All Faculty Deposits

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https://hdl.handle.net/10919/70873

The "All Faculty Deposits" collection contains works deposited by faculty and appointed delegates from the Elements (EFARs) system. For help with Elements, see Frequently Asked Questions on the Provost's website. In general, items can only be deposited if the item is a scholarly article that is covered by Virginia Tech's open access policy, or the item is openly licensed or in the public domain, or the item is permitted to be posted online under the journal/publisher policy, or the depositor owns the copyright. See Right to Deposit on the VTechWorks Help page. If you have questions email us at vtechworks@vt.edu.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 6782

Classifying Diverse Manual Material Handling Tasks Using Vision Transformers and Recurrent Neural Networks
Rajabi, Mohammad Sadra; Ojelade, Aanuoluwapo; Kim, Sunwook; Nussbaum, Maury A. (SAGE Publications, 2025-09)
Frequent or prolonged manual material handling (MMH) is a major risk factor for work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which cause considerable health and economic burdens. Assessing physical exposures is essential for identifying high-risk tasks and implementing targeted ergonomic interventions. However, variability in MMH task performance across individuals and work settings complicates physical exposure assessments. Further, conventional tools often suffer from limitations such as bias, discomfort, behavioral interference, and high costs. Noncontact (ambient) methods and automated data collection and analysis present promising alternatives for assessing physical exposure. We investigated the use of vision transformers and recurrent neural networks for non-contact MMH task classification using RGB video for eight simulated MMH tasks. Spatial features were extracted using the Contrastive Language-Image Pre-training vision transformer, then classified by a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory model to capture temporal dependencies between video frames. Our model achieved a mean accuracy of 88% in classifying MMH tasks, demonstrating comparable performance to methods using depth cameras or wearable sensors, while potentially offering better scalability and feasibility for real environments. Future work includes improving temporal modeling, integrating task-adapted feature extraction, and validating across more diverse workers and occupational environments.
Optimizing passive exoskeleton torque for dynamic overhead work: Phase-specific analysis on muscle activity and perceived exertion
Casu, Giulia; Barr, Alan; Kim, Sunwook; Nussbaum, Maury A.; Rempel, David; Pau, Massimiliano; Harris-Adamson, Carisa (Elsevier, 2025-09)
Purpose: This study investigated how different levels of torque provided by a passive arm-support exoskeleton (ASE) influence upper extremity muscle activity, perceived exertion, and fatigue during arm ascent and descent phases of a Dynamic Overhead (DO) task. Methods: The DO task involved 20 cycles of simulated drilling and was completed by 20 individuals by using a light-duty drill in four conditions: without supporting torque (no ASE) and with three increasing levels of ASE torque (i.e., 50, 75, and 100% of the torque required to support the arm in 90° of flexion). Surface electromyography was measured bilaterally over six shoulder muscles. Moreover, participants indicated torque preference, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and fatigue in the shoulder. Results: Increasing torque levels caused significant reductions in shoulder agonist muscle activity (up to 47%) and significant decreases in RPE and fatigue during the ascent phase. In contrast, higher levels of torque increased muscular activity for some antagonist muscles during the descent phase. Conclusions: While torque levels of 75% and 100% received the most positive ratings, we suggest that 75% torque could be an effective supporting condition, by reducing shoulder muscle flexor activity during arm ascent and minimizing antagonist muscle activity during arm descent.
Flocks Project Survey
Thayer, Nathan; Dayer, Ashley A.; Shizuka, Daizaburo (2024)
The Flocks Project worked with members of ornithological societies to survey members experiences in the discipline and perceptions of diversity initiatives and the need for affinity groups. The Flocks Project survey instrument collected data on several key indicators: namely, belonging; care; resilience; perceptions of diversity efforts; experiences with and desires for affinity groups; and, demographic information. The survey instrument has been made publicly available so that it can be adapted for other organizations and scientific disciplines.
Integrative Bicycle Helmet Fit
Makowski, William J.; Martin, Thomas L.; Schaudt, W. Andy (AHFE International, 2025)
Bicycle helmets can reduce head injury in the event of a crash. However, an improperly fitting helmet may move out of its intended position, exposing parts of the rider’s head and increase the risk of head injury. In published research, bicycle helmet fit is defined infrequently and inconsistently. In addition, a research study may explore one or two components of fit, yet describe their study holistically as bicycle helmet fit. In response, a literature review was conducted on bicycle helmet fit and includes other relevant aspects of fit from other industries and applications. This paper operationally defines and describes bicycle helmet fit, integrating the concepts of (1) perception of fit, (2) static fit, and (3) dynamic fit. Finally, an integrated approach to helmet fit should benefit future research, as well as the design and development of future safety countermeasures for cyclists.
Recurrent abdominal aortic aneurysm following aortoiliac endograft stent placement
Toloczko, Alexandra J.; Berzingi, Seher; Bailey, Benjamin V.; Wani, Lubna B.; Issa, Mayada H. (American College of Physicians, 2024-12-01)
We report a case of a 59-year-old man with multiple comorbid conditions who had endovascular aortic repair for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Despite the procedure’s initial success, the patient later presented with recurrent AAA as the result of an enlarged aneurysmal sac and a 90-degree angle kink at the midportion of the endograft stent, necessitating emergent open surgery. This case underscores the challenges in managing AAA post endovascular aortic repair and the potential for serious complications. Our experience highlights the importance of close surveillance and prompt intervention for optimal patient outcomes.
Proposing a design theory for a human-learning-guided virtual negotiator for online trading platforms
Cao, Mukun; Wang, G. Alan; Lowry, Paul Benjamin (2025-09)
Negotiation-based transactional mechanisms provide flexibility and economic benefits to both sellers and buyers on online trading platforms. Although automated negotiation is a highly desired feature among online platform providers, the complexity and un- certainty of human behavior in human-to-computer (HtC) negotiation make it a problematic solution. This study proposes a design theory for a human-learning guided virtual negotiator (HLG-VN) framework that emulates human learning using multiple machine learning (ML) techniques that collectively mimic four human learning activities: didactic, feedback, observational, and analogical learning. Fol- lowing the design science research methodology, we built an instantiation system for the proposed design theory and empirically tested it using experiments based on HtC negotiations. The empirical results show that our system outperformed the benchmark system in terms of both economic and some key social-psychological outcomes. Furthermore, the experiment results confirm the effectiveness and cor- rectness of the HLG-VN framework. The proposed design theory provides a theoretical base for using ML techniques to build a virtual negotiator agent for an automated negotiation system. Thus, various agents could be designed and developed based on the theory for online trading platforms, thus improving negotiation efficiency and reducing transaction costs.
Are Negative Reviews Always Helpful? Effects of Emotional Arousal on the Usefulness of Negative Reviews and How Merchants Should Respond
Du, Zhanhe; Chai, Hu; Lu, Haijiao; Li, Lixu; Lowry, Paul Benjamin (2025-09)
In the rapidly evolving digital marketplace, understanding consumer behavior in response to negative reviews is of considerable practical and academic importance. Negative reviews influence consumer decision-making, but not all are accurate or helpful. Moreover, the interplay between emotional arousal and the perceived utility of negative reviews, particularly for high-risk purchases and costly products, remains largely unexplored. Addressing this gap, our study leverages attribution theory to scrutinize the curvilinear relationship between emotional arousal and the usefulness of negative reviews in high-risk purchases. We employed a robust mixed-methods design comprising three different studies aimed to triangulate further and understand these phenomena: Study 1 involved an objective content analysis of 6,147 negative reviews from prominent Chinese e-commerce platforms; Study 2 was a controlled scenario-based experiment with 99 consumers, aimed to test the underlying causal relationships; finally, Study 3 involved in-depth qualitative interviews and coding with 60 consumers. Our findings demonstrate an inverted U-shaped relationship between emotional arousal and the perceived utility of negative reviews in high-risk purchase scenarios. This relationship is mediated by prosocial motives, emphasizing that emotionally aroused consumers will likely find negative reviews helpful only up to a certain point, after which the utility diminishes. Notably, positive merchant responses serve as a crucial moderating variable in the emotional arousal-negative review usefulness relationship and the connection between prosocial motives and review usefulness. Our study advances the online review literature by offering nuanced insights into the complex relationship between emotional arousal and the utility of negative reviews in high-risk purchase scenarios. Our results have immediate implications for e-commerce platforms, enabling them to convert the challenge posed by negative reviews into actionable opportunities through informed response strategies.
Solving bicycle helmet fit: Engineering & Entrepreneurship
Makowski, William J. (2024-10-22)
Creativity in Art, Product Development, and Entrepreneurship - ICAT Playdate
Makowski, William J. (2024-09-06)
Come hear about an inspirational journey and pursuit of creativity in art, product development, and entrepreneurship. Will Makowski has spent over fifteen years pursuing his artistic abilities (earning a BFA), designing apparel for two of the top motorcycle and snowmobile apparel companies in the world, Klim and Polaris, and recently finishing an interdisciplinary PhD connecting entrepreneurship, engineering design, and industrial design. In his presentation, Will strives to find the balance between imagination and practical application, so you too can revaluate your approach to both artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors.
A Research Focused Approach to Customer Discovery
Makowski, William J.; Martin, Thomas L.; Schaudt, W. Andy (IEEE, 2022)
Head injuries in football and bicycling highlight the severe disconnect between impact scenarios, injury biomechanics, standards and solutions for personal protective equipment. They also demonstrate the broader need for better methods in product development. This need is further illustrated in entrepreneurship, as the failure rate for product development is anywhere between 30 to 75%. To improve performance and reduce the failure rates of start-ups, new venture teams and nationally funded programs such as I-Corps adopted product development methods such as Lean Canvas and Customer Discovery. However, there are still challenges with these methodologies. Other than 'listen,' there is limited training for developing questions and conducting interviews. As a result, shortcomings in both the personal protective equipment industry and product development in entrepreneurship demonstrate the need to understand the foundational elements of each, in a way that is grounded in research. The purpose of this case study is to address those shortcomings, identify areas for innovation and improve safety for athletes. The case study is grounded in qualitative research methods and is executed by implementing Customer Discovery. The application of the methodologies is expected to create a product development framework for entrepreneurs, implementing it with individuals that use bicycle helmets and bike industry personnel.
Poverty Reduction Through Partnership: The Role of Collaborative Civic Leadership
Poudel, Sonika; Kaufman, Eric K. (Midwest Public Affairs Conference (MPAC), 2025-09-20)
Despite national efforts to address poverty, it remains a significant challenge in the United States. This study focuses on leadership strategies employed by civic organizations in [state] to address poverty. Using a qualitative approach, the research explores how leadership influences poverty reduction. It studies the existing systemic barriers, organizational dynamics, and leadership approaches that can be most effective in addressing poverty in the communities. Interviews with 14 representatives from various civic organizations reveal three key themes: poverty as a systemic challenge, progress through participatory leadership, and humble leadership as a way forward. Findings suggest that effective poverty reduction requires collaborative efforts, active listening, selflessness, empathy, and community-driven leadership. These insights contribute to understanding how leadership can be leveraged to address complex social issues of poverty and provide a framework for applying these strategies in similar contexts.
Daily zeaxanthin supplementation prevents atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in a mouse model of mitochondrial oxidative stress
Biswal, Manas R.; Justis, Bradley D.; Han, Pingyang; Li, Hong; Gierhart, Dennis; Dorey, C. Kathleen; Lewin, Alfred S. (PLOS, 2018-09-29)
Oxidative damage is implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The dry form of AMD (geographic atrophy) is characterized by loss of RPE, photoreceptors, and macular pigments. The cumulative effects of oxidative stress impact mitochondrial function in RPE. In Sod2flox/floxVMD2-cre mice, the RPE specific deletion of Sod2, the gene for mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), leads to elevated oxidative stress in retina and RPE, and causes changes in the RPE and underlying Bruch's membrane that share some features of AMD. This study tested the hypothesis that zeaxanthin supplementation would reduce oxidative stress and preserve RPE structure and function in these mice. Zeaxanthin in retina/RPE/choroid and liver was quantified by LC/MS, retinal function and structure were evaluated by electroretinogram (ERG) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and antioxidant gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. After one month of supplementation, zeaxanthin levels were 5-fold higher in the retina/RPE/choroid and 12-fold higher in liver than in unsupplemented control mice. After four months of supplementation, amplitudes of the ERG a-wave (function of rod photoreceptors) and b-wave (function of the inner retina) were not different in supplemented and control mice. In contrast, the c-wave amplitude (a measure of RPE function) was 28% higher in supplemented mice than in control mice. Higher RPE/choroid expression of antioxidant genes (Cat, Gstm1, Hmox1, Nqo1) and scaffolding protein Sqstm1 were found in supplemented mice than in unsupplemented controls. Reduced nitrotyrosine content in the RPE/choroid was demonstrated by ELISA. Preliminary assessment of retinal ultrastructure indicated that supplementation supported better preservation of RPE structure with more compact basal infoldings and intact mitochondria. We conclude that daily zeaxanthin supplementation protected RPE cells from mitochondrial oxidative stress associated with deficiency in the MnSOD and thereby improved RPE function early in the disease course.
The Budding Forager's Guide to Edible Plants in Southwest Virginia
Wood, Aurora; Krotoski, Claire; Metzgar, Jordan (2025-09-19)
This guide features 20 plant species, carefully selected to provide a diverse basis for developing a foraging experience. The guide is divided into three sections: “Easy Pickings”, “Spice it Up”, and “Rich History”, which include easy-to-harvest plants, species with unique uses, and those with significant cultural or historical significance. We designed colorful taxonomic illustrations for easy identification by representing the desired traits and life stages. Our foraging guide will stimulate interest in plants, their cultural significance, and the ecology of Southwest Virginia. We hope to decrease novice foragers' fears by providing an approachable introduction to foraging.
Ingeniería de Sistemas y Computación, 1968-2010 los pequeños números que hemos visto cambiar
Prieto-Nanez, Fabian (2015)
STAR Protocol for Construction Helmets
Gagliardi, Susanna M.; Stark, Nicole; Edwards, Lee M.; Begonia, Mark T.; Rowson, Steven (2025-09-18)
This document details the protocol used to rate construction helmets based on concussion risk according to the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings.
Going Beyond Human Scale Speeds: Sensation-Seeking, Impulsivity, and Risk Compensation as a Foundational Element to the Development of Safety Countermeasures
Makowski, William J. (2025-09-17)
This paper examines five aspects of risk compensation, namely 1.) the history of psychology in relation to risk compensation in section 2, 2.) the history of speed as a fundamental component of risk in section 3, 3.) the personality traits that have the strongest associations with speed and risk, risk propensity and greater participation, injury, and death in section 4, 4.) approaches and frameworks for safety countermeasures and areas for additional study in section 5. The purpose of writing this is to highlight man’s relationship to both speed and risk as a foundational element to developing safety countermeasures (such as helmets) and serve as a continual reference point. Although designing bicycle helmets is an exciting endeavor in and of itself, there is a goal to explore adjacent markets and continually connect design and development activities to the most exciting pursuit, space travel.
Human-driven fire and vegetation dynamics on the Caribbean island of Barbuda from early indigenous to modern times
LeBlanc, Allison R.; Kennedy, Lisa M.; Burn, Michael J.; Bain, Allison; Perdikaris, Sophia (SAGE Publications, 2024-08)
We present a multiproxy analysis of a sediment core from Freshwater Pond, Barbuda, one of just a few inland paleoenvironmental records from the Lesser Antilles. Our results shed light on the relative contributions of climate variability and Pre- and Post-Columbian human activities to vegetation and fire dynamics on Barbuda. The presence of macroscopic charcoal and pollen of ethnobotanically-useful and disturbance-indicator plant taxa in the sediment record suggests that Pre-Columbian subsistence activities occurred within a few kilometers of the pond between ~150 BCE and ~1250 CE. Our record extends anthropogenic fires back into the early Ceramic (500 BCE–1500 CE) and possibly late Archaic Ages (3000–500 BCE) adding evidence to the timing of arrival of the island’s earliest inhabitants. The history of island-wide biomass burning inferred from microscopic charcoal fragments showed heightened fire activity between ~540 and ~1610 CE followed by a period of quiescence that reflected the transition from Pre- to Post-Columbian land-use practices associated with European colonization of the region. The British established a permanent settlement on Barbuda in the 1660s, but given Barbuda’s unsuitability for large-scale agriculture, timber harvesting, small-scale farming, and livestock rearing, activities that left no detectable charcoal footprints likely dominated post-colonial land use. The lack of any clear correspondence between the reconstructed histories of fire and effective moisture at Freshwater Pond supports the idea that Late-Holocene fire activity on Barbuda was driven primarily by human activity.
Inventory and Assessment of Wisconsin’s Baraboo Hills Country (USA) as an Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark
Swift, Troy P.; Kennedy, Lisa M. (Springer, 2025-09-17)
We analyzed the Baraboo Hills in south-central Wisconsin (USA) as a first step in consideration of its potential for UNESCO Global Geopark designation. Well over 200 Geoparks exist around the globe; presently none are in the USA. The basis for designation is a geographical area that contains geological heritage of international significance, but a Geopark’s fuller mission according to UNESCO is to “explore, develop and celebrate the links between that geological heritage and all other aspects of the area’s natural, cultural, and intangible heritages.” The Baraboo Hills, bisected by the boundary between glaciated and unglaciated landscapes, offer a surprising level of geodiversity with dramatic peaks, canyons, cliffs, waterfalls, and massive exposures of the somewhat rare and certainly ancient Baraboo quartzite. The Hills, with a broad array of land managers on public and privately owned land, have already garnered national designations. We followed a published approach that combined qualitative and quantitative methods to inventory and assess 62 sites within the region for their scientific, educational, and touristic merit, along with degradation risk. We expanded on that method in two significant ways. First, we combined those four established metrics into a meaningful summary metric (Importance) to improve intra-site comparisons. We also applied geospatial modeling (Kernel Density Surface) across the study area to examine spatial relationships in our data and to determine a perimeter to encompass the area that would benefit from unified protection—a strategy that could enhance future Geopark proposals. This research highlights the significant geological heritage of the Baraboo Hills and documents the region’s potential for Geopark designation.
Woody plant dynamics in a foundation conifer woodland of the Appalachian foothills, Alabama
Bhuta, Arvind A. R.; Kennedy, Lisa M. (Eagle Hill Publications, 2021-09-23)
We documented the structure and composition of a Pinus palustris (Longleaf Pine) woodland community in the Appalachian foothills of Alabama using field measurements and investigated the drivers of forest dynamics using dendroecology paired with historical records of disturbance. Longleaf Pine dominated the canopy, exhibiting a reverse-J–shaped diameter distribution not related with age distribution. Longleaf Pines dated as far back as 1669 to as recently as the early 2000s. In contrast to many other forests, the spatial distribution of Longleaf Pine stems in our site trended toward a random distribution when trees were weighted by DBH or age. Based on ring patterns from 322 Longleaf Pine individuals, growth releases from disturbances occurred continuously from the early 1900s through the 1940s and between 1985 and 1995, with Longleaf Pine establishment peaking 3 times: in the 1880s, 1940s, and 1990s. A superposed epoch analysis revealed that release events were not related with recorded large-scale meteorological (e.g., hurricanes) or local human-induced disturbances, suggesting that other factors have influenced the dynamics of this community. This Longleaf Pine community in the Piedmont shared similarities in composition and structure to other Longleaf Pine communities of the southeastern United States. A combination of fire suppression over the last 80 years and high-intensity arson fires over the last decade has caused an increase in density of both live and dead Longleaf Pine and recruitment of fire-sensitive pines and hardwoods into the seedling/sapling classes and canopy. Restoration of the historical fire regime may be needed for Longleaf Pine to maintain its dominance in this community, as fire may have appeared to exert strong control over the dynamics of this community.
Prepartal liver glutathione and its association with lactation performance, metabolism, and health outcomes in transition dairy cows [Supplemental materials]
Souza Lima, Ana Flavia; de Oliveira, Maria Helena; Begalli, Gustavo; Grazziotin, Rodrigo; Halfen, Jessica; Trevisi, Erminio; Osorio, Johan (2025-09)

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