the food assistance network enhances spatial accessibility, but gaps remain in North and Southeast Guilford County due to scheduling and location constraints. This study underscores the value of advanced spatial models in optimizing food assistance strategies and highlights opportunities for improving the equitable distribution of mobile market services.

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  Assessing the Role of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Hydroponic Operations: A GIS-Based Suitability Analysis

  Success Okafor

  Hydroponics, a soilless farming method, has gained traction due to climate change, rising land costs, and water efficiency. Despite its advantages, limited research has examined the key factors influencing hydroponic operations in the U.S. This study explores critical success factors and barriers for hydroponic farming in the Southeastern U.S. using a mixed-methods approach: producer interviews, market surveys, and GIS suitability analysis. We identified 92 hydroponic farms across eight states (NC, SC, TN, MS, LA, FL, GA, AL) and validated them through online presence and direct outreach. Interviews with 10 stakeholders revealed that market demand, financing, and technological innovation are primary determinants of success. A GIS-based suitability analysis incorporated restaurant density, income levels, population density, farmers' market proximity, financial institution proximity, electricity grid access, and road networks to assess ideal farm locations. Weighted overlay analysis in ArcGIS Pro indicated that while existing farms are generally well placed, high-suitability zones remain underutilized. Findings suggest that integrating entrepreneurial ecosystem elements market access, capital, technology, and policy support—enhances hydroponic viability. Future research will expand suitability models to explore strategies to strengthen hydroponic entrepreneurship in rural and urban areas. This study informs farm site selection and policy strategies to support hydroponic sector.

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  Association of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances with Pan-Cancers associated with Sex Hormones

  Elizabeth Olarewaju

  Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants with potential endocrine-disrupting properties. This study explores the relationship between exposure to multiple PFAS and pan-cancers associated with sex hormones (PCSH), accounting for non-linear interactions. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2012, including 14,373 participants, were analyzed for serum concentrations of six PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFDE, PFNA, PFUA) and their association with PCSH. Statistical methods included t-tests, chi-square tests, regression analyses, and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) to assess complex interactions. PFOS levels were significantly higher in individuals with PCSH (p=0.0022), and ethnicity showed a significant association with PCSH (p

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  Quinone-Based Cathodes: Enhancing Magnesium-Ion Batteries with Efficient Synthetic Strategies

  Imoleayo Olorunyolemi and Aleksandrs Prokofjevs

  As the demand for advanced energy storage solutions grows, the limitations of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) including resource scarcity, safety concerns, and electrochemical constraints highlight the need for alternative battery technologies. Magnesium-ion batteries (MIBs) offer a promising solution due to their abundance, high volumetric capacity, and improved safety. However, challenges such as slow ion diffusion and cathode-electrolyte incompatibility require the development of optimized cathode materials. This study explores quinone-based organic cathodes, focusing on pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone (PTO), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with multi-electron redox activity and a high theoretical capacity (409 mAh g⁻¹). We introduce an efficient and cost-effective synthetic route for 1,3,6,8-tetrabromo- 4,5,9,10-pyrenetetraone (TBPT) and 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexabromo-4,5,9,10-pyrenetetraone (HBPT), intermediates for quinone-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in MIB cathodes. Unlike conventional routes using expensive and hazardous oxidants such as sodium periodate (NaIO₄) and ruthenium trichloride (RuCl₃·xH₂O), our method employs readily available reagents, improving cost-efficiency, accessibility, and scalability. By leveraging these optimized synthetic strategies, this work aims to enhance the electrochemical performance, cycle stability, and practical viability of magnesium-ion batteries, contributing to developing next-generation energy storage technologies.

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  Impact of Collaborative Food Rescue Initiatives on Food Waste Reduction

  Ricky Owusu, Shona Morgan Ph.D., and Sadan Kulturel-Konak Ph.D.

  In the current food systems landscape, the concept of food rescue has become a powerful force due to concerns about waste and its effects on the environment and society. This paper explores the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, such as retail donors, food banks, for-profit organizations, and waste management entities, in addressing the complex challenges of food security, sustainability, and waste reduction. Through a comprehensive framework, surplus food is rescued from various stages of the supply chain and redirected towards meaningful purposes, mitigating the environmental impact of food waste. However, despite these efforts, the global paradox of food waste alongside increasing food insecurity continues to exist. This study examines the dynamics of how food is allocated among stakeholders through Monte Carlo simulation in order to identify disparities and optimize the use of resources. By addressing disparities and improving collaboration, the paper aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of food rescue initiatives, ultimately reducing food waste and improving societal well-being. Key research questions explore the impact of for- profit food rescue on non-profit organizations. The Monte Carlo simulation results show that competition between food banks and for-profit organizations significantly reduces food waste, with for-profits acting as a crucial buffer to absorb surplus supply.

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  Reliability of Hardware/ Edge ML Accelerators.

  Victor Oyadongh

  This study evaluates the reliability of hardware accelerators for edge machine learning applications by examining how computing architectures and model optimizations affect system robustness under fault conditions. It begins with a detailed review of the literature surrounding the vulnerability of current acccelerator architectures namely; GPU, DSP, NPU. It then investigates whether platform-specific vulnerabilities lead to differences in user- visible errors during fault injection experiments by focusing on two distinct platforms — a Raspberry Pi 4 augmented with a Coral Edge TPU and a Jetson Xavier utilizing GPU acceleration. Additionally, the study compares the impact of optimization frameworks (TensorFlow Lite versus TensorRT) and assesses the relative resilience of specialized computational units (GPU, DSP, and NPU) in common ML operations such as matrix multiplication and convolution. Using controlled fault injection techniques with tools like Tensor-FI and BFA, ML applications are deployed on both platforms to analyze error propagation and performance degradation. The resulting comparative analysis aims to identify the most reliable hardware accelerator and computing model configuration for edge ML deployments, providing valuable insights for designing robust and resilient edge computing systems.

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  A Pipeline for Immersive Data Visualization for CAVE System

  Abhinav Pendem and Koundinya Challa Ph.D.

  Virtual Reality (VR) has transformed data visualization by enabling immersive and interactive experiences. CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) systems provide a unique platform for exploring complex datasets in an intuitive, spatially immersive manner. However, a standardized pipeline for developing VR scripts tailored to CAVE-based data visualization remains underexplored. This paper presents a structured pipeline for creating and deploying immersive data visualization in CAVE systems, specifically using the WorldViz Prism CAVE environment. Our approach facilitates seamless integration of multi- dimensional datasets, enabling real-time interaction with 27 visual graphs within a single VR scene. The system allows dynamic graph manipulation, interactive exploration, and enhanced user engagement. By streamlining VR script development, this pipeline improves accessibility for researchers and practitioners, fostering a more intuitive understanding of complex datasets. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in enhancing data interpretability and decision-making.