Digital Commons Network^™

Voice Synthesis Improvement By Machine Learning Of Natural Prosody, Joseph Kane, Michael N. Johnstone, Patryk Szewczyk

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Since the advent of modern computing, researchers have striven to make the human–computer interface (HCI) as seamless as possible. Progress has been made on various fronts, e.g., the desktop metaphor (interface design) and natural language processing (input). One area receiving attention recently is voice activation and its corollary, computer-generated speech. Despite decades of research and development, most computer-generated voices remain easily identifiable as non-human. Prosody in speech has two primary components—intonation and rhythm—both often lacking in computer-generated voices. This research aims to enhance computer-generated text-to-speech algorithms by incorporating melodic and prosodic elements of human speech. This study explores a novel …

Ionization Cross Sections Of Hydrogen Molecule By Electron And Positron Impact, Károly Tőkési, Robert D. Dubois

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We Present Ionization Cross Sections of Hydrogen Molecules by Electron and Positron Impact for Impact Energies between 20 and 1000 EV. a Three-Body Classical Trajectory Monte Carlo Approximation is Applied to Mimic the Collision System. in This Approach, the H2 Molecule is Modeled by a Hydrogen-Type Atom with One Active Electron Bound to a Central Core of Effective Charge with an Effective Binding Energy. Although This Model is Crude for Describing a Hydrogen Molecule, We Found that the Total Cross Sections for Positron Impact Agree Reasonably Well with the Experimental Data. for the Electron Impact, Our Calculated Cross Sections Are …

Highly Sensitive On-Chip Grating-Based Optical Sensor On Glass Substrate: Cost-Effective Design, Hesham A. Attia, Mulan E. Ahmed, Adel Shaaban Awad Elsharkawi, Mohamed A. Swillam

Faculty Journal Articles

This paper presents a novel on-chip optical sensing system using ion exchange technology and phase-shifted Bragg grating design. The sensor geometry has been optimized using a finite difference time domain (FDTD) solver to achieve maximum sensitivity and figure of merit (FOM). The proposed design offers high sensitivity to changes in refractive index and low fabrication costs. The ion exchange process used to create the sensor allows for precise refractive index control, optimizing the sensor’s sensitivity and FOM. A graded-index waveguide and a phase-shifted Bragg grating structure also contribute to the sensor’s high sensitivity. The proposed sensor design was tested for …

Cancer-Associated Fibroblast-Derived Acetate Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Development By Altering Polyamine Metabolism Via The Acss2–Sp1–Sat1 Axis, Divya Murthy, Kuldeep S. Attri, Surendra K. Shukla, Ravi Thakur, Nina V. Chaika, Chunbo He, Dezhen Wang, Kanupriya Jha, Aneesha Dasgupta, Ryan J. King, Scott E. Mulder, Joshua Souchek, Teklab Gebregiworgis, Vikant Rai, Rohit Patel, Tuo Hu, Sandeep Rana, Sai Sundeep Kollala, Camila Pacheco, Paul M. Grandgenett, Fang Yu, Vikas Kumar, Audrey J. Lazenby, Adrian R. Black, Susanna Ulhannan, Ajay Jain, Barish H. Edil, David L. Klinkebiel, Robert Powers, Amarnath Natarajan, Michael A. Hollingsworth, Kamiya Mehla2,, Quan Ly, Sarika Chaudhary, Rosa F. Hwang, Kathryn E. Wellen, Pankaj K. Singh

Robert Powers Publications

The ability of tumour cells to thrive in harsh microenvironments depends on the utilization of nutrients available in the milieu. Here we show that pancreatic cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) regulate tumour cell metabolism through the secretion of acetate, which can be blocked by silencing ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) in CAFs. We further show that acetyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 2 (ACSS2) channels the exogenous acetate to regulate the dynamic cancer epigenome and transcriptome, thereby facilitating cancer cell survival in an acidic microenvironment. Comparative H3K27ac ChIP–seq and RNA–seq analyses revealed alterations in polyamine homeostasis through regulation of SAT1 gene expression and enrichment …

Dna-Pkcs Rnaseq Data: Dna-Pkcs Wilde-Type Or Kinase-Dead Protein Regulate Basal And Etoposide-Induced Gene Expression Changes, Amanda Ashley

Chemistry & Biochemistry: Datasets

No abstract provided.

Single Domain Soft Ferromagnetic Ferrofluid Suitable For Intratumoural Magnetic Hyperthermia, Karthickraja Duraisamy, Muthu Devaraj, Ajithkumar Gangadharan, Karen S. Martirosyan, Niroj Kumar Sahu, Prasath Manogaran, Girija Easwaradas Kreedapathy

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Magnetic hyperthermia is an effective modality for treating cancerous cells selectively at the intracellular level via proper administration, surface tagging and appropriate choice of magnetic nanoparticle. Also, achieving the therapeutic temperature with as much low concentration of nanoparticles, as possible, is desirable. Recently, ferromagnetic nanoparticles or ferrofluid are gaining attention as effective magnetic hyperthermia agents due to their enhanced heating potential under in vivo conditions. In the present work, we have fabricated citrate capped cobalt ferrite ferrofluid via a simple two-step process and investigated the physicochemical, magnetic and induction heating performance. The average size of the synthesized nanoparticle …

Artificial Intelligence And/Or Machine Learning (Ai &| Ml), George K. Thiruvathukal

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

These slides are from an invited panel presentation at my home institution, Loyola University Chicago, organized by the Loyola University Chicago Retiree Association (LUCRA). I was asked to give a broad historical overview of AI and ML and speak about its societal impacts.

"The Loyola University Chicago Retiree Association embraces the Vision of Loyola University Chicago and will assist students, faculty, and administrators as they strive to serve humanity. The group values freedom of inquiry, the pursuit of truth, and care of others and embraces a commitment to excellence, service that promotes social justice, values based leadership, and global awareness."

Predictive Understanding Of Lake Water Temperature And Dissolved Oxygen Profiles Across The Red River Basin Through Interpretable Machine Learning, Isabela Suaza Sierra

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Accurately predicting lake water temperature (LWT) and dissolved oxygen (DO) is crucial for determining threshold values of fish survivability under warmer global conditions, with recreational fishing in reservoirs significantly contributing to regional economies, such as $779 million and $1,891 million annually to the economies of Oklahoma and Texas, respectively. Current mathematical models for temperature and oxygen profiles, which incorporate multi-layer and turbulent mixing equations, are complex and challenging to parameterize, particularly due to uncertainties in acquiring sufficient data for training and validation. Leveraging the flexibility and information extraction power of machine learning (ML) methods, this master thesis aimed to set …

A 2,000-Year Record Of Eelgrass (Zostera Marina L.) Colonization Shows Substantial Gains In Blue Carbon Storage And Nutrient Retention, Martin Dahl, Martin Gullström, Irene Bernabeu, Oscar Serrano, Carmen Leiva-Dueñas, Hans W. Linderholm, Maria E. Asplund, Mats Björk, Tinghai Ou, J. Robin Svensson, Elinor Andrén, Thomas Andrén, Sanne Bergman, Sara Braun, Anneli Eklöf, Zilvinas Ežerinskis, Andrius Garbaras, Petter Hällberg, Elin Löfgren, Malin E. Kylander, Pere Masqué, Justina Šapolaitė, Rienk Smittenberg, Miguel A. Mateo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Assessing historical environmental conditions linked to habitat colonization is important for understanding long-term resilience and improving conservation and restoration efforts. Such information is lacking for the seagrass Zostera marina, an important foundation species across cold-temperate coastal areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Here, we reconstructed environmental conditions during the last 14,000 years from sediment cores in two eelgrass (Z. marina) meadows along the Swedish west coast, with the main aims to identify the time frame of seagrass colonization and describe subsequent biogeochemical changes following establishment. Based on vegetation proxies (lipid biomarkers), eelgrass colonization occurred about 2,000 years ago after geomorphological changes …

Environmental Dna Metabarcoding Of Pan Trap Water To Monitor Arthropod-Plant Interactions, Joshua H. Kestel, David L. Field, Philip W. Bateman, Nicole E. White, Karen L. Bell, Paul Nevill

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Globally, the diversity of arthropods and the plants upon which they rely are under increasing pressure due to a combination of biotic and abiotic anthropogenic stressors. Unfortunately, conventional survey methods used to monitor ecosystems are often challenging to conduct on large scales. Pan traps are a commonly used pollinator survey method and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding of pan trap water may offer a high-throughput alternative to aid in the detection of both arthropods and the plant resources they rely on. Here, we examined if eDNA metabarcoding can be used to identify arthropods and plant species from pan trap water, and …

Introducing Pour Points: Characteristics And Hydrological Significance Of A Rainfall-Concentrating Mechanism In A Water-Limited Woodland Ecosystem, Ashvath S. Kunadi, Tim Lardner, Richard P. Silberstein, Matthias Leopold, Nik Callow, Erik Veneklaas, Aryan Puri, Eleanor Sydney, Sally E. Thompson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The interception of rainfall by plant canopies alters the depth and spatial distribution of water arriving at the soil surface, and thus the location, volume, and depth of infiltration. Mechanisms like stemflow are known to concentrate rainfall and route it deep into the soil, yet other mechanisms of flow concentration are poorly understood. This study characterizes pour points, formed by the detachment of water flowing under a branch, using a combination of field observations in Western Australian banksia woodlands and rainfall simulation experiments on Banksia menziesii branches. We aim to establish the hydrological significance of pour points in a water-limited …

Antioxidant Properties Of Kombucha Beverage Infused With Ganoderma Lucidum And Green Tea From Camellia Sinensis (L.) Kuntze With Several Fermentation Times, Rizki Rabeca Elfirta, Pamungkas Rizki Ferdian, Iwan Saskiawan, Tri Hadi Handayani, Kayla Faza Gustafri Mandalika, Rini Riffiani, Kasirah Kasirah, Ukhradiya Magharaniq Safira Purwanto

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Kombucha is a functional beverage produced through the fermentation of infused tea or Camelia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (CS) by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Apparently, the substrate of kombucha can be substituted to enhance its functional properties. Ganoderma lucidum (GL) is a potential substrate reported to have health benefits. This study aims to evaluate antioxidant properties by comparing different formulations and fermentation times. The formulations prepared in the present study varied in the compositions of GL and CS substrates, namely F1 (100% GL), F2 (75% GL: 25% CS), F3 (50% GL: 50% CS), F4 (25% GL: 75% CS), …

Environmental Analysis Of Codfish Production And Consumption In Portugal, Ayla Frost, Joana Almeida, Joana Dionisio, Radu Godina, Cátia Magro

Journal of Critical Global Issues

Codfish, a typical dish consumed frequently in Portugal, is fished in the cold Northern Atlantic waters far from the Portuguese coast. Thus, regional tensions and the environmental impacts of Portuguese codfish importation and production are significant current issues. The present study uses a life cycle assessment methodology to evaluate the array of environmental impacts of the production of 1 kg of codfish, following a cradle to gate approach. The life cycle inventory was grouped into catch and preprocessing, transit, and curing stages. The data collection of products and processes in each stage was based on scientific peer reviewed documents, technical …

Germplasm Enhancement Of Annual Forage Legumes Suitable For Use In Cold Highland Environments, H K. Firincioglu, N Karagullu, S Unal, A M. Abd-El Moneim

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Central Highlands (CH) of Turkey are characterized by cold winters and dry summers. Under these extreme air temperatures, forage crops are still underexploited as a part of crop rotations. Half of the total vetch hectarage in Turkey is in the CH, and farmers still use the local cultivars that have good adaptability but low yield potential. Therefore, with the aim of identifying and improving the annual forage legume species for the cold and dry environment of the CH, research work was carried out during the 1993/94 and 1994/ 95 crop seasons. Initial results showed that Hungarian vetch (Vicia …

Use Of The Grazing Animal In Forage Breeding, J H. Bouton, C S. Hoveland, R N. Gates

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of these studies was to determine, in the context of a forage breeding program, the effect of cattle grazing on survival of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Different cultivars of each species were compared in grazed and ungrazed areas. Results consistently demonstrated that grazing reduced plant stands when compared to ungrazed conditions for each species tested. In alfalfa, however, cultivars developed for grazing tolerance showed much better grazing survival. Infection with the fungal endophyte, Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones & Gams, likewise substantially increased grazing survival in …

Study Of Genotype X Environment Interaction In Alfalfa Forage Yield, S N. Acharya, G C. Kozub, H Najda, A Aasen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The response of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage yield to eight Alberta test sites was studied for the 1990 and 1991 production years. Cluster analysis was used to group locations and cultivars. Analyses of variances indicated genotype x environment (location) interaction for the first cut yield, the total yield and the difference between first and second cut yields. The Brooks, Bow Island (irrigation), Bow Island (dryland) and Provost locations always clustered together indicating that three of these four test sites may be eliminated without sacrificing reliability.

Selection For Self-Fertility And Self-Fertility In Alfalfa As A Tool For Breeding Strategy Assessment, D Rosellini, F Veronesi, F Lorenzetti

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cultivar development in alfalfa relies on heterosis, that has been mainly exploited by intercrossing selected clones from diverse gemplasm sources; an alternative way was proposed, based on developing double cross cultivars obtained by crossing clones selected for self-sterility, propagated by somatic seed. A different breeding strategy was recently emphasized based on population improvement through inbreeding and recurrent selection; in this case, self-sterility would be selected against. If self-sterility is determined by genetic load, the second strategy should be preferred, and selecting for self-fertility may bring about positive correlated responses for forage yield. Divergent selection for self-fertility was applied in a …

Morphological And Rapd Variations And Regenerants Derived From Cell Suspension Culture Of Pangolagrass, C S. Chen, S M. Wang, Y K. Cheng

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pangolagrass cv. A254, a sterile strain, is one of Taiwan's major forage sources but recently has faced serious disease problems. Tissue culture was expected to generate variations in the breeding program of pangolagrass. The purpose of this study is to examine the somaclonal variation of regenerated plants by means of phenotypic characters survey and RAPD analysis. After long-term suspension culture and EMS mutagenesis, many regenerated plants with morphological variations have been found. Among the regenerants, 10 clones with obviously different characteristics were selected for further studies. Nine of them showed significant differences in morphological trains as compared to A254. By …

Phylogenetics Of Apomictic Common Dallisgrass (Paspalum Dilatatum), B L. Burson, M A. Hussey

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Common dallisgrass, Paspalum dilatatum Poir., an important warm season forage grass, is an obligate apomict with 50 chromosomes which associate as 20 bivalents and 10 univalents during meiosis. Because efforts to improve the grass have not been successful, a phylogenetic investigation was initiated to identify the progenitors of common dallisgrass in an effort to circumvent the apomictic barrier to improvement. The genomic composition has been determined for four dallisgrass biotypes: yellow-anthered (2n=4x=40) IIJJ; common (2n=5x=50) IIJJX; Uruguayan (2n=6x=60) IIJJXX; and Uruguaiana (2n=6x=60) IIJJXX. While the source of the X genome is unknown, the genes controlling apomixis are on at least …

Increased Longevity Of Red Clover Through Selection For Persistence And Disease Resistance, R R. Smith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), an excellent perennial forage legume, has been considered for many years to be a short-lived, two to three years, forage. Selection for resistance to foliar and root rot diseases and for longevity of stand over the past four decades has improved the persistence of the currently available cultivars. The present studies were conducted to evaluate the progress from selection for longevity and disease resistance. Selection for stand longevity and improved disease resistance has reliably extended the production of red clover into the third and fourth year. Selection for healthy plants in 3- or …

Backcrosses Of Diploid Lolium-Festuca Hybrids To Festuca, W Nitzche

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fertile diploid hybrids of Lolium x Festuca -backcrosses were produced by colchicine-treatment without chromosome doubling. The hybrids have new combinations of their characters, not known in the natural species.

Selection For Herbage Yield And Flowering In Ladino White Clover, J A. Garcia

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A geno-phenotypic recurrent selection program is being carried out on ladino white clover (Trifolium repens L.) aiming to combine good DM and seed yields. Selection criteria includes plant density, vigor, winter growth, flowering and diseases resistance. The performance of selections in terms of DM yields and seed production was evaluated in separate trials. Two cycles of selection increased flowering by 36% and seed yield by 59%. Preliminary data on herbage yields shows a very good performance of the selected material and suggests the feasibility of combining high DM and seed yields.

Selection For Field Survival Increases Freezing Tolerance In Festulolium, M D. Casler, P G. Pitts, P C. Bilkey, C A. Rose-Fricker

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Festulolium (Festulolium braunii K.A.) is marginally adapted to the north central and northeastern USA and southern Canada. The purpose of this study was to evaluate four festulolium populations selected for field survival under harsh winter conditions for their freezing tolerance in controlled environments. Progenies of all four populations showed some improvement in freezing tolerance compared to their parents. Improvements were dependent on the temperature at which measurements were made and varied among germplasms. Improvements were manifested in both decreased plant mortality and decreased injury to surviving plants. Genetic variation for freezing tolerance appears to be a viable mechanism …

Fitness Of Apomictic And Sexual Buffelgrass Germplasm, M A. Hussey, Yue-Wen Wang, B L. Burson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Breeding apomictic grasses is based on either the direct selection of apomictic landraces or the hybridization of sexual and apomictic types and selection of apomictic F1 hybrids. Little is known about the potential of sexual hybrids as cultivars in apomictic species. To determine if method of reproduction (MOR) was related to plant vigor, parental, S1, and F1 hybrids of buffelgrass differing in method of reproduction (apomictic or sexual) were established in a common garden in 1994 and 1995. In both years severe inbreeding depression was observed in the S1 progeny as they were shorter, produced less biomass, and had low …

Selection For Nitrogen Use Efficiency In Perennial Ryegrass Using Hydroponics, E N. Van Loo, A.J. P. Van Wijk, O Dolstra, H.J. P. Marvin, C.H. A. Snijders

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A selection method was tested for improving nitrogen use efficiency of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) using a hydroponics system that controls the plant nitrogen concentration. Divergent selection for plant production, leaf area increase and dry matter distribution in six segregating populations under limiting nitrogen supply resulted in differences between offspring of upward and downward selections larger than 20 % in most characteristics. Moderately high realized heritabilities were found for some characteristics (up to 0.88). It is concluded that early selection for nitrogen use efficiency is feasible using this hydroponics system.

Development Of A Multicross Cultivars Of Stylosanthes Spp., B Grof, C D. Fernandes, C B. Almeida, A V. Dos Santos

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A synthetic population, referred to as multicross, has been developed from an interspecific mixture of Stylosanthes capitata and S.macrocephala germplasm. This basic population evolved in a farming situation subject to uncontrolled, continuous, heavy grazing. Natural selection and systematically programmed intercrossing among anthracnose-resistant Venezuelan and Brazilian genotypes of S.capitata have played major roles in the subsequent development of this heterogeneous population. Eight anthracnose-resistant Venezuelan and two Brazilian accessions of S.capitata were introgressed into the basic population. Genetic diversity was further increased by adding seed of four selected accessions of S. macrocephala to the synthetic which had already included …

Selection Of Stylosanthes Guianensis For The Cerrados Of Brazil, B Grof, C D. Fernandes, A V. Dos Santos, C B. Almeida

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Progenies of intervarietal hybrid stylos (Stylosanthes guianensis var.vulgaris x S.guianensis var.pauciflora) with mid-season maturity date (early-and mid-June), high dry matter and seed yields have been identified at the National Beef Cattle Research Center (CNPGC), Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. Dry matter yields of the best selections were comparable to those of the late-flowering control, cv. Mineirão. Several mid-season hybrids produced 150 to 200 kg/ha of seed-inpod and a single plant selection yielded in excess of 300 kg/ha. The high degree of resistance to anthracnose observed in the advanced generations is attributed to the immense genetic diversity of these …

Development Of Red Clover With High Levels Of Resistance To Root-Knot Nematodes, K H. Quesenberry, R A. Dunn, D E. Moon

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), is grown in many areas of the world, but production in subtropical regions may be limited by susceptibility to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) (RKN). Selection for early vigor in RKN infested soils resulted in moderate RKN tolerance in ‘Cherokee’. However, improved RKN resistance in red clover was needed. Seven additional cycles of greenhouse selection using Cherokee as a base population developed a population (FLMR7) with high RKN resistance. When FLMR7 was infested with M. arenaria, M. hapla, M. incognita, or M. javanica, numbers of galls and egg masses …

Evaluating White Clover For Resistance To Cylindrocladium Root Rot, D S. Wofford, A Amaya

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A rapid screening technique was developed for use in evaluating white clover (Trifolium repens L.) for resistance to Cylindrocladium root rot incited by Cylindrocladium crotalariae. Culture plates of the fungus were evaluated for number of infective propagules after four weeks of growth on potato dextrose agar, and no differences were detected among plates. Seedlings of ‘Osceola’ white clover were exposed in the greenhouse to four levels of inoculum over a six-week period, with resistance based on percent survival of uninoculated controls. It was shown that suspending 1 culture plate in 100ml of water and rating plants four weeks …

Characterization Of Chilling Sensitivity Of Tropical And Temperate Grasses, M Ebina, K Okumura, H Matsu-Ura, Y Tsurumi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

C16-C18 fatty acid composition of some lipids in several species of temperate and tropical grasses were measured. The fatty acid composition of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and sulfoquinovosyl diglyceride (SQDG) indicated significant differences between temperate and tropical grasses. Especially the differences of the fatty acid composition of PG were remarkable. The unsaturated fatty acid content of PG in tropical grasses was lower than the contents in temperate grasses. These differences constantly appeared through the year. These differences were caused by the low content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, or the low contents of C18 fatty acids.