Digital Commons Network^™

Comparison Of Canopy Materials To Improve The Performance Of Sea Anchors Used For Fishing Operations, Namgu Kim, Su-Hyung Kim, Yoo-Won Lee, Kyung-Jin Ryu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Sea anchors used for fishing operations help improve catch rates by stabilizing vessel drift speeds to match tidal or ocean currents. The underwater resistance experienced by a sea anchor's canopy significantly impacts its performance, yet there has been limited research on canopy materials. This study investigates how different canopy materials can enhance sea anchor performance. Specifically, we tested sea anchors made from three fabrics: the currently used polyamide (PA) material, PA material with increased yarn density in the weft direction, and polyester (PES). Using Korean national standards, we compared the yarn density, weight, water absorption capacity, drying rate, air permeability, …

Research On Ship Track Prediction Based On Ipso-Cnn, Xiangen Bai, Nuo Chen, Xiaofeng Xu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

With the rapid development of the global economy, international imports and exports have become increasingly important. Timely and effective tracking and prediction of ship trajectories are important in the face of complex maritime traffic. Based on AIS data, this study establishes a ship trajectory prediction model combining improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) and a convolutional neural network (CNN) that uses the ship's historical navigation trajectory data to predict the future navigation trajectory. The historical ship trajectory data of the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan were selected for the experiment, and the IPSO-CNN model experiment results were compared with those of other models. …

Consequences Of Fire And Grazing To Conservation Of Arthropod Functional Diversity In A Protected Afrotropical Savanna, Ludzula Mukwevho, Tatenda Dalu, Mduduzi Ndlovu, Frank Chidawanyika

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Fires and grazing disrupt the diversity and composition of biological organisms and their functions in the savannas. In the current study, we assessed the impact of fire and grazing intensities on the abundance, species richness and assemblages of eight functional groups of arthropods in Kruger National Park. Pitfalls and active searches were used to collect arthropods at the experimental burnt plots (EBPs) and grazed plots that were undisturbed, minimally or heavily disturbed in Mopane and Skukuza regions. Omnivores constituted the highest proportion (40 %) of individuals, whilst detritivores, granivores, hematophagous, herbivores, nectarivores, predators and scavengers constituted between 0.5 % and …

Global Strategies To Manage Huanglongbing (Hlb) And Its Vectors: Insights And Implications For The Mediterranean Region, Meritxell Pérez-Hedo, Mark S. Hoddle, Fernando Alferez, Lochy Batista, George A.C. Beattie, Shourish Chakravarty, Paul Holford, Fathiya Mbarak Khamis, Inusa Jacob Ajene, Aruna Manrakhan, Paul H. Fourie, Maritza Luis, Eduardo Osorio-Hernández, Mamoudou Sétamou, Alejandro Tena, Pedro Takao Yamamoto, Tara Wade, Changyong Zhou, Nian Wang, Lukasz L. Stelinski, Alberto Urbaneja

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, poses a severe threat to the global citrus industry. This disease is caused by three species of bacteria, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, ‘C. L. africanus’, and ‘C. L. ameri-canus’. The primary pathogen vectors are the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and the African citrus psyllid (Trioza erytreae Del Guercio, Hemiptera: Triozidae). The disease is incurable, and its management relies on reducing vector densities and the adverse effects of bacterial infections on host trees. Managing psyllid vec-tors, especially D. citri, has proven exceptionally challenging due to its rapid spread and subsequent …

Automation To Autonomy: Temporal Dynamics Of Trust And Visual Attention Allocation Did Not Evolve, Tetsuya Sato, Eric Chancey, Yusuke Yamani

Psychology Faculty Publications

Emerging work environments are expected to implement autonomy that performs various functions without human input. Previous works has shown that trust in automation is negatively correlated with visual attention allocation, indicating that trust is a dynamic construct. Moreover, trust in automation and trust in autonomy appears to evolve in similar ways. However, recent work has demonstrated differences between trust in automation and trust in autonomy within Kaber’s (2018) theoretical framework (Sato et al., 2023b). Yet, it is uncertain whether the development of trust and visual attention allocation differs between automation and autonomy. The present study examined the temporal dynamics of …

Generation Z’S Perception Of Skin Cancer And How It Relates To Climate Change, Piercen Bogolea

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, and climate change has been identified as a significant contributor. Preventative action early on can help reduce occurrence, but it is unknown if Generation Z is aware of this and is taking the necessary action now to protect themselves. This research aims to gauge the perception of Generation Z on the severity of skin cancer, the relationship between climate change and skin cancer, and the prevalence of preventative measures being taken. A survey was distributed to students aged 18 to 27 enrolled at the University of Central Florida through mixed sampling. The …

Separation And Surface Examination Of Spacecraft Cabin Particulates, Grace A. Belancik

Master's Theses

Particulate matter in the atmosphere is a known detriment to human health, but several factors affect any particulate’s particular toxicity including particle size, surface area, and chemical composition. Extensive studies have been conducted to examine particulate hazards on Earth, but in crewed spacecraft, like the International Space Station (ISS), the particulate environment is wholly unique due to both the controlled environment and lack of gravity. Atmospheric sampling studies are underway, but another convenient source of airborne particulates for analysis is the contents of the vacuum bags used by the astronauts to clean the air vents. However, no method currently exists …

Convergence In Cancer: Integrative Multi-Modal Modeling For Pan-Cancer Drug Response Prediction, Jessica Zylla

Dissertations and Theses

Heterogeneity and rarity can make cancer difficult to study and treat. Cancer's heterogeneity, evident in tumor locations, tumor cell types, subtypes, and microbiota within the tumor microenvironment, complicates diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Research into the tumor microenvironment and its microbiota is an evolving area of oncology that may advance cancer drug-patient response. Cancer-omics signatures are crucial to drug response, yet there is no tool that physicians use as a gold standard. Research indicates that microbial presence can alter drug metabolism and immune response, affecting cancer-drug efficacy on a patient-specific basis. This work highlights the need for training readiness in transdisciplinary …

A Comprehensive Exploration Of 6g Wireless Communication Technologies, Md Nurul Absar Siddiky, Muhammad Enayetur Rahman, Md. Shahriar Uzzal, H. M. Dipu Kabir

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

As the telecommunications landscape braces for the post-5G era, this paper embarks on delineating the foundational pillars and pioneering visions that define the trajectory toward 6G wireless communication systems. Recognizing the insatiable demand for higher data rates, enhanced connectivity, and broader network coverage, we unravel the evolution from the existing 5G infrastructure to the nascent 6G framework, setting the stage for transformative advancements anticipated in the 2030s. Our discourse navigates through the intricate architecture of 6G, highlighting the paradigm shifts toward superconvergence, non-IP-based networking protocols, and information-centric networks, all underpinned by a robust 360-degree cybersecurity and privacy-by-engineering design. Delving into …

Optimizing Ai Language Models: A Study Of Chatgpt-4 Vs. Chatgpt-4o, Md Nurul Absar Siddiky, Muhammad Enayetur Rahman, Md Fayaz Bin Hossen, Muhammad Rezaur Rahman, Md. Shahadat Jaman

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents a comparative analysis of OpenAI's GPT-4 and its optimized variant, GPT-4o, focusing on their architectural differences, performance, and real-world applications. GPT-4, built upon the Transformer architecture, has set new standards in natural language processing (NLP) with its capacity to generate coherent and contextually relevant text across a wide range of tasks. However, its computational demands, requiring substantial hardware resources, make it less accessible for smaller organizations and real-time applications. In contrast, GPT-4o addresses these challenges by incorporating optimizations such as model compression, parameter pruning, and memory-efficient computation, allowing it to deliver similar performance with significantly lower computational …

Sulfate Sources In Groundwater From An Agricultural Area Central Illinois, Christabel I. Obi

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing sulfate (SO₄^2-) concentrations in the water environment, corresponding with increases in urbanization and industrialization, are a rising global concern. Over 250 mg/L, sulfate threatens human health and ecosystems. Elevated concentrations influence carbonate rock weathering, contributing to the evolution of the global carbon cycle. Knowledge of sulfate sources, whether natural or anthropogenic, is essential for understanding sulfate transport and fate in groundwater. This study investigates SO₄^2- origin and transport in groundwater in an area dominated by agricultural land use in Mclean County, Illinois. Specifically, we explored these questions: 1) Do sulfate concentrations change with groundwater …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To The Thermal And Non-Thermal Mechanisms In Galaxy Clusters, Sheng-Chieh Lin

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Galaxy clusters form at the intersections of the cosmic web and carry imprints of the structure formation history of the universe. As massive, multi-component systems, they offer unique insights into the astrophysical processes that govern both structure formation and galaxy evolution. Observable across the full electromagnetic spectrum, clusters emit photons through a variety of mechanisms, each tracing different physical processes. This dissertation investigates both the thermodynamic and non-thermal properties of the intracluster medium (ICM) to better understand the physical processes shaping observed phenomena. It comprises three main studies, each targeting a different aspect of galaxy cluster physics. In the second …

Group And State-Specific Estimation In Animal Movement Models Using A Bayesian Approach, Anita Bhandari Sharma

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This research study investigates statistical approaches for modeling the movement patterns of white-tailed deer in Louisiana using GPS tracking data. We start by classifying the latent behavioral states using a hidden Markov model (HMM) and then integrate those inferred states into a state-dependent step selection framework to evaluate the land cover preferences. Standard HMMs, however, assume the same movement patterns for all animals, overlooking the differences due to characteristics such as sex, age, breeding season, etc.

To address this limitation, we extend the modeling framework to incorporate the group-level structure defined by similar characteristics or conditions to assess whether such …

Symbiodiniaceae Shifts Over The Last Decade On The Hottest Coral Reefs On Earth, Anna Fiesinger, Rachel Alderdice, Luigi Colin, Hannah Manns, Gabriela Perna, Kathryn H. Stankiewicz, Jacob J. Valenzuela, Line K. Bay, Daniel J. Barshis, Nitin S. Baliga, Iliana B. Baums, John A. Burt, Christian R. Voolstra

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Corals in the Persian/Arabian Gulf (PAG) are resilient to various stressors, whose levels exceed those of coral reefs globally. These corals thereby offer insight into mechanisms underlying thermal resilience, e.g., regarding the role of endosymbiotic microalgae in the family Symbiodiniaceae. Previous studies have identified the thermotolerant species Cladocopium thermophilum as broadly associated with corals in the southern PAG. However, algal-host specificity at the within-species level and the temporal stability of these associations are not well understood. Here we sampled two dominant stony corals (Porites harrisoni, n = 119 and Platygyra daedalea, n = 79) at three sites …

Earth Observations Reveal Impacts Of Climate Variability On Maize Cropping Systems In Sub-Saharan Africa, Adomas Liepa, Michael Thiel, Hannes Taubenböck, Doris Klein, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Marcell K. Peters, Sarah Schönbrodt-Stitt, Insa Otte, Tobias Landmann, Zeyaur R. Khan, Michael Ochieng Obondo, Frank Chidawanyika, Emily A. Martin, Tobias Ullmann

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In Kenya, climate variability and change threaten smallholder, rainfed farms, with crop failures, yield reductions, and pest infestations. Efficient agroecological strategies, such as Push-Pull intercropping, offer documented benefits including pest control, improved soil fertility, and water conservation compared to traditional maize monocropping. To date, no studies exist comparing traditional maize monocropping and Push-Pull intercropping using earth observation tools over several growing seasons in East Africa. Our research addresses this by harmonizing Landsat 7, 8, 9 with Sentinel-2 remote sensing time series from 2016 to 2023. Phenological metrics of 15 growing seasons are extracted based on a threshold method using the …

Annual Diversity Of Honey Bee Pollen Sources In Two Pumpkin Growing Landscapes, Machakos County, Kenya, Marystella W. Nang’Oni, Muo Kasina, Rebecca Karanja, Mary M. Guantai, Rahab N. Kinyanjui, Evanson R. Omuse, Michael H.G. Lattorff, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Marian Adan, Samira A. Mohamed, Thomas Dubois

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Multi-floral foraging sources for honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) have been threatened by landscape changes and unsustainable farming practices. In East Africa, the biodiversity of forage resources that could support honey bees, especially in agricultural lands, remains least explored. This study investigated pollen diversity for honey bees in Yatta and Masinga Sub-counties in Machakos County, Kenya. Honey bee hives were installed on eight pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam) farms (one hive per farm) in two varying landscape vegetation classes (low and medium) based on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Pollen traps were installed at the hive entrance and pollen …

Assessment Of The Genetic Population Structure And Extent Of Clonality In A Rare Serpentine Endemic, Lathyrus Biflorus T.W. Nelson & J.P. Nelson (Fabaceae), Using Ddrad Sequencing, Ashley Dickinson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Lathyrus biflorus, or the two-flowered pea, is a rare herbaceous perennial restricted to a single population in Northern California. The species is considered critically imperiled but remains unprotected under state or federal endangered species acts. Despite its rarity, little is known about its life history, reproductive biology, or genetic diversity. Using genome-wide reduced representation sequencing, this study aimed to address these gaps by investigating the molecular evidence of clonality, the number and diversity of genets (unique genetic individuals which can be made up of one or many clonal units or ramets), and overall genetic health of the population. My …

Home Range, Habitat Use, And Fall Migration Of Lewis’S Woodpeckers In The Eastern Cascade Range, Oregon, Cameron Piper

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Lewis’s woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis), a burn specialist, is experiencing range-wide population declines despite increasing fire activity in the western U.S. The White River Wildlife Area in Oregon hosts the state's only year-round population, raising questions about their breeding, habitat use, and migration. In summer 2024, we tracked nine woodpeckers using telemetry to estimate home range size and overlap. Full home ranges averaged 428 ha, with 66 ha core areas, and showed evidence of growing after nesting. Home ranges overlapped extensively (Full: 91 ± 13%; Core: 63 ± 29%), though individuals had distinct areas of intense use. Males had …

Environmental Monitoring Report: For Work Performed: July 1, 2022 Through June 30, 2023, Tennessee. Department Of Environment And Conservation

Environmental Monitoring Reports

This FY2023 EMR presents results for 20 independent projects, originally defined in TDEC’s FY2023 Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP) and subsequently completed over the course of FY2023 period of performance.

Aquatic Invasive Species Survey And Treatment On Lake Umatilla And Lake Celilo 2023-2024 Report, Garbiel E. Campbell, Jacob Rose

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) is an invasive aquatic plant in the Pacific Northwest that threatens salmon habitat. The Center for Lakes and Reservoirs staff surveyed for this and other aquatic species from 2023 and 2024 in the Columbia River in Lake Umatilla and Lake Celilo. This document summarizes their survey efforts including their protocols, data, and small-scale removal efforts.

Impact Of Color, Shape, And Typeface On Visual Attention: An Eye Tracking Study On Brand Logo, Suzayana Rosidah, Fransiskus Xaverius Ivan, Suatmi Murnani, Hafzatin Nurlatifa, Kristian Adi Nugraha, Sunu Wibirama

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

In numerous cases, companies undertake logo redesigns to enhance brand perception. However, little attention has been paid to the impact of each element of the redesigned logo on visual attention and brand perception. To address this research gap, we collected data from eye tracking and self-report questionnaires of 30 participants during exposure to the old and new logos of a prominent bookstore in Indonesia. The results of the questionnaires revealed a significant relationship between the responses concerning color, shape, typeface, and those pertaining to visual attention (p < 0.05). Most participants were able to grasp the value of creativity, flexibility, progress, change, and strength in the new logo shape. The results of eye tracking show that color was the most influential factor that attracted visual attention in old (F(1.5, 43.4) = 14.905, p < 0.05) and new logos (F(1.7, 50) = 34.757, p < 0.05). This study suggests that companies should selectively choose a color scheme of a logo that better attracts the attention of consumers. In addition, our finding is promising as a practical guide for similar research, as well as a case study on how logo redesign affects brand perception and visual attention.

Regulation Of Haemodynamic Variables By Laguerre Polynomials Based Model Predictive Control., Sai Sandeep Boda, Hiren Kumar G. Patel, Khyati D. Mistry

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Purpose: Cardiac output (CO) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) are two haemodynamic variables that need regulation in clinical situations, particularly in post-cardiac surgery patients. As it is difficult for clinical personnel to monitor continuously, automatic drug infusion to regulate MAP and CO is recommended and essential in the medical environment. Methods: Two input and two output patient model was used in this work to study the variation of haemodynamic variables in response to the infusion of Dopamine (DP) and Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP) drugs. Model predictive control (MPC) algorithm was exercised here as it was a well-established technique to regulate output …

The Role Of Floodplain Complexity In Wood Turtle Habitat Use, Laura S. Deming

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Wood turtles occupy cold, low-gradient riverine habitat throughout the northeastern United State and southeastern Canada. Stream alterations, such as dams, channel straightening, and floodplain development have diminished the natural hydrologic and sedimentation regimes that result in complex channel and floodplain geomorphology. Studies throughout the species’ range have quantified many aspects of their habitat, but none have quantified components of geomorphology of wood turtle sites. The goal of this study was to explore the role of stream channel and floodplain geomorphology in wood turtle habitat use, with specific objectives to (1) quantify components of stream channel and floodplain geomorphic complexity, (2) …

Seeds In A Pluriverse: Visakha Society For The Protection And Care Of Animals Inclusive Praxis Toward Self-Determined Just Socio-Ecological Territories, Priya Tallam

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

My dissertation focuses on my thesis question: How might an NGO’s grassroots efforts in urban Visakhapatnam, India, propagate living justly with animals we encounter and severely Othered humans, beyond attitudes of guardianship, mitigating universalized harms to nature and society? In a transdisciplinary approach examining grassroots programs, my phenomenological study breaks down an animal advocate’s assertive practices of—inclusivity and decolonialized lived norms, which persistently transcend cultural antagonisms of caste, ability, gender, sex, class, and form/species—toward creating just pluriversal multispecies communities in Visakhapatnam. Universalized urbanization across the planet has driven irreversible socio-ecological transformation marked by record ecosystem decline. Sustaining the urban via …

Discovery Of Photosynthetic Oxic N2-Fixation In Cyanobacteria Using Wet Lab And Machine Learning Approaches, James A. Young Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

In The Footsteps Of Moose: Using Non-Invasive Techniques To Identify Cause-Specific Calf Mortalities And Evaluate Moose (Alces Alces) Movements Pertaining To Mineral Lick Locations On Ancestral Lands Of The Grand Portage Ojibwe, Anna B. Weesies

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Following a sharp moose (Alces alces; mooz, Anishinaabemowin, Ojibwe language) population decline in northeastern Minnesota during the early 2000s, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa initiated a long-term moose collaring effort to assess survival and mortality causes. Moose are a culturally important species to the Band, with annual subsistence hunts held on the Reservation and adjacent 1854 Ceded Territory. Continued research guides culturally appropriate management decisions aimed at bolstering calf and adult survival, helping to preserve this moose in Minnesota today and for subsequent generations. Chapter 1 identifies cause-specific calf mortality rates in this multi-predator system using minimally …

Computation-Efficient Deep Learning Models For Computer Vision And Multimodal Vision-Language Tasks Via Network Pruning, Abir Mohammad Hadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the rapid evolution of deep neural networks over the past decade, the demand for efficient, generalizable, and task-adaptable models, especially in computer vision, has increased significantly. To address the computational and deployment challenges posed by overparameterized models, the research community has extensively explored model compression techniques such as pruning, quantization, and distillation. These approaches aim to enhance model efficiency without compromising performance, particularly when adapting to domain-specific tasks under limited resources. This dissertation investigates several underexplored yet critical aspects of task-aware deep learning model compression, spanning both convolutional and vision-language architectures. In the early part of this work, we …

Characterizing A Free-Roaming Cat Population To Predict Predation Of Threatened Species In An Island Ecosystem, Sarah Gheida

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Integrated Wetland Condition Index And Environmental Metric Framework For The Prairie Pothole Region, Mercedes L. Batalla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The USDA-NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) assists landowners with protecting, restoring, and enhancing wetlands. Evaluating wetland conservation efforts is crucial for informing future management decisions. However, assessment frameworks vary across regions and among stakeholders. The Prairie Pothole Region is an ecologically unique landscape characterized by its abundance of wetlands that provide important ecosystem services. To evaluate wetlands enrolled in ACEP, I sampled forty-five semi-permanent wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region from July – August 2023 and 2024. I selected and sampled twenty-six wetlands enrolled in ACEP. Nineteen additional wetlands not enrolled in ACEP were also sampled; these included nine …

Uso Da Modelagem Baseada Em Agentes No Estudo De Sistemas Complexos, Eric Araújo

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

A modelagem baseada em agentes (MBA) é uma metodologia poderosa e acessível para explorar sistemas complexos, onde interações simples entre indivíduos podem gerar comportamentos coletivos emergentes. Este artigo apresenta a MBA de maneira didática e fluida, utilizando a interface NetLogo para exemplificar como a metodologia pode ser aplicada em diversas áreas, como ecologia, saúde pública, economia e sociologia. Com uma abordagem prática, mostramos que não é necessário um conhecimento avançado em computação para começar a usar a MBA, mas que sua versatilidade permite investigar questões complexas do mundo real. Ao final, o leitor será capaz de entender os fundamentos da …