Digital Commons Network^™

Quantitative Assessment Of Water Security Using A Hydrological Modeling Framework, Anoop Valiyaveettil

All Dissertations

Water scarcity and drought are major threats to water security. Quantifying and defining boundaries between these threats are necessary to properly assess water security of a region. A comprehensive assessment of water security in terms of water scarcity, water vulnerability and drought can address water policy issues related to hydrological conditions and their interactions with societal and ecosystem functioning. Therefore, study of water security can provide useful information to multiple stakeholders. The overarching goal of this thesis is to improve water security in river basins around the world. To demonstrate our proposed methods, we selected Savannah River Basin (SRB) as …

Effects Of Embryonic Arsenic Exposure On Killifish (Fundulus Heteroclitus) Growth, Feeding Behavior, And Intestinal Morphology And Cell Types, Kaleigh Caroline Sims

All Theses

Arsenic is found as a contaminant of drinking water, rice, and other crops. Epidemiological studies have shown that embryonic exposure to arsenic can cause changes in behavior and reductions in growth, but the mechanisms for these effects are not well understood. So, we were interested in examining potential mechanisms by which arsenic could be affecting growth. Additionally, while many studies have looked at higher levels of arsenic exposure, we wanted to focus on environmentally-relevant levels to see if these concentrations could have lasting consequences on growth, even after the exposure had ended. Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) were used as the model …

Determining The Relationship Between Mean Paraspinal Muscle Area Ratios And Percent Inter-Vertebral Foraminal Area Change In Flexion Versus Extension Positions Of Military Working Dogs Using Computed Tomography, Krystina Lynn Rowland

All Theses

Core (paraspinal) muscle strengthening exercises are increasingly applied as methods for management of lower back pain in military working dogs. However, more evidence-based studies are needed to justify these methods. A previous publication correlated increased flexion/extension changes in lumbosacral intervertebral foraminal area (positional foraminal stenosis) with lower back pain in dogs. Aims of this thesis project were to test hypotheses that 1) lumbosacral paraspinal muscle areas will be associated with positional changes in inter-vertebral foraminal areas, 2) muscle areas will significantly differ by positioning, and 3) lumbosacral angles and range of motion values will significantly differ by measurement technique. A …

Locating Stable Sites: Climate Refugia In The Southern Appalachians, Alexander Harper Nelson

All Theses

Climate change continues to be one of the most challenging threats to global biodiversity and species persistence. In response, conservation design researchers and applied practitioners have recently begun to call for the identification of critical areas of stable climatic and environmental conditions that may preserve the platform of current climate dynamics, and promote the adaptation and dispersal of diverse taxa across the landscape. Due to their historically buffered and resilient features, climate refugia are considered valuable conservation targets that may function as robust bastions for climatically-sensitive endemic species. In this thesis research, I have worked to define the potential stability …

Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors Effects On Hybrid Striped Bass Predatory Behavior And Internal Chemistry, Lauren E. Stoczynski

All Theses

Prescription drug use continues to increase across the United States. An important part of these medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that function as anti-depressants and include drugs as citalopram (Celexa) and sertraline (Zoloft). SSRI's main mode of action is the inhibition of the serotonin reuptake transporter, causing a buildup of extracellular serotonin, one of the neurotransmitters in the central and peripheral nervous system. SSRIs can be considered persistent pollutants due to their continuous release from wastewater treatment effluent, drug manufacturing effluent, and agricultural runoff. Aquatic organisms can become non-target organisms when subjected to sub-lethal concentrations (low ppb to …

Building A Carbon Footprint Of Clemson University's Main Campus, Raeanne June Clabeaux

All Theses

Greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories have become a popular means for colleges and universities to better understand their environmental impact and quantify sustainability efforts. Clemson University is one of the many institutions that signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, which explicitly calls for a comprehensive inventory of GHG emissions to be created. In the past, Clemson University has contracted an external consulting firm to quantify Clemson's GHG emissions, however, a transparent method of calculating emissions is needed. Carbon footprinting is an effective method to measure GHG emissions, and carbon footprinting of higher education institutions is currently an underdeveloped …

Multifuntional Nanotherapeutics For The Combinatorial Drug And Gene Therapy In The Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Breanne Hourigan

All Theses

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a grade IV glioma, is the most common primary brain tumor, affecting about 3 out of 100,000 persons per year in the United States. GBM accounts for about 80% of primary malignant brain tumors, and is also the most aggressive of malignant brain tumors. With exhaustive treatment, survival only averages between 12 and 15 months, with a 2-year survival rate less than 25%. New therapeutic strategies are necessary to improve the outcomes of this disease. Chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ), a DNA alkylating agent, is used as a first-line of treatment for GBM. However, GBM tumors develop resistance …

Content Analysis Of Spanish-Language Materials Targeting Consumers With Information About Human Norovirus, Ana Romero Vega

All Theses

Background and Rationale: Worldwide, human norovirus is a significant public health problem. One way to reduce the burden of illness attributed to norovirus is to educate consumers about prevention and control strategies. A common vehicle to do so is the Internet. Unfortunately, the accuracy of information posted to the Internet is not well known as no universal review system is in place. Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if web-based Spanish-language norovirus educational materials targeting consumers were clearly written and accurate (aligned with evidence-based prevention and control strategies). The objectives were: (1) determine if the …

Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Incidence Rates; Phenotype, Demographic, And Treatment Characteristics; Model For Risk Prediction Among Women Of Color, Annamalar P. Jeyasehar

All Dissertations

A breast tumor with a histology report that lacks Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor, and Human Epidermal Growth Receptor 2/neu is identified as a Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Women with TNBC compared to non-TNBC patients have 50% increased risk for all-cause mortality and TNBC is reported to have poor survival compared to other Breast Cancer sub-types. TNBC is an aggressive disease with varied outcomes among race/ethnicities in the United States. Chapter one is an introduction chapter that introduces the problem statement, highlights the significance of the problem, provides the theoretical framework along with its constructs and how it supports the …

Clemson Commencement Program, August 2017, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Peach Fruit Bagging To Produce High Quality Fruit And To Manage Pests And Diseases, Jaine Allran

All Theses

One of the main challenges of growing high quality peaches in the southeastern United States is to cope with the high pest and disease pressure caused by the humid climate in the region. Bagging fruit at an early stage of fruit development could be a viable way to physically exclude pest and diseases. Experiments were conducted for two consecutive years at a conventional farm and an organic farm and results indicate no consistent differences between treatments in fruit quality parameters, marketable yield at harvest, or post-harvest disease incidence when compared to the control not bagged fruit. Nevertheless, marketable yield in …

There And Back Again: Regulation, Innovation, And Change In The Beer Industry, Kathryn Marie Sauer

All Theses

I present a concise history of brewing industry concentration from the late 1800s to the present. The economic history of beer in the United States provides an interesting study of the impact of regulation, market power, and innovation on industry. Prohibition, the subsequent growth of the leading macro brewers, and the recent emergence of import and small craft brewers have shaped the industry into what we know today. Upon their emergence, craft breweries exhibited a fervent growth in the West and Northeast regions of America, but have been slow to establish a presence in the Midwest and South. To put …

Modeling Clemson Football Traffic: New Techniques For Small Communities, Stephen Daniel Fry

All Theses

Many communities host planned special events that generate several times the communties' AADT around the event period (e.g. pro and college football games). Larger metropolises benefit from ITS to collect data from, model, plan for, and analyze potential solutions to event-caused congestion. The smaller communities, which do not have the resources for traffic management centers, could benefit from more cost-appropriate methodologies. This thesis presents a cost-effective methodology for traffic data collection before and after these events. Modelers can then use this data in a microsimulation package, such as VISSIM, to model how the transportation network performs during this period, to …

Analyzing The Biomechanical Nature Of Thoracic Kyphosis And Other Mid-Sagittal Spinal Deformities Using Finite Element Analysis, Jaylin M. Carter

All Theses

Thoracic kyphosis is the mid-sagittal misalignment in the human thoracic spine. Occurring in both adults and children, this spinal deformity is caused by the likes of poor posture, genetics, osteoporosis and intervertebral disc degeneration. This disease results in the patient having a rounded or hump back appearance causing strain on muscles, internal organs and improper walking gate. Corrections for this condition involve surgical implantation of metallic hardware to straighten the patient's posture. However, this treatment does not come without its own drawbacks such as a retrogressive forward head posture (FHP) which can occur post-surgery. With the assistance of computer aided …

A Holistic Investigation And Implementation Of Fluidic Origami Cellular Solid For Morphing And Actuation, Hrishikesh Sane

All Theses

Engineering applications of origami are gaining momentum in the recent decades. These applications range from nano-scale biomedical devices to large architectural and aerospace structures. Motivated by the rich kinematic behavior due to folding, the concept of fluidic origami was proposed as a versatile actuator. The idea is to seal deformable cylinders based on the origami patterns and apply pressure to achieve shape morphing and actuation. However, previous research relied on an idealistic kinematic model, which assumes that origami facets are rigid and have zero thickness so that the folding deformation is concentrated at the hinge-like creases. To address this issue, …

Abundance Modeling And Movement Of Smallmouth Bass In A Regulated Section Of The Broad River, Sc, Seth Mycko

All Theses

Dams and altered flow regimes impact riverine fish. In addition to ecological impacts, unpredictable changes in flow influence the ability to access rivers and effectively sample fish populations. Fisheries management practices are often influenced by water regulation and hydropower generation, thus designing distinct methods of monitoring populations in regulated rivers is critical for effective management. Recurrent changes in river flow also influence behavior of fish inhabiting the flow-regulated portions of rivers, and such individual behavior may ultimately have population-level effects (e.g. fish abundance). I investigated population abundance and movement of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) within a regulated portion of the …

Processing And Cooking On Lentil Prebiotics To Reduce Obesity, Niroshan Siva

All Theses

Lentil is a rich source of proteins, range of prebiotic carbohydrates including sugar alcohols (SA), raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFO), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and resistant starch (RS), minerals, and vitamins. Research indicated that foods rich in prebiotics reduce obesity via modulating gut microbiota. The objectives of this thesis were 1) to determine the effects of lentil processing (dehulling, splitting, and cooking) on SA, RFO, FOS, and RS in three lentil market classes (red, green, and pardina), and 2) to determine the effects of lentil diet on rat body weight, percent body fat, plasma triglycerides (TGs) concentration, and change of fecal bacteria. Lentil …

Automated Arduino Based Temperature Control And Resistance Change Reading System For Gas Sensors, Hohite Fetene

All Theses

Semiconductor gas sensors detect gases by a chemical reaction that takes place when the gas is in contact with the sensor and sensitivity is affected by operating temperature and humidity. The accurate control of gas sensor’s operating temperature is a fundamental aspect that determines the sensitivity and selectivity of gas sensors. A variety of gas sensors are developed so far, and each has different working temperature requirement ranging from 200°C - 400°C for functioning at the finest. This research mainly focuses on the package design criteria of semiconductor gas sensor substrate being developed by Arizona State University. To maximize the …

Putative Mechanisms Of Atrazine's Toxic Interactions, Allison Schmidt

All Theses

Atrazine is an herbicide with several known toxic effects, including interactions with other chemicals. Atrazine increases the toxicity of several organophosphates and has been shown to reduce the toxicity of triclosan to D. magna in a concentration dependent manner. Atrazine is a potent activator in vitro of the xenobiotic-sensing nuclear receptor, HR96, related to vertebrate constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X-receptor (PXR). HR96 is a promiscuous nuclear receptor that is activated and inhibited by a variety of xenobiotics, and regulates transcription of Phase I-III enzymes, as well as genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis and triglyceride uptake. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) …

Fabrication And Characterization Of Electrospun Anti-Proliferative Sutures For Vascular Applications, Erica Beal

All Theses

There are multiple surgical procedures that require vascular or microvascular anastomosis; some of which include free tissue transfer for soft tissue reconstruction, vascular grafts and bypass surgeries. The two most common complications with a procedure involving vascular anastomosis are thrombosis and stenosis. The current method to prevent anastomotic thrombosis is the use of an anti-coagulant such as heparin. Heparin has also shown to reduce vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation which is an initiating factor for intimal hyperplasia and ultimately, stenosis. Another well-known treatment for stenosis prevention in vascular injuries is the anti-proliferative drug, paclitaxel. Previously in our 4D lab, we …

Look Who's Talking: A Multi-Case Study Of In-Service English Language Arts Teachers' Conceptions And Uses Of Discussion In The Secondary Classroom, John D. Mcelroy

All Dissertations

Educational scholars and practitioners recognize that classroom discussion offers great promise for helping students develop content knowledge, critical thinking skills, and a variety of meta-cognitive and process skills associated with learning content knowledge and disciplinary processes. Despite this research-based and anecdotal consensus regarding the value of discussion, an equally extensive body of research shows that discussion is not used in U.S. classrooms as consistently or effectively as it might be. This study sought to examine this issue by exploring the relationship between in-service English language arts teachers' beliefs about discussion, their goals for the use of discussion, and their actual …

Application Of Glycoconjugate-Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles As Potent Anti-Adhesion And Anti-Bacterial Agents, Yash S. Raval

All Dissertations

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are currently being extensively in multitude of biomedical applications on account of their exceptional biocompatibility. By attaching different targeting ligands/molecules, MNPs have been broadly used in magnetic hyperthermia, cancer therapy, targeted drug delivery, MRI imaging, pathogen detection, and biological cell-separation. In this dissertation, MNPs coated with polyethylene oxide (PEO) based polymer (PEO-MNPs) and functionalized with bacterial adhesin-specific glycoconjugate molecule Neu5Ac(α2-3)Gal(β1-4)-Glcβ-sp (GM3-MNPs), are investigated for their interactions with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (E. coli). It also describes the feasibility of using alternating magnetic fields (AMF) for targeted killing of E. coli K99 (EC K99) strain using MNPs. Lastly, the …

Effective Visualizations Of The Uncertainty In Hurricane Forecasts, Le Liu

All Dissertations

The track forecast cone developed by the U.S. National Hurricane Center is the one most universally adopted by the general public, the news media, and governmental officials to enhance viewers' understanding of the forecasts and their underlying uncertainties. However, current research has experimentally shown that it has limitations that result in misconceptions of the uncertainty included. Most importantly, the area covered by the cone tends to be misinterpreted as the region affected by the hurricane. In addition, the cone summarizes forecasts for the next three days into a single representation and, thus, makes it difficult for viewers to accurately determine …

Evaluating The Effects Of Immersive Embodied Interaction On Cognition In Virtual Reality, Dhaval Parmar

All Dissertations

Virtual reality is on its advent of becoming mainstream household technology, as technologies such as head-mounted displays, trackers, and interaction devices are becoming affordable and easily available. Virtual reality (VR) has immense potential in enhancing the fields of education and training, and its power can be used to spark interest and enthusiasm among learners. It is, therefore, imperative to evaluate the risks and benefits that immersive virtual reality poses to the field of education. Research suggests that learning is an embodied process. Learning depends on grounded aspects of the body including action, perception, and interactions with the environment. This research …

Identification Of Genetic Variants Underlying Simple And Complex Canine Myopathies, Jacquelyn Marie Evans

All Dissertations

The unique population structure of dog breeds, arising from their domestication from gray wolves and subsequent breed formation, and the similarity of their inherited diseases to human disorders make them an ideal comparative genetics model. Herein the genetic basis of three canine muscle diseases, each a model for human disease, is investigated using genome-wide approaches. Nemaline rod myopathy (NM) is one of the most common congenital myopathies in people and is characterized by rod bodies in the muscle fibers, muscle weakness, and reduced muscle tone. We characterized the first large animal model of autosomal recessive NM in a family of …

Design, Synthesis And Sustainable Applications Of Animal Protein-Based Thermoset Polymers And Covalent Organic Frameworks, Xiaoyan Yu

All Dissertations

Extensive research has been undertaken in recent times on finding suitable, alternative, non-feed and non-fertilizer applications for proteinaceous materials in the animal rendering industry. In this regard, use of such proteins to derive plastics, especially thermoplastics and derived composites, has emerged as a potentially acceptable choice. However, the widespread use of such proteins for aforementioned applications is limited by their poor mechanical properties, high moisture absorption and their inherent odor. In this study, we have engineered, for the first time, high-strength, toughened thermoset polymers from proteinaceous materials obtained from the rendering industry so that they can be employed in high …

Essays On Flood Disaster Relief Recovery Practices And Policy: Applying The Lens Of Service Operations Strategy, Niratcha Tungtisanont

All Dissertations

This dissertation uses a service operations lens to investigate flood disasters’ recovery phase, the least-studied area of Humanitarian Operations and Crisis Management (HOCM). Comprising three essays, my dissertation deepens our knowledge of disaster recovery by using two different units of analysis, including province (state) and household levels.

In Essay 1, entitled “The Influence of Industrialization and Internet Usage on Per-Capita Income: A Longitudinal Analysis of Flood Events in Thai Provinces,” we introduce a novel approach to research HOCM by using econometric analyses. We use panel data as a tool to guide decision makers in understanding the notion of flood recovery, …

Strategic Sustainability Assessment Of Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion Of Food And Bioplastic Waste For Municipalities, Shakira R. Hobbs

All Dissertations

Organic waste streams often include bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and food waste. PLA is a plant-derived bioplastic intended to replace petroleum based plastics; it is often used to make utensils and food packaging. Recently, managing food waste and PLA are becoming more and more complex as the amounts disposed continue to increase. PLA and food waste are often comingled during disposal since PLA is touted as being compostable. However, PLA does not degrade at the same rate as food waste in compost facilities. As such, PLA builds up within compost facilities and has to be screened out and …

Nanowired Human Cardiac Spheroids For Cardiac Regenerative Medicine, Yu Tan

All Dissertations

3D scaffold-free spherical micro-tissue (spheroids) holds great potential in tissue engineering as building blocks to fabricate the functional tissues or organs in vitro. To date, agarose based hydrogel molds have been extensively used to facilitate fusion process of tissue spheroids. As a molding material, agarose typically requires low temperature plates for gelation and/or heated dispenser units. Here, we developed an alginate-based, direct 3D mold-printing technology: 3D printing micro-droplets of alginate solution into biocompatible, bio-inert alginate hydrogel molds for the fabrication of scaffold-free tissue engineering constructs. Specifically, we developed a 3D printing technology to deposit micro-droplets of alginate solution on calcium …

A Mixed Cation And Anion Exchange Resin System For The Simultaneous Removal Of N-Nitrosodimethylamine And Trihalomethanes Precursors From Water, Wilson Beita Sandi

All Dissertations

Drinking water utilities are relying more than ever on water sources impacted by wastewater effluents. Disinfection of these waters during water treatment may lead to the formation of several disinfection by-products, including the probable human carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and the regulated trihalomethanes (THMs). The main objectives of this dissertation work were to investigate i) the potential of ion exchange resins to remove simultaneously both NDMA and THMs, ii) the factors (i.e., pH and competing ions) that may influence the capability of ion exchange resins, and iii) the effect of bromide on the formation of NDMA. Two ion exchange resins were …