Kaleidoscope of exotic quantum phases in a frustrated XY model

The existence of quantum spin liquids was first conjectured by Pomeranchuk some 70 years ago, who argued that frustration in simple antiferromagnetic theories could result in a Fermi-liquid-like state for spinon excitations. Here we show that a simple quantum spin model on a honeycomb lattice hosts the long sought for Bose metal with a clearly identifiable Bose surface. The complete phase diagram of the model is determined via exact diagonalization and is shown to include four distinct phases separated by three quantum phase transitions

A Dual-Fluorescent Composite of Graphene Oxide and Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) Enables the Ratiometric Detection of Amines

A composite prepared by grafting a conjugated polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), to the surface of graphene oxide was shown to result in a dual-fluorescent material with tunable photoluminescent properties. Capitalizing on these unique features, a new class of graphene-based sensors that enables the ratiometric fluorescence detection of amine-based pollutants was developed. Moreover, through a detailed spectroscopic study, the origin of the optical properties of the aforementioned composite was studied and was found to be due to electronic decoupling of the conjugated polymer from the GO. The methodology described herein effectively overcomes a long-standing challenge that has prevented graphene based composites from finding utility in sensing and related applications.Meng, Dongli, Shaojun Yang, Dianming Sun, Yi Zeng, Jinhua Sun, Yi Li, Shouke Yan, Yong Huang, Christopher W. Bielawski, and Jianxin Geng. "A dual-fluorescent composite of graphene oxide and poly (3-hexylthiophene) enables the ratiometric detection of amines." Chemical Science 5, no. 8 (Apr., 2014): 3130-3134.Chemistr

Inquiry-Guided Learning (IGL) in Graphical Communications Course

Inquiry-Guided Learning (IGL) is an active learning technique which promotes students critical thinking through guided independent investigation of complex problems without a single solution, which has been studied and implemented by many researchers in science and engineering fields [1-8]. It is believed that IGL can provide an opportunity to the students to explore their desires and consequently enhance students’ learning experience in the classroom. Graphical Communications, as a common course taught at first-year undergraduate level at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is designed to familiarize the student with the basic principles of drafting and engineering drawing, to improve three dimensional visualization skills, and to teach the fundamentals of a computer aided design program (CATIA). Faculty members show students step by step how to build a model and make sure they can follow and understand the procedure. However, students’ ability to use this knowledge and comprehension to explore real engineering design is unknown

Teaching Higher on Bloom\u27s Taxonomy: Experience in Introduction to Graphical Communications Course

Introduction to Graphical Communications is designed to familiarize the student with the basic principles of engineering drawing, to improve three dimensional visualization skills, and to teach the fundamentals of a computer aided design program. Much of the instruction is focused on knowledge and comprehension, low levels of Bloom\u27s taxonomy. However, the students\u27 ability to use this knowledge and comprehension to explore real engineering design is unknown. This paper includes the implementation of Bloom\u27s taxonomy in the Introduction to Graphical Communications course, and shows how students are moved up Bloom\u27s taxonomy by including a group final project into the course. Students are required to form the team, research the product they want to design, design their power point and present their work as a team. The team project enables and challenges students to work on highest level of Bloom\u27s taxonomy by emphasizing teamwork, exploring real engineering design problem, and enhancing their oral and written skills

Open-Ended Project Learning Experience in Graphical Communication

This paper includes the implementation of Bloom’s taxonomy in the introduction to graphical communication course and shows how students are moved up Bloom’s taxonomy by changing previous guided individual final project to open-ended projects. Instead of following the instructor’s direction to complete the model design, students are required to research the product they want to design, and build the model by themselves. The open-ended projects enable and challenge students to work on higher level of Bloom’s taxonomy by emphasizing design creativity, exploring real engineering design problem, and enhancing their oral and written skills

Predicting Future Mosquito Habitats Using Time Series Climate Forecasting and Deep Learning

Mosquito habitat ranges are projected to expand due to climate change. This investigation aims to identify future mosquito habitats by analyzing preferred ecological conditions of mosquito larvae. After assembling a data set with atmospheric records and larvae observations, a neural network is trained to predict larvae counts from ecological inputs. Time series forecasting is conducted on these variables and climate projections are passed into the initial deep learning model to generate location-specific larvae abundance predictions. The results support the notion of regional ecosystem-driven changes in mosquito spread, with high-elevation regions in particular experiencing an increase in susceptibility to mosquito infestation