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Mixed Uncertainty Analysis On Pumping By Peristaltic Hearts Using Dempster-Shafer Theory, Yanyan He, Nicholas A. Battista, Lindsay D. Waldrop

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

In this paper, we introduce the numerical strategy for mixed uncertainty propagation based on probability and Dempster–Shafer theories, and apply it to the computational model of peristalsis in a heart-pumping system. Specifically, the stochastic uncertainty in the system is represented with random variables while epistemic uncertainty is represented using non-probabilistic uncertain variables with belief functions. The mixed uncertainty is propagated through the system, resulting in the uncertainty in the chosen quantities of interest (QoI, such as flow volume, cost of transport and work). With the introduced numerical method, the uncertainty in the statistics of QoIs will be represented using belief …

Trust, Transparency, And Transport: The Impact Of Privacy Protection On The Acceptance Of Last-Mile Drone Delivery, Jurgen Heinz Famula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A common set of problems commercial delivery companies face is finding ways to increase the efficiency and reliability of the “last mile” of a package’s journey, all while reducing operating costs. This need for efficiency has driven many companies to explore using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, to get packages to their final destination. Although UAVs have great potential to help increase efficiency in commercial package delivery, this comes at a potential cost to the privacy of people who intersect the flight paths of these unmanned vehicles. This thesis explores the effect of a mobile phone application for commercial …

Evaluating The Efficiency Of Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors At A Suburban Field Site, Olivia Wuttke

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

Science surrounding the use of low-cost sensors (LCS) to monitor air quality is rapidly expanding to satisfy the need to fill in regional air quality data gaps. This project evaluated the suitability of two types of LCS: Modulair-PM and PurpleAir (SD and Flex models) as efficient means to measure airborne particulate matter. The study involved physical installation of nine co-located sensors at a suburban site in Denver, connectivity troubleshooting as necessary, and data analysis/modeling of data over multiple months (19 weeks). PM data was compared between individual sensors of the same type, as well as across the two different sensor …

Evaluating The Effect Of Domain-Specific Large Language Models On Question And Response, Phillip D. Crippen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Large Language Models have emerged to great fanfare in the Information Technology market. Business and Information Technology leaders are currently exploring ways to apply these models to assist their organizations in executing business processes and generating innovation. Software vendors, consultants, and academics promote various approaches to making Large Language Models work effectively for business. However, little academic literature is available today that quantifies the degree of improvement possible with these domain-specific approaches over the standard capabilities of generalized Large Language Models.

The study seeks to quantify the benefits of one approach, Retrieval Augmented Generation. The study uses a collection of …

Using Historic Glacial Data And Gis To Predict Mount Rainier National Park’S Glacial Future, Daniel Kincaid

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Will Washington state have glaciers 100 years from now (year 2124)? Due to generally warmer weather glaciers are largely in retreat globally, including the glaciers in Washington state. In Washington state summer glacial meltwater plays a vital role in the survival of wildlife and is needed for human purposes that include recreation, power generation, drinking, agricultural, and industrial. This project looked at the most resilient glaciers in Washington state, the glaciers at Mount Rainier National Park. Historic measurements were used in an exponential growth calculation to project the amount in acres each glacier at Mount Rainer will advance or retreat …

Crystallographic Analysis Of The Dorsal Spine Of Squalus Suckleyi, John V. Karavitis

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The dorsal spine of the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, has been used for age determination of individual specimens since the 1930s. Scientific literature regarding the dorsal spine has to date always referred to it as having an enamel exterior, with a dentin interior surrounding a central pulp cavity. This is similar to the structure observed in a human tooth.

The dorsal spine is composed of cartilage-based tissue that contains bioapatite. Bioapatite is a mixture of hydroxyapatite, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ (a calcium salt of phosphoric acid), and other biological material, e.g. calcium carbonate, CaCO_{3 …}

Evaluating The Influence Of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid Exposure On Blood Glucose Levels: A Comprehensive Multiple Regression Analysis Considering Confounding Factors, Henry Mensah

Theses and Dissertations

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are widely used for industrial and commercial purposes and have received increasing attention due to their adverse effects on health. This thesis investigates the relationship between PFOS exposure and blood glucose levels, considering potential confounding factors. Regression analysis was conducted on a dataset comprising demographic, lifestyle, and biomarker data from a diverse population sample. Sex exhibited a significant role, with females demonstrating an 11.77% increase in blood glucose levels in response to PFOS exposure compared to males, supported by a p-value of 1.04 × 109. Body mass index (BMI) also played a pivotal role, revealing a 2.17% …

Antiviral And Cytotoxic Activities And Chemical Profiles Of Two Species Of Abies Nordmanniana From Türkiye, Nazli Sarikahya, Gaye Sümer Okkali, Furkan Ozan Çöven, Sevda Zeinali̇, Gülce Gucur, Ayşe Di̇la Çağlar, Ece Uyar, Ahmet Ceyhan Gören, Ayşe Nalbantsoy

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Abies is an important genus of the family Pinaceae, with about 50 species found in the highlands of Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North and Central America. The principal aim of the present work was to investigate the chemical content and biological potential of the resin and cone from Abies nordmanniana subsp. bornmulleriana and Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani, respectively. The flavonoid and phenolic contents of the resin and cones were evaluated using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Additionally, the essential oil and fatty acid compositions were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID).. Cytotoxicity …

Real Time 3d Internal Building Directory Map, Zi Yang Chia, Pey Yun Goh

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a famous technology around the world in identifying the real time precise location of any object with the assistance of satellites. The most common application of GPS is the use of outdoor maps. GPS offers efficient, scalable and cost-effective location services. However, this technology is not reliable when the position is in an indoor environment. The signal is very weak or totally lost due to signal attenuation and multipath effects. Among the indoor positioning technologies, WLAN is the most convenient and cost effective. In recent research, machine learning algorithms have become popular and utilized in …

Methionine Sulfoxide Speciation In Mouse Hippocampus Revealed By Global Proteomics Exhibits Age- And Alzheimer’S Disease-Dependent Changes Targeted To Mitochondrial And Glycolytic Pathways, Filipa Blasco Tavares Pereira Lopes, Daniela Schlatzer, Mengzhen Li, Serhan Yılmaz, Rihua Wang, Xin Qi, Marzieh Ayati, Mehmet Koyutürk, Mark R. Chance

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Methionine oxidation to the sulfoxide form (MSox) is a poorly understood post-translational modification of proteins associated with non-specific chemical oxidation from reactive oxygen species (ROS), whose chemistries are linked to various disease pathologies, including neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence shows MSox site occupancy is, in some cases, under enzymatic regulatory control, mediating cellular signaling, including phosphorylation and/or calcium signaling, and raising questions as to the speciation and functional nature of MSox across the proteome. The 5XFAD lineage of the C57BL/6 mouse has well-defined Alzheimer’s and aging states. Using this model, we analyzed age-, sex-, and disease-dependent MSox speciation in the mouse hippocampus. …

Classroom Environment Analysis Via Internet Of Things, Kai-Yuan Tan, Kok-Why Ng, Kanesaraj Ramasamy

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

In this era of rapid technological advancement, the potential of the digital age has opened up numerous possibilities for our society. However, despite these advancements, traditional classrooms still lack the necessary technology to create an optimal learning environment for students. Consequently, students may struggle to effectively acquire knowledge within classrooms. This paper aims to conduct a classroom environment analysis using Internet of Things technology to gather data and uncover valuable insights. The proposed solution involves an embedded system for controlling and monitoring the classroom environment, as well as exporting historical data for further research. By ensuring accurate data collection, this …

A Bilingual Immersive Environment For Kids Learning, Tufail Ahmad, Arifa Bibi, Umar Farooq, Ihsan Rabbi

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

Virtual Worlds (VWs) provide an improved learning experience as they have an increased level of user participation and technological involvement. They avoid content duplication and following a set of predefined rules to overcome the issues in game environments. VWs are coherent, persistent and collaborative social places that believe in realism through immersion. Client viewer software is used for user immersion in the form of avatars and in-world content creation in these environments. This work presents a simple bi-lingual environment developed for kids’ learning in English and Urdu using the well-known VW development framework called OpenSimulator (OpSim). It used Firestorm viewer …

Wix For Web Development And The Application Of The Waterfall Model And Project Based Learning For Project Completion: A Case Study, Mawar Madiah, Ng Kai Xuen, Tan Yew Wen, Tan Zhi Heng, Chong Zhi Tian, Chan Jia Xuan

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

Website development without prior knowledge of HTML or programming experience would be a significant challenge. This study aims to share the students' experiences developing a website using Wix, a user-friendly website builder. The website was assigned as a project-based assessment of one of the courses required to complete a Foundation programme. The course was delivered using a project-based learning (PBL) approach in this context. The students worked as a group to write a project proposal, plan activities, develop the website, write reports, and present the outcome. As for the website development process, the study demonstrates the completion of the project …

Methionine Sulfoxide Speciation In Mouse Hippocampus Revealed By Global Proteomics Exhibits Age- And Alzheimer’S Disease-Dependent Changes Targeted To Mitochondrial And Glycolytic Pathways, Filipa Blasco Tavares Pereira Lopes, Daniela Schlatzer, Mengzhen Li, Serhan Yılmaz, Rihua Wang, Xin Qi, Marzieh Ayati, Mehmet Koyutürk, Mark R. Chance

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Methionine oxidation to the sulfoxide form (MSox) is a poorly understood post-translational modification of proteins associated with non-specific chemical oxidation from reactive oxygen species (ROS), whose chemistries are linked to various disease pathologies, including neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence shows MSox site occupancy is, in some cases, under enzymatic regulatory control, mediating cellular signaling, including phosphorylation and/or calcium signaling, and raising questions as to the speciation and functional nature of MSox across the proteome. The 5XFAD lineage of the C57BL/6 mouse has well-defined Alzheimer’s and aging states. Using this model, we analyzed age-, sex-, and disease-dependent MSox speciation in the mouse hippocampus. …

Feasibility Of Oil Palm Agroforestry System: Evaluating The Application Of Oil Palm Ash For Enhancing Cherry Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum. Var. Nancy Rz) Production Using Brackish Water., Ime Joseph Bassey

Theses and Dissertations

Monoculture systems of oil palm production are ravaging the world’s tropical forests, causing deforestation and biodiversity loss, which contribute to climate change at an uncontrollable pace. Oil palm agroforestry systems (AFSs), one of the strategies of regenerative agriculture, have proven to reverse the unfavorable effects of the oil palm monoculture systems. A sustainable means of soil fertilization and irrigation must be explored to improve the feasibility of oil palm AFSs. This study evaluates the impact of the application of oil palm ash and brackish irrigation on cherry tomato production. The experiment was conducted in a hydroponic system using a 2*4 …

Zinc Oxide Nanostructures Synthesized By Hot Water Treatment For The Photocatalytic Degradation Of Organic Pollutants In Water, Ranjitha Kumarapuram Hariharalakshmanan

Theses and Dissertations

Photocatalysis using nanostructured semiconductors for the degradation of organic pollutants has received significant attention as an advanced water treatment method. A photocatalyst absorbs light with energy greater than or equal to its band gap and generates electron-hole pairs. These electrons and holes take part in redox reactions in water to generate reactive oxygen species, such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions, which can break down organic contaminants. However, this method has some challenges, such as electron-hole recombination, which reduces the efficiency, high cost of nanostructure synthesis, and reduced durability of nanostructured photocatalysts in suspension form. The immobilization of photocatalyst nanostructures …

Case Studies For Energy Efficient Machine Learning Inference Acceleration, Recep Erol

Theses and Dissertations

The advancements in machine learning, deep learning and AI have yielded remarkable tools and innovations, but certain groups face barriers preventing their utilization of these technologies. This research identifies and categorizes these barriers, focusing on three distinct groups: those lacking computational power, seeking to deploy models across multiple devices, and struggling with optimization challenges in high-performance computing centers. The study highlights the disconnect between academia's proposed solutions and their practical integration within industries and research centers, emphasizing the lack of convenience and integration among existing tools. To bridge this gap, this research offers a multifaceted approach. Firstly, it introduces publicly …

The Robot On The Hill, James Ryan

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

“The Robot on the Hill” is a rogue-like autobattler that procedurally models the state of the individual in the information age. The game abruptly transitions between diverse framings - a hill, a bedroom, a pond, a chessboard, the void - in order to highlight the disjointedness that is present in the informationalizing of self and reality. It dialogues with Byung Chul Han and Heidegger to portray what Han describes as a ‘narrative crisis’ in modernity and the devaluation of experience. When the value of experience diminishes and disintegrates, “all that is left is bare life, a kind of survival.” …

`The Very Beautiful Principles Of Natural Philosophy': Michael Faraday, Paper Marbling And The Physics Of Natural Forms, Robert Pepperell

LASER Journal

In 1854, Michael Faraday wrote to thank the author who had sent him a book on the art of paper marbling. In the letter, Faraday referred to `the very beautiful principles of natural philosophy' involved in the process of dropping ink on thickened water. What are the `beautiful principles' that Faraday referred to, and how are they involved in the art of paper marbling? Here I consider some of the physical processes that occur in paper marbling and how the patterns that emerge represent `dissipative structures' that are governed by fundamental principles of nature, in particular the tendency for physical …

Fiscal Incentives For Green Growth: A Mixed-Methods Study Of The State Of Agroforestry And Tree Cover In India, Spriha Pandey

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

Agroforestry is a crucial strategy for diversifying farmer livelihoods and achieving India's climate goals, but its adoption has been hindered by institutional and fiscal obstacles. This mixed-methods study investigates the impact of national government schemes on tree cover increase and expert perceptions of incentives and barriers to agroforestry adoption. Our analysis of national schemes from 2013-2017 reveals that effective fiscal mechanisms and policy cohesion are critical drivers of agroforestry growth. Specifically, we find that increased funding for the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is associated with significant increases in tree cover area while funding for the Horticultural Scheme (NHM) is …

The Dartmouth Land Ethic: Synthesizing Environmental Ethical Beliefs In Hanover And Beyond, Conor M. Roemer

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

In this thesis, I seek to explore the nature of an environmental ethical paradigm at Dartmouth. In order to do so, I have chosen to begin with an examination of Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic. This watershed essay has inspired many environmental ethical inquiries in the last eighty years. Leopold’s Land Ethic urged human beings to view the environment beyond what might be extracted for anthropogenic use and to see the land as a summation of everything that lies within it: not just the plants and animals, but the mountains, rocks, rivers, and soil as well. In turn, scores of philosophers …

Conserving The Public Lands: Policy And Spatial Analysis Of A Bureau Of Land Management Conservation Leasing Mechanism, Isaiah M. Menning

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the largest land administrator in the United States, managing about 10% of U.S. lands, primarily in the Western states. The BLM manages under a multiple-use framework, issuing commercial authorizations for grazing, mining, oil and gas, and wind and solar on public lands, while also managing for ecosystem health. In April 2024, the agency finalized a rule that would create a conservation leasing mechanism to allow private, state, and tribal parties to lease BLM lands for restoration and mitigation purposes, which I investigate here. First, I find that while the conservation leasing mechanism does …

Land-Use Governance And Indigenous Engagement In Arctic Alaska And Norway: Successes, Current Gaps, And Paths Forward, Ningning Sun

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

This study aims to analyze the land use governance structures and the role of Indigenous engagement in Alaska and Norway using a comparative approach, with special focus on successful practices, current gaps, and paths forward to achieve equitable governance. Extractive land uses, such as oil and gas extraction and the construction of wind farms, have mixed impacts on Indigenous communities and lead to social and legal issues such as land use conflict and environmental injustice. Previous research has studied land use governance in Arctic countries with regard to Indigenous Peoples, yet there is a lack of literature that spans Alaska …

Designing Of Human Serum Albumin Nanoparticles For Drug Delivery: A Potential Use Of Anticancer Treatment, Ali Al-Ani, Rasha Alsahlanee

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles have been widely used as versatile drug delivery systems for improving the efficiency and pharmaceutical properties of drugs. The present study aimed to design HSA nanoparticle encapsulated with the hydrophobic anticancer pyridine derivative (2-((2-([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)methylene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (BIPHC)). The synthesis of HSA-BIPHC nanoparticles was achieved using a desolvation process. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis showed the average size of HSA-BIPHC nanoparticles was 80.21 nm. The percentages of entrapment efficacy, loading capacity and production yield were 98.11%, 9.77% and 91.29%, respectively. An In vitro release study revealed that HSA-BIPHC nanoparticles displayed fast dissolution at pH 7.4 compared to pH …

Artificial Intelligence As The Next Front In The Class War, Christopher Hill

Dissertations and Theses

For many years, artificial intelligence has been confined to the realm of science fiction, and while the technology has been in development, predicting the effects AI will have on our society has been a challenging endeavor. The release of ChatGPT in 2022, the subsequent mass adoption of the AI chatbot, and the response by other private firms in the field announced AI's permanent entrance into the public sphere. These recent strides made in the field of artificial intelligence reveal that the pace of technological development has outstripped the rate at which we are able to politically examine and understand these …

Deferred Grazing And Sheep At The Break Of Season In South West Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

Grazing annual pastures in the first 12 days after germination can lower the productivity of pastures during winter by removing poorly rooted plants, and by reducing plant leaf area to sub-optimal levels. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recommends deferring grazing of pasture paddocks at the break-of-season until feed on offer is at least 500–800 kilograms of dry matter per hectare (kg DM/ha). At this level, pasture plants are likely to be firmly rooted and have sufficient leaf area to be productively grazed.

Wildfire Smoke Impacts Lake Ecosystems, Mary Jade Farruggia, Janice Brahney, Andrew J. Tanentzap, Jennifer A. Bentrup, Ludmila S. Brighenti, Sudeep Chandra, Alicia Cortés, Rocio L. Fernandez, Janet M. Fischer, Alexander L. Forrest, Yufang Jin, Kenneth Larrieu, Ian M. Mccullough, Isabella A. Oleksy, Rachel M. Pilla, James A. Rusak, Facundo Scordo, Adrianne P. Smits, Celia C. Symons, Minmeng Tang, Samuel G. Woodman, Steven Sadro

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Wildfire activity is increasing globally. The resulting smoke plumes can travel hundreds to thousands of kilometers, reflecting or scattering sunlight and depositing particles within ecosystems. Several key physical, chemical, and biological processes in lakes are controlled by factors affected by smoke. The spatial and temporal scales of lake exposure to smoke are extensive and under-recognized. We introduce the concept of the lake smoke-day, or the number of days any given lake is exposed to smoke in any given fire season, and quantify the total lake smoke-day exposure in North America from 2019 to 2021. Because smoke can be transported at …

Machines Of The Absurd: Leveraging Generative Ai For Creativity, Humor, And Playfulness, Tyler Sanders

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

Machines of The Absurd is a collection of four projects exploring how generative AI can be leveraged for creativity, humor and playfulness.

1. neverOS — A node-based visual playground for interacting with large language models.

2. Other Calc — An iOS app with a calculator interface, where players can “calculate” text instead of numbers.

3. What Must Burn — An experiment where players type in text that can be dragged into a campfire to produce contextually appropriate sound effects.

4. Jazz vs Waffles — A turn-based comedy game, where players battle anything they type in.

Together, these projects make the …

Oscillations In Neuronal Activity: A Neuron-Centered Spatiotemporal Model Of The Unfolded Protein Response In Prion Diseases, Elliot M. Miller, Tat Chung D. Chan, Carlos Montes-Matamoros, Omar Sharif, Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, Michael R. Lindstrom

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Many neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by the slow spatial spread of toxic protein species in the brain. The toxic proteins can induce neuronal stress, triggering the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), which slows or stops protein translation and can indirectly reduce the toxic load. However, the UPR may also trigger processes leading to apoptotic cell death and the UPR is implicated in the progression of several NDs. In this paper, we develop a novel mathematical model to describe the spatiotemporal dynamics of the UPR mechanism for prion diseases. Our model is centered around a single neuron, with representative proteins P …

Single-Molecule Orientation Imaging Reveals The Nano-Architecture Of Amyloid Fibrils Undergoing Growth And Decay, Brian Sun, Tianben Ding, Weiyan Zhou, Tara S. Porter, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Amyloid-beta (Aβ42) aggregates are characteristic Alzheimer’s disease signatures, but probing how their nanoscale architectures influence their growth and decay remains challenging using current technologies. Here, we apply time-lapse single-molecule orientation-localization microscopy (SMOLM) to measure the orientations and rotational “wobble” of Nile blue (NB) molecules transiently binding to Aβ42 fibrils. We correlate fibril architectures measured by SMOLM with their growth and decay over the course of 5 to 20 min visualized by single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). We discover that stable Aβ42 fibrils tend to be well-ordered and signified by well-aligned NB orientations and small wobble. SMOLM also shows that increasing order …