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The Effects Of Mechanical Strain On Vascular Calcification And The Canonical Wnt Pathway, Hannah E. Douglas

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is a significant health crisis, representing 32% of deaths worldwide in 2019. Vascular calcification (VC), a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, is a regulated biomineralization process whose exact mechanisms are unknown. Additionally, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) significantly contribute to VC by undergoing a phenotypic switch and differentiating into osteoblast-like cells. When factors like hypertension cause disturbed laminar flow in the body’s vasculature, the mechanical stress promotes the phenotypic switch and calcification of VSMCs via mechanotransduction. VC is also induced by the Wnt pathway, which is activated via mineral imbalance and mechanical stimulation. However, the exact mechanisms behind …

Nanoscale Modeling Of Membrane Systems Under Mechanical Deformation In Traumatic Brain Injury Using Molecular Dynamics, Anh Thi Ngoc Vo

Theses and Dissertations

Neuronal membrane disruption and mechanoporation are nanoscale damage mechanisms that critically affect brain cell viability during traumatic brain injury (TBI). These nanoscale cellular impairments are elusive in experiments and necessitate in silico approaches such as molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Implementing MD, this research aims to investigate the effects of different key factors related to membrane deformation and damage, including force field resolutions, lipid compositions, and loading conditions.

To examine the impact of force field resolution, MD deformation simulations were conducted on 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) lipid bilayer membranes, using all-atom (AA), united-atom (UA), and coarse-grained Martini (CG-M) force fields. The mechanical responses …

Non-Destructive Evaluation Of White Striping And Microbial Spoilage Of Broiler Breast Meat Using Structured-Illumination Reflectance Imaging, Ebenezer O. Olaniyi

Theses and Dissertations

Manual inspection is a prevailing practice for quality assessment of poultry meat, but it is labor-intensive, tedious, and subjective. This thesis aims to assess the efficacy of an emerging structured illumination reflectance imaging (SIRI) technique with machine learning approaches for assessing WS and microbial spoilage in broiler breast meat. Broiler breast meat samples were imaged by an in house-assembled SIRI platform under sinusoidal illumination. In first experiment, handcrafted texture features were extracted from direct component (DC, corresponding to conventional uniform illumination) and amplitude component (AC, unique to the use of sinusoidal illumination) images retrieved from raw SIRI pattern images build …

Designing Bioinspired Materials With Tunable Structures And Properties From Natural And Synthetic Polymers, Anandavalli Varadarajan

Theses and Dissertations

Biological systems are composed of complex materials which are responsible for performing various functions, such as providing structural support, mobility, functional adaptation to the environment, damage repair, and self-healing. These complex materials display excellent mechanical properties and can rapidly adapt to external stimuli. Thus, nature inspires in terms of source materials, functions, and designs to develop new-generation structural and functional materials. Polymers (natural or synthetic) are excellent sources of developing materials to mimic the functions of soft segments in biological systems. This dissertation focuses on synthesizing and characterizing two different materials with tunable structures and properties: complexes from natural polysaccharides …

Physical Layer Security With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles For Advanced Wireless Networks, Aly Sabri Abdalla

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are emerging as enablers for supporting many applications and services, such as precision agriculture, search and rescue, temporary network deployment, coverage extension, and security. UAVs are being considered for integration into emerging wireless networks as aerial users, aerial relays (ARs), or aerial base stations (ABSs). This dissertation proposes employing UAVs to contribute to physical layer techniques that enhance the security performance of advanced wireless networks and services in terms of availability, resilience, and confidentiality. The focus is on securing terrestrial cellular communications against eavesdropping with a cellular-connected UAV that is dispatched as an AR or ABS. …

New Types Of Soft Sets” Hypersoft Set, Indetermsoft Set, Indetermhypersoft Set, And Treesoft Set”: An Improved Version, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This is an improved paper of [10], where we recall the definitions together with practical applications of the Soft Set and its extensions to HyperSoft Set, IndetermSoft Set, IndetermHyperSoft Set, and TreeSoft Set.

New Statistical Methodology For Capacitor Data Analysis Via Lcr Meter, Usama Afzal, Muhammad Aslam

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This research work introduces a novel methodology to establish the relationship between capacitance and resistance when dealing with imprecise data obtained from LCR meters. The proposed relationship is based on the principles of neutrosophic statistics, enabling the utilization of interval data of resistance or capacitance without losing the indeterminacy of the intervals. By employing this relationship, we can accurately determine capacitance values from interval data of resistance, thereby generating more flexible and informative graphs. Additionally, we have applied the neutrosophic analysis method to the interval data of resistance to further enhance our findings. The comparative analysis demonstrates the superiority of …

Analyzing Pseudomonas Aeruginosa With Bacteriophage Tags Using Photoacoustic Flow Cytometry, Jennifer C. Schinke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The number of daily bacterial infections is climbing and the CDC explains that this is due to the antibiotic-resistant threat in the United States. Finding a faster way of bacterial identification is necessary as it currently takes 1-4 days for a medical lab to culture and identify bacteria. Photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) can be used as an alternative method resulting in swift identification within an hour (Edgar, 2019). Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cell line PA01, will be coated in up to a few hundred red dyed phages making it detectible by the photoacoustic flow cytometry system. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that …

Characterizing Feedlot Feed Using Depth Cameras And Imaging Technology, Jean Niwenshuti

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Imaging technology is a growing field that provides solutions in many areas from manufacturing to agriculture. Through previous research, imaging technologies have been studied in livestock farming to monitor the animal’s health and welfare in the production process. However, the feedlot industry is still behind in validating the feasibility to use some of these technologies nor to adopt such technologies to address challenges the industry is facing, such as lack of skilled labor.This work proposes using novel imaging methods to identify feed types and estimate the amount of feed remaining in a typical Midwestern feedlot feed bunk. These methods have …

Flex-Ro: Development And Testing Of A Semi-Autonomous Robotic Planter, Ian Tempelmeyer

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The need for more crop production with minimal negative environmental impact is a continuing pursuit around the world. As the population continues to increase at an exponential rate, the demand for food, fiber, fuel, and energy also increases. Robotics and automation are seen as one of the useful technology tools to increase field productivity. This work specifically focuses on addressing labor challenges for one of the most important field operations, planting. A robotic planter unit was designed as part of this work that mounted on unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to perform autonomous planting operation in a 1 ha (2.5 acre) …

An Introduction To Bipolar Pythagorean Refined Sets, R. Janani, A. Francina Shalini

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

The aim of this paper is to introduce the new concept of a Bipolar Pythagorean refined set by combining the two notions called a Bipolar Pythagorean set and a Pythagorean refined set. Also, the basic operations and algebraic properties of the Bipolar Pythagorean refined set are discussed with suitable examples.

Hemodynamic Assessment Of Y-Incision Aortic Root Enlargement Using Computational Simulations, Astitwa Ghimire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Yang procedure is a new aortic root enlargement technique used to enlarge the aortic annulus by multiple valve sizes. The procedure prevents patient prosthesis mismatch and establishes a viable platform for future valve-in-valve implantation. This study used the Yang procedure to investigate the hemodynamics in the aortic root and bioprosthetic valve regions after aortic root enlargement. Results indicate the velocity magnitude at the sinus regions of a patient who underwent the Yang procedure was slower, indicating risks of flow stasis and thrombosis. Simulation results denote computational models can be created for optimization of surgical procedures.

Health-Care And Supportive Services In General Population Disaster Shelters, Ashlea Bennett Milburn, Charleen C. Mcneill, Lauren Clay, Janice Springer, Mary Casey-Lockyer

Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objectives:

The Communication (C), Maintaining Health (M), Independence (I), Services, Support and Self-Determination (S), and Transportation (T) is a framework (C-MIST) for identifying functional needs in an emergency response. A C-MIST documentation tool provides shelter staff with a list of potential client needs and actions to address them. This retrospective review describes the needs and actions indicated on completed C-MIST documentation tools (ie, records) within domestic general population shelters following Hurricane Florence in 2018.

Methods:

A convenience sample of 1209 records completed by shelter disaster health services personnel was provided by the American Red Cross. The records correspond to client …

Activation Of The Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System Is Attenuated In Hypertensive Compared With Normotensive Pregnancy, Robin C. Shoemaker, Marko Poglitsch, Hong Huang, Katherine Vignes, Aarthi Srinivasan, Cynthia Cockerham-Morris, Aric Schadler, John Anthony Bauer, John O'Brien

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Hypertension during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, but the mechanisms of pregnancy hypertension are not precisely understood. Elevated plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentrations play an important role in the normal physiologic adaptation to pregnancy. These effectors are reduced in patients with pregnancy hypertension, creating an opportunity to define the features of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) that are characteristic of this disorder. In the current study, we used a novel LC-MS/MS-based methodology to develop comprehensive profiles of RAAS peptides and effectors over gestation in a cohort of 74 pregnant women followed prospectively for the development …

Site-Specific Glyco-Engineering Of Recombinant Thrombomodulin, Joseph M. Keil

ETD Archive

Thrombomodulin (TM), a membrane glycoprotein predominately expressed on endothelium, plays essential roles in regulating local hemostatic balance. Particularly, TM modulates the activity of thrombin from a procoagulant to an anticoagulant protease. When bound to TM, thrombin activates plasma protein C, which selectively inactivates coagulation factors Va and VIIIa. At the same time, TM-bound thrombin is unable to cleave fibrinogen or to activate platelets diminishing its procoagulant activity. recombinant TM456 is a promising anticoagulant candidate, but it has a very short half-life. TM is a proteoglycan and its O-linked glycosaminoglycan (GAG), chondroitin sulfate (CS), on the D3 domain contributes to TM’s …

Alkali Silica Reaction Mitigation Using Glycerin, Ana Laura Errigo Chanis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of glycerin as a concrete additive to reduce alkali silica reaction (ASR), was evaluated and is presented in this study. Specifically, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) ultra-accelerated alkali silica reaction testing procedure by means of autoclaving was employed to examine the use of glycerin for ASR mitigation or reduction by analyzing mortar bar expansion data. The fine aggregates used in this investigation consisted of highly reactive Jobe Sand or Los Lunas Sand with an autoclave expansion of 0.5 and 0.4 percent, respectively. The laboratory investigation was performed by recording the amount of expansion of the …

Breaking The Lignin Barrier With Termite Tav5 Treatment Technology (T4): Biopower And Biofuel From Agricultural Waste, Hussain Ali

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Bioenergy obtained from anaerobic digestion of lignocellulose biomass is one of the promising candidates to help move towards a fossil fuel free future. Agriculture waste has up to 90% lignocellulose content, and the eight leading US crops produce over 500 million tons of residue each year. Unfortunately, lignin is resistant to microbial attack under low oxygen conditions which normally occur in anaerobic digesters, and it often shields lignocellulose components (cellulose and hemicellulose) from decomposition as well. Traditional physical/chemical methods for destroying lignin are typically costly due to energy and chemical requirements and can create toxic intermediates (Rahimi et al., 2020). …

Assessing The Treatment Efficiency Of Expanded Shale As A Filter Medium In A Bioswale, Ashish Bhurtyal

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This thesis presents a laboratory investigation focusing on the use of expanded shale as a filter media in bioswales. Bioswales are known for their effectiveness in improving water quality by removing pollutants such as total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity. While conventional filter media with rocks, sand, and mulches have been utilized in bioswales to enhance infiltration capacity, the potential of expanded shale as an engineered media has not been thoroughly assessed and documented. The study conducted a series of thirty experiments involving three different flow conditions to mimic typical Best Management Practices (BMP) applications. The primary focus was on …

Topics In Optimization For Sustainable Energy Planning, Bahareh Nasirian

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

ABSTRACT: Due to the current trend of rising energy demand, finding alternate energy sources is vital. Many cities consider renewable energy as a component of a sustainable future. Typically, organic wastes are considered renewable energy sources. Wastes can be converted to proper energy forms using waste-to-energy technologies. On the other hand, more renewable energy sources in the power system may increase energy market stochasticity, alter system operation, and pose new problems for the current supply and demand equilibrium, which consequently requires new control methods. Hence, taking into account the issues mentioned above, in this research, we address organic waste conversion …

Wirelessly Powering A Sea Of Sensors For Perimeter Security Applications, Ian River Chavez

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

his thesis presents an innovative application of Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) technology for perimeter security systems. The approach leverages the physical properties of IPT to detect intrusions by monitoring voltage changes in wirelessly powered sensor nodes, which can double as components of an intrusion detection system. Disturbances in node orientation, indicative of potential intrusions, alter the sensor node’s resonant frequency and create measurable voltage shifts. This study explores the concept in-depth, from the analysis of resonant inductive coupling in various resonant inductive modes, to the design of transmit loops, sensor nodes, and the techniques required to ensure optimum power transfer. …

Prevention And Reversal Of Elastin-Associated And Phosphate-Dependent Arterial Calcification Using Targeted Nanotherapeutics In Pre-Clinical Models, Fatema Tuj Zohora

All Dissertations

Vascular calcification can be life-threatening, involving calcium phosphate crystal deposits in the blood vessels. The calcification in the intimal layer of the arterial wall is usually associated with atherosclerotic plaque build-up that, in the advanced stage, harbors ‘dispersed’ and ‘spotty’ deposits of calcium phosphate crystals in the necrotic core of the plaque. In contrast, medial arterial calcification (MAC) can form independently of atherosclerosis and appears as ‘Railroad-like’ calcific deposits along degraded elastin lamellae in the medial layer of arteries. The mechanisms of such elastin-associated medial arterial calcification and potential therapies are the key concerns of this dissertation. MAC is common …

Evaluation Of A First Flush System With Multiple In-Line Bypassing Fuel Separator Components In The Industrial Area Of An Airport, Kazi Rashid

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

ABSTRACT: This dissertation explores the effectiveness of a complex system employed to capture the first flush (FF) generated from industrial activities occurring at an airport. The First Flush System (FFS) utilized by the DFW International Airport is comprised of multiple in-line bypassing fuel separators and located in many parts of the Air Operations Area (AoA) of the airport as well as maintenance areas. The system collects and conveys a portion of the rainfall runoff generated from the drainage areas of the industrial land-use portion of the DFW airport to a Stormwater Pre-treatment Plant (SWPTP) and then to Trinity River Authority …

The Impact Of Improper Solid Waste Management On Public Health Of African Cities. The Case Of Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia., Tesfaye Abebe Alemu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Many African cities are generating an ever-increasing amount of waste and the effectiveness of their solid waste collection and disposal systems is currently declining. Therefore, research has been striving to develop a sustainable and integrated solid waste management system that fits the current challenges facing the local environment. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of improper solid waste management that affects the air and water quality of the near Koshe open dump site and around the Addis Ababa City, and their adverse effect on the public health living around them. The rapid increase of population in …

The Road Map For Sustainable Waste Management In The Federal Democratic Republic Of Ethiopia, Assegid Yimenu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a global issue from its social, environmental, and economic aspects. Poor SWM is one of the significant causes of resource degradation, environmental pollution, and public health problems. In this study, households’ solid waste generation and characterization were determined for selected cities in Ethiopia. Quantitative and qualitative study methods were applied to collect primary and secondary data to assess the household’s MSW generation rate and characterize the waste type's physical composition. The households’ daily MSW generation rates in Bole and Kirkos sub-cities, Addis Ababa, were found to be 0.54 and 0.26 Kg/capita/day, respectively, and the average …

Effect Of Shock Tunnel Geometry On Shockwave And Vortex Ring Formation, Propagation, And Head On Collision, Rachel L. Bauer, Emily M. Johnson, Alexander D. Douglas, Catherine E. Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Vortex ring research primarily focuses on the formation from circular openings. Consequently, the role of tunnel geometry is less understood, despite there being numerous research studies using noncircular shock tunnels. This experimental study investigated shockwaves and vortex rings from different geometry shock tunnels from formation at the tunnel opening to head on collision with another similarly formed vortex ring using schlieren imaging and statistical analysis. The velocity of the incident shockwave was found to be consistent across all four shock tunnel geometries, which include circle, hexagon, square, and triangle of the same cross-sectional area. The velocity was 1.2 ± 0.007 …

A Study Of 5g Cellular Connectivity To Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Jackson Murrin

All Theses

The market of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has seen significant growth in the past ten years on both the commercial and military sides. The applications for UAVs are endless and options by manufacturers allow users to modify their drones for their specific goals. This industry has opened up the excitement of piloting vehicles in the air, photography, videography, exploration of nature from a different point of view and many other hobbies assisted by the emergence of UAVs. The growth of this industry coincides with the roll out of new 5G cellular network technology. This upgrade in cellular network infrastructure allows …

Children First: Women’S Perspectives On Evacuation At Fuego Volcano And Implications For Disaster Risk Reduction, Beth A. Bartel, Ailsa K. Naismith

Michigan Tech Publications

As major drivers of behavior during crisis, cultural norms influence how disasters differentially affect people of different genders. Cultural gender norms also impact how authorities and at-risk populations approach disaster risk reduction strategies. At Fuego volcano, Guatemala, we applied qualitative methods to investigate women’s experiences of the evacuation process after a paroxysmal eruption on 7–8 March 2022. While participants’ experiences and decisions varied, we identified how gender influences evacuation dynamics within communities at Fuego volcano, including who evacuates and who decides at the community and household levels. We find that communities prioritized women for evacuation with the children and elderly …

Proceedings Of The 2023 Berry Summer Thesis Institute, University Of Dayton. University Honors Program

Proceedings of the Berry Summer Thesis Institute (2013-Present)

Thanks to a gift from the Berry Family Foundation and the Berry family, the University Honors Program launched the Berry Summer Thesis Institute in 2012. The institute introduces students in the University Honors Program to intensive research, scholarship opportunities and professional development. Each student pursues a 12-week summer thesis research project under the guidance of a UD faculty mentor. This contains the product of the students' research.

Contents:

• “How Porous Materials Affect the Boundary-Layer Transition of Hypersonic Flight Vehicles” (Megan C. Sieve)
• “Ultra-Stretchable, Self-Healing, DLP 3D-Printed Elastomers for Damage-Resistant Soft Robots: A Review” (Robert M. A. Drexler)
• “Extrapolation of Scalar …

The Influence Of Diversity Dimensions On Student’S Collaboration Success: What It Means For Workforce Development In Manufacturing, Oyinkansola Adeite

All Theses

Manufacturing productivity is measured by labor productivity which is the hourly output of the manufacturing economy. The recent reduction in productivity numbers by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics emphasizes the need for workforce development. With globalization and technological advancements, diversity has emerged as a critical aspect for the workplace. By encompassing dimensions such as education, race, and age, diversity creates a tapestry of unique perspectives and experiences. This study’s aim is to figure out the effect of a diversity dimension on team performance using intelligent systems, and in addition, if extra dimensions of diversity further impact team performance. …

The Extent Of Drone Education Being Taught In Asc Schools To 4-Year Construction Students, Cheran Teja Dumpati

All Theses

The technology of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is growing rapidly in many fields and has become one of the skills in demand in the industry. Universities are one of the primary sources of teaching drone technology with a career-oriented approach. The goal of this study is to investigate the content of the drone curriculum being taught in Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) schools. This includes the topics covered, practical training offered, and the key deliverables taught. This information serves as a foundation for the schools that are looking forward to start drone courses in their department. The research found that …