Rice University Research Repository
The Rice Research Repository (R-3) provides access to research produced at Rice University, including theses and dissertations, journal articles, research center publications, datasets, and academic journals. Managed by Fondren Library, R-3 is indexed by Google and Google Scholar, follows best practices for preservation, and provides DOIs to facilitate citation. Woodson Research Center collections, including Rice Images and Documents and the Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice, have moved here.
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Quantifying health facility service readiness for small and sick newborn care: comparing standards-based and WHO level-2 + scoring for 64 hospitals implementing with NEST360 in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania
(Springer Nature, 2024) Penzias, Rebecca E.; Bohne, Christine; Gicheha, Edith; Molyneux, Elizabeth M.; Gathara, David; Ngwala, Samuel K.; Zimba, Evelyn; Rashid, Ekran; Odedere, Opeyemi; Dosunmu, Olabisi; Tillya, Robert; Shabani, Josephine; Cross, James H.; Ochieng, Christian; Webster, Harriet H.; Chiume, Msandeni; Dube, Queen; Wainaina, John; Kassim, Irabi; Irimu, Grace; Adudans, Steve; James, Femi; Tongo, Olukemi; Ezeaka, Veronica Chinyere; Salim, Nahya; Masanja, Honorati; Oden, Maria; Richards-Kortum, Rebecca; Hailegabriel, Tedbabe; Gupta, Gagan; Cousens, Simon; Lawn, Joy E.; Ohuma, Eric O.; Mchoma, Christina; Bilitinyu, Joseph; Chalamanda, Pius; Dzinkambani, Mirriam; Mhango, Ruth; Stevens, Fanny; Mulungu, Joseph; Makhumula, Blessings; Banda, Loveness; Banda, Charles; Chumbi, Brian; Banda, Chifundo; Chimombo, Evelyn; Nyasulu, Nicodemus; Ndau, Innocent; Kumwembe, Pilirani; Kerubo, Edna; Ambuso, Nyphry; Koech, Kevin; Waithaka, Noel; Wakhungu, Calet; Otieno, Steven; Bahati, Felix; Ayaga, Josphine; Obure, Jedida; Nderitu, Nellius; Mtambo, Violet; Mkude, George; Miraji, Mustapha; Shayo, Caroline; Nambombi, Camilius; Cyrilo, Christopher; Aderounmu, Temilade; Wale, Akingbehin Wakeel; Yemisi, Odeleye Victoria; Dupe, Akinola Amudalat; Awolowo, Samuel; A., Ojelabi Oluwaseun; Ovuoraye, John Ajiwohwodoma; Mujaid, Balogun Adeleke; Fetuga, Adedoyin; Okanlawon, Juilana; Awosika, Flora; Michael, Awotayo Olasupo; Abiodun, Omotayo Adegboyega; with the Health Facility Assessment Data Collection Learning Collaborative Group
Service readiness tools are important for assessing hospital capacity to provide quality small and sick newborn care (SSNC). Lack of summary scoring approaches for SSNC service readiness means we are unable to track national targets such as the Every Newborn Action Plan targets.
Area-selective atomic layer deposition on 2D monolayer lateral superlattices
(Springer Nature, 2024) Park, Jeongwon; Kwak, Seung Jae; Kang, Sumin; Oh, Saeyoung; Shin, Bongki; Noh, Gichang; Kim, Tae Soo; Kim, Changhwan; Park, Hyeonbin; Oh, Seung Hoon; Kang, Woojin; Hur, Namwook; Chai, Hyun-Jun; Kang, Minsoo; Kwon, Seongdae; Lee, Jaehyun; Lee, Yongjoon; Moon, Eoram; Shi, Chuqiao; Lou, Jun; Lee, Won Bo; Kwak, Joon Young; Yang, Heejun; Chung, Taek-Mo; Eom, Taeyong; Suh, Joonki; Han, Yimo; Jeong, Hu Young; Kim, YongJoo; Kang, Kibum
The advanced patterning process is the basis of integration technology to realize the development of next-generation high-speed, low-power consumption devices. Recently, area-selective atomic layer deposition (AS-ALD), which allows the direct deposition of target materials on the desired area using a deposition barrier, has emerged as an alternative patterning process. However, the AS-ALD process remains challenging to use for the improvement of patterning resolution and selectivity. In this study, we report a superlattice-based AS-ALD (SAS-ALD) process using a two-dimensional (2D) MoS2-MoSe2 lateral superlattice as a pre-defining template. We achieved a minimum half pitch size of a sub-10 nm scale for the resulting AS-ALD on the 2D superlattice template by controlling the duration time of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) precursors. SAS-ALD introduces a mechanism that enables selectivity through the adsorption and diffusion processes of ALD precursors, distinctly different from conventional AS-ALD method. This technique facilitates selective deposition even on small pattern sizes and is compatible with the use of highly reactive precursors like trimethyl aluminum. Moreover, it allows for the selective deposition of a variety of materials, including Al2O3, HfO2, Ru, Te, and Sb2Se3.
Online trend estimation and detection of trend deviations in sub-sewershed time series of SARS-CoV-2 RNA measured in wastewater
(Springer Nature, 2024) Ensor, Katherine B.; Schedler, Julia C.; Sun, Thomas; Schneider, Rebecca; Mulenga, Anthony; Wu, Jingjing; Stadler, Lauren B.; Hopkins, Loren
Wastewater surveillance has proven a cost-effective key public health tool to understand a wide range of community health diseases and has been a strong source of information on community levels and spread for health departments throughout the SARS- CoV-2 pandemic. Studies spanning the globe demonstrate the strong association between virus levels observed in wastewater and quality clinical case information of the population served by the sewershed. Few of these studies incorporate the temporal dependence present in sampling over time, which can lead to estimation issues which in turn impact conclusions. We contribute to the literature for this important public health science by putting forward time series methods coupled with statistical process control that (1) capture the evolving trend of a disease in the population; (2) separate the uncertainty in the population disease trend from the uncertainty due to sampling and measurement; and (3) support comparison of sub-sewershed population disease dynamics with those of the population represented by the larger downstream treatment plant. Our statistical methods incorporate the fact that measurements are over time, ensuring correct statistical conclusions. We provide a retrospective example of how sub-sewersheds virus levels compare to the upstream wastewater treatment plant virus levels. An on-line algorithm supports real-time statistical assessment of deviations of virus level in a population represented by a sub-sewershed to the virus level in the corresponding larger downstream wastewater treatment plant. This information supports public health decisions by spotlighting segments of the population where outbreaks may be occurring.
In vitro lung epithelial cell model reveals novel roles for Pseudomonas aeruginosa siderophores
(American Society for Microbiology, 2024) Kang, Donghoon; Xu, Qi; Kirienko, Natalia V.
The multidrug-resistant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common nosocomial respiratory pathogen that continues to threaten the lives of patients with mechanical ventilation in intensive care units and those with underlying comorbidities such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For over 20 years, studies have repeatedly demonstrated that the major siderophore pyoverdine is an important virulence factor for P. aeruginosa in invertebrate and mammalian hosts in vivo. Despite its physiological significance, an in vitro, mammalian cell culture model that can be used to characterize the impact and molecular mechanisms of pyoverdine-mediated virulence has only been developed very recently. In this study, we adapt a previously-established, murine macrophage-based model to use human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cellsWe demonstrate that conditioned medium from P. aeruginosa induced rapid 16HBE cell death through the pyoverdine-dependent secretion of cytotoxic rhamnolipids. Genetic or chemical disruption of pyoverdine biosynthesis decreased rhamnolipid production and mitigated cell death. Consistent with these observations, chemical depletion of lipids or genetic disruption of rhamnolipid biosynthesis abrogated the toxicity of the conditioned medium. Furthermore, we also examine the effects of exposure to purified pyoverdine on 16HBE cells. While pyoverdine accumulated within cells, it was largely sequestered within early endosomes, resulting in minimal cytotoxicity. More membrane-permeable iron chelators, such as the siderophore pyochelin, decreased epithelial cell viability and upregulated several pro-inflammatory genes. However, pyoverdine potentiated these iron chelators in activating pro-inflammatory pathways. Altogether, these findings suggest that the siderophores pyoverdine and pyochelin play distinct roles in virulence during acute P. aeruginosa lung infection.
Generalized Damped Outrigger Systems for Suppressing Multimode Vibrations of Tall Buildings
(World Scientific, 2024) Wen, Yongkui; Chen, Lin; Nagarajaiah, Satish
Damped outrigger is a viable means for reducing dynamic responses of tall buildings. This study focuses on generalized damped outrigger (GDO) systems. A GDO is composed of a damper for energy dissipation, a negative stiffness device and an inerter for damping enhancement. The GDO system incorporates GDOs at different floors of the tall building optimized to varied structural modes. Frequency equation of a tall building simplified as a cantilever beam with multiple GDOs is first derived by complex modal analysis. A finite different model of such a system is used for verification. Parametric analyses are then performed to compare damping effects of different GDO systems. It is found that a negative stiffness damped outrigger (NSDO) or inerter damped outrigger (IDO) needs to be optimized for maximizing damping of a specific mode. GDOs, respectively, tuned to different modes can largely improve the multimode damping effects. The optimal parameters of the GDOs are slightly different from those in the case when they are installed separately. With both negative stiffness and nonzero inertance, a GDO still needs to be tuned to a specific mode because multimode damping is sensitive to the damper coefficient. The combination of an NSDO optimized to the first mode and an IDO tuned to a higher mode seems the best solution. The IDO additionally improves the first mode damping provided by the NSDO and the two-mode damping is not sensitive to the damper coefficient of the NSDO. The findings are confirmed through seismic response analyses of a tall building with different GDO systems.