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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Illuminating Corneal Nerve Injury: Analysis Of Neuronal Phenotypes Following Acute And Chronic Corneal Nerve Injury, Cara Sullivan Aug 2021

Illuminating Corneal Nerve Injury: Analysis Of Neuronal Phenotypes Following Acute And Chronic Corneal Nerve Injury, Cara Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The cornea is uniquely avascular, transparent, and densely innervated with a highly complex and rapidly adapting sensory system. Combined with the tear film coating its surface, it is the first line of protection for the visual system. Clear vision provides tremendous survival advantage and thus uses long evolved and highly conserved mechanisms within the corneal protective barrier to preserve its function. Corneal nerves have a critical role in maintaining corneal homeostasis, initiating blinking, and tearing circuits to block potentially damaging environmental insults, and for engaging rapid-response regeneration programs. Many of these critical molecular mechanisms have been broadly characterized over the …


Lexicographic Sensitivity Functions For Nonsmooth Models In Mathematical Biology, Matthew D. Ackley May 2021

Lexicographic Sensitivity Functions For Nonsmooth Models In Mathematical Biology, Matthew D. Ackley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) may be used to model a wide variety of real-world phenomena in biology and engineering. Classical sensitivity theory is well-established and concerns itself with quantifying the responsiveness of such models to changes in parameter values. By performing a sensitivity analysis, a variety of insights can be gained into a model (and hence, the real-world system that it represents); in particular, the information gained can uncover a system's most important aspects, for use in design, control or optimization of the system. However, while the results of such analysis are desirable, the approach that classical theory …


Marine Aquaculture In Maine: Understanding Diverse Perspectives And Interactions At Multiple Scales, Melissa L. Britsch May 2021

Marine Aquaculture In Maine: Understanding Diverse Perspectives And Interactions At Multiple Scales, Melissa L. Britsch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coastal oceans are changing and experiencing increased use. The social and ecological benefits of healthy coastal oceans are well documented and include habitats for marine species, storm protection, and recreational opportunities (MEA, 2005). As the impacts of human activities are recognized, questions about how ocean spaces should be used are becoming more common. These questions are complex and involve many tradeoffs. Understanding the values people hold about uses, and how activities and ecosystems overlap, is critical for weighing tradeoffs and improving future management. I use the northeastern U.S. state of Maine to study human interactions with coastal oceans. Maine is …