Real-time Energy Visualization Solutions for Light Commercial Businesses.

In recent years, several real-time Energy Visualization (EV) systems have emerged in the market with specific applications for large industrial and commercial facilities and residential buildings. However, light commercial businesses have been neglected with only a few attempts for EV solutions. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a system that could provide a cost effective and flexible EV solution for light commercial businesses. The system consisted of monitoring hardware and three energy visualization dashboards. Testing and validation of the system was conducted using a focused group of participants consisting of energy managers, engineers, and other typical dashboard users through analytical (usability test) and subjective (NASA TLX) methods. The EV dashboard designed using visuals such as gauges, alternating light meters, and color changes, etc. received higher engaging and lower analytical ratings compared to the dashboard designed using visuals such as simple charts, lines, etc. The engaging dashboard received the highest “interesting and trustworthy” ratings, the lowest mental workload, and the quickest time to answer energy questions. It is expected that the system developed in this study would assist the facilities in making energy efficiency decisions instantaneously instead of waiting for a monthly utility bill. Finally, in order to guide business owners with design, development and installation of a custom-made real-time EV system, an Energy Dashboard Installation Guide program was developed. Based on the unique operational requirements of a business, this program produces a wiring diagram, list of hardware, and an approximate system cost

Crystal Growth and Manipulation of Intercalated Chalcogenides as Superconductors and Topological Insulators

Superconductors are unusual quantum materials which offer no resistance to electric current. The fascinating physics of this phenomenon is complemented by wide-ranging technical applications from power transmission to magnetic levitation. Commercially successful superconductors are found in powerful magnets in medical imaging, particle accelerators, and next-generation quantum computing. In my effort to uncover the mysteries and fundamental mechanisms of superconductivity, I use an array of techniques to synthesize and study single crystals of unconventional superconductors including the iron telluride and bismuth selenide family of superconductors. My study of atomic valence and crystal structure in iron telluride has uncovered previously unknown chemical and structural dependencies of the superconducting state. Taken together, there exists a much stronger dependence than previously known on how elemental concentration, structural defects, and atomic valence determine material properties. In addition, the development of methods to produce high-quality single crystals has enabled my study and modeling of the electronic structure of bismuth selenide at high magnetic fields, previously impossible with lower quality materials. In bismuth selenide, my results show superconductivity is achieved only in samples quenched above 560 °C, with samples quenched at 620 °C showing superconductivity correlated with an expanded Fermi surface cross-section, increase in Fermi energy, and appearance of nematic charge density waves. Oxygen treatments known to induce superconductivity in thin film iron telluride were applied to bulk iron telluride and found to cause the valence states of tellurium and iron to shift from Te0 and Fe2+ to Te4+ and Fe3+¸ consistent with oxygen bonding to tellurium and the formation of Fe2O3. Additionally, oxygen causes the formation of an oriented FeTe2 intergrowth in single crystals, and the formation of a spin glass magnetic state stable up to room temperature

Comparison of Wechsler Memory Scale–Fourth Edition (WMS–IV) and Third Edition (WMS–III) dimensional structures: Improved ability to evaluate auditory and visual constructs

Dimensional structures underlying the Wechsler Memory Scale–Fourth Edition (WMS–IV) and Wechsler Memory Scale–Third Edition (WMS–III) were compared to determine whether the revised measure has a more coherent and clinically relevant factor structure. Principal component analyses were conducted in normative samples reported in the respective technical manuals. Empirically supported procedures guided retention of dimensions. An invariant two-dimensional WMS–IV structure reflecting constructs of auditory learning/memory and visual attention/memory (C1 = .97; C2 = .96) is more theoretically coherent than the replicable, heterogeneous WMS–III dimension (C1 = .97). This research suggests that the WMS–IV may have greater utility in identifying lateralized memory dysfunction

Gait Changes During Exhaustive Running

Runners adopt altered gait patterns as they fatigue which may increase energy expenditure and susceptibility to certain overuse injuries. Previous investigations have described changes in muscle performance and kinematic gait variables resulting from running fatigue. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize changes in joint moment patterns that develop as runners fatigue in order to better understand the kinetic bases for kinematic fatigue effects. It was hypothesized that when fatigued, runners would demonstrate increases in stance time, peak stance phase knee flexion angle, peak knee extension moment, peak swing phase hip flexion moment, and hip extension and plantarflexion angular impulse generated during stance. Eight recreational rearfoot-striking runners (height = 170.0 ± 9.8 cm; mass = 69.6 ± 15.1 kg) ran on a force-instrumented treadmill at a velocity 5% slower than that of lactate threshold until volitional exhaustion. Force and motion data were collected each minute and analyzed at six evenly-spaced time points over the run duration. Of the six hypotheses, only stance time changed significantly (p = 0.004), increasing in a linear manner over the course of the run (r2 = 0.946). Of the remaining hypotheses, peak knee flexion (r2 = 0.899) and hip extension angular impulse (r2 = 0.608) followed increasing trends over the course of the run. Individual participants often demonstrated joint moment trends consistent with fatigue effects reported in the literature, despite inconclusive group results. High variability in individual responses underscores the complexity of gait adaptations used by distance runners as they fatigue