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Clemson Commencement Program, August 2016, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of Environmental Values In The Asian, Developing-World Context Of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, Vietnam, Madeline Duda

All Theses

It has been generally assumed that individuals’ environmental values are influenced by culture, experiences, social norms, economic standing, among others. However, to date research on held environmental values has focused primarily on the developed world context. To address this gap, this research explores the environmental values of local people in a developing world context, specifically the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark (DVKPG) in Ha Giang Province, Vietnam. To examine individual’s value orientation related to sense of place and held environmental values we asked residents of DVKPG a set of two open-ended questions: (1) what is most important to you …

50th Anniversary Celebration: 1966 Best Sellers Display, Maggie Mason Smith

Presentations

Each of our fall semester book displays will coincide with Cooper Library’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.

The first of these displays features 1966 New York Times best sellers.

With subject matter varying from UFOs to Sammy Davis Jr. to romance to World War II, this display is sure to have something you’ll want to check out. Located on the bookshelf to the right of the Information Services desk, the display will be up all month.

An Approach To The Procedural Generation Of Worn Metal Surfaces, Junyan Wang

All Theses

Motivated by the phenomenon that wear and tear tends to happen more near sharp cornersof a surface, this thesis presents a method for procedurally generating photorealistic metal surfacesbased upon evaluating curvature values. The thesis describes the development of eight metal shadersthat are used to replace the manual texture painting typically used in production. The approach isdemonstrated by applying these metal shaders to a robotic dog model from a short film involvinglive action and CG elements. Frames from a short animation of the robotic dog are presented, anda discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of this methodology.

The Role Of Developmental Plasticity In Response To Salinity On The Evolution Of Alternative Reproductive Tactics In The Sailfin Molly, Poecilia Latipinna (Poeciliidae: Poecilia: Mollienesia), Kelly Elise Hogan

All Theses

Variability in life history and morphology across conspecific populations is a widespread phenomenon and may be attributed to life history trade-offs in response to environmental variation. Such trade-offs between growth, maintenance, and reproduction often occur via developmental plasticity, which allows organisms to shift their developmental trajectories to maximize fitness in a given environment. Sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) exhibit interpopulation variation in life history and morphological traits, and inhabit springs, tidal creeks, and estuaries that range from freshwater to seawater. Male size at maturity is smaller on average in freshwater springs than in brackish water marshes where these fish are most …

Enhancing The Methane Yield Of A Landfill Leachate Bioreactor, Paul Vecchiarelli

All Theses

Our thriving modern society requires unprecedented amounts of natural resources to maintain pace with rapidly evolving standards of living in industrialized regions. Due to population growth and wide-scale urbanization, over 3.5x106 metric tons of solid wastes are produced daily around the world. In addition to land, water, and raw material strain generated by solid waste dumping, pristine resources are needed for food, energy, and potable water — instead being used through waste management. Reducing landfill leachate volume and toxicity while deriving value-added products from leachate is a sustainable alternative to traditional solid waste management. Carbon mass balances of biomass grown …

Gender Hybridity In H.G. Wells' The Island Of Dr. Moreau, Charlotte Rene Powell

All Theses

Critical scholarship regarding The Island of Dr. Moreau typically concerns themes of evolution and internal corruption. However, the unstudied question of evolution in The Island of Dr. Moreau remains the places where Edward Prendick’s performances of unconventional masculinity on the island inhabit language used to describe bestial regression and indicate a place where rhetoric regarding evolution and gender intersect. The gap in the critical conversation surrounding the representation of Prendick is an important place where the concept of hybridity and evolution can and should be extended. Through a close reading of Prendick’s reactions to events that occur over the course …

Development Of Position-Dependent Luminescent Sensors: Spectral Rulers And Chemical Sensing Through Tissue, Melissa M. Rogalski

All Dissertations

Assessing the performance of medical devices is critical for understanding device function and monitoring pathologies. With the use of a smart device clinically relevant chemical and mechanical information regarding fracture healing may be deduced. For example, strain on the device may be used as a mechanical indicator of weight-bearing capacity. In addition, changes in chemical environment may indicate the development of implant associated infections. Although optical methods are widely used for ex vivostrain/motion analysis and for chemical analyses in cells and histological tissue sections, there utility is limited through thick tissue because light scattering reduces spatial resolution. This dissertation presents …

Targeted Nano-Therapeutices For The Reversal Of Calcification And Ecm Degradation In Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Nasim Nosoudi

All Dissertations

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is focal ballooning and dilation of abdominal aorta. AAAs are the 13th primary cause of death in the US, taking the lives of approximately 15,000 Americans each year 1. The best prevention of AAA is early detection when the AAA is smaller than 3 cm. The only current treatment option for well-developed AAA is surgical repair of the aneurysmal vessel. Since the enactment of the Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act (SAAVE) act, patients with Medicare are covered for one-time ultrasound imaging for aneurysm, which allows smaller scale AAAs to be discovered. Unfortunately, after this …

Molecular Mechanics Studies Of Protein Signaling And Conformation Change, Zhe Jia

All Dissertations

Physiology signals can be passed by proteins. Many protein signaling starts from ligand binding and undergoes conformation change of the receptors. Many cellular surface receptor proteins contain a Von Willebrand factor (vWF), which is a large multimeric glycoprotein present in blood plasma. This dissertation employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to investigate the binding and signaling process of several vWF type A proteins. Chapter 2 discussed the potential errors modeling and MD sampling methods, and evaluated the accuracy and precision of free energy calculation. An optimized sampling strategy was established to obtain the best computational efficiency. The strategy can be applied …

Development And Initial Validation Of A Surgical Instrument For In Situ Mechanical Characterization Of Surgical Mesh-Tissue Composites, Jorge Ivan Hernandez Sanchez

All Theses

Approximately 5 million Americans have an abdominal wall hernia, and over 700,000 undergo surgical procedures every year to treat them. Surgical procedures have evolved with the goal of preventing recurrences, leading to the current gold standard of treatment: hernia repair with mesh. Hernia repair with mesh consists on augmenting the weakened abdominal wall by implanting a synthetic or biological mesh. Although the adoption of hernia repair with mesh has improved outcomes, recurrence from primary repair procedures with large incisions (>10 cm) remains an alarming 32%.

The wide variety of implanted surgical mesh (materials, structure) and surgical variability (attachment method, …

Three Industrial Emission Environmental Kuznets Curve Estimates Of China, Tianmin Zhao

All Theses

In this paper, I investigate the general formatted formula of the Environ-mental Kuznets Curve and develop a hypothesis at the same time. I useChina Prefecture City level panel data on Industrial Sulfur Dioxide, Dark Par-ticles, and Waste Water emissions to estimate several Environmental KuznetsCurves. I use the parametric method and semi-parametric method at the sametime. The Smoke and waste water emission’s results of two methods do notmatch each other. In contrast, sulfur dioxide, are economically significant andcoincident between two approaches.

Mixotrophic Cultivation Of Microalgae For Biomass Production Optimization Using Statistical Methods, Ning Zhang

All Theses

Microalgae have received considerable attention as a potential source for the thirdgeneration biofuel. Various products including biodiesel could be obtained from the algalbiomass. In this study, the green algae Chlorella protothecoides was cultured inmixotrophic mode – under the light from a LED lamp and supplemented with organiccarbon and nitrogen sources. The carbon and nitrogen sources were selected for theircapabilities to sustain algae growth, and their low cost as industrial by-products. Crudeglycerol was derived from the biodiesel production process and the spent brewer’s yeastwas the remaining yeast after beer fermentation. Both were subject to certainpretreatment steps before being mixed with the …

A Suture Training System With Synchronized Force, Motion And Video Data Collection, Naren Nagarajan

All Theses

Suturing is a common surgical task where surgeons stitch a particular tissue. There is an increasing demand for a tool to objectively quantify and train surgical skills. Suturing is particularly difficult to teach due to various multi-modal aspects involved in the task including applied forces, hand motion and optimal time for suturing. Towards quantifying the task of suturing, a platform is required to capture force, motion and video data while performing surgical suturing. This objective data can potentially be used to evaluate performance of a trainee and provide feedback regarding improving suturing skill. In the previous prototype of the platform, …

Characterization Of A Microbial Community In Response To Mtbe Contamination In Marine Sediment, Nicholas Hotzelt

All Theses

On March 9, 2015, the Carla Maersk, which was carrying 216,049 barrels of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) outbound for Venezuela, was struck port side by the bow of the Conti Peridot. An unspecified amount of MTBE spilled into the Port of Houston. MTBE has an exceptionally high water solubility and a large volume of the contaminant likely diluted and dispersed throughout the channel. MTBE was the most common fuel oxygenate because of its low cost, ease of production, and favorable transfer and blending characteristics. After only a few years of intense use, MTBE has become one of the most frequently …

Morphological And Ecological Characterization Of Opuntia Miller On The Coast Of South Carolina, Kirk Holmes

All Theses

The genus Opuntia Miller is one of the most misunderstood and ignored genera of plants occurring in the southeastern United States. This study focused on the clarification of Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw., Opuntia macrarthra Gibbes, Opuntia pusilla (Haw.), Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw. and Opuntia tunoidea Gibbes on the coast of South Carolina. A comprehensive literature review was completed to gather an understanding of Opuntia biology, species concepts and geographic range. The objectives of the morphological study were to determine if Opuntia taxa matching past descriptions of the five species chosen were present, what the morphological characteristics of the individuals …

Effect Of Irrigation Water On Growth And Physical Characteristics Of Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) And Mung Bean (Vigna Radiata) Sprouts, Kathryn Frances Cornelia Davis

All Theses

With resources to produce food predicted to become scarce and strongly limited,the need for producing more and consuming fewer resources will become increasingly important in the agricultural environment. Production methods that are ‘soil-less’ which are not tradition in-ground methods are viewed as creative solutions that have the potential of being sustainable. An aquaponic system is one of these productions methods that have the potential to be sustainable. Research demonstrates the water conservation an aquaponic system can establish if proper management is maintained, thus upkeep and monitoring of water quality parameters are crucial for successful growth of plants. The purpose of …

Handling Traffic For Major Events: Evaluating Traffic Officer Operations, Gowtham Cherukumalli

All Theses

The campus of Clemson University hosts numerous planned special events every year. The largest seasonal events are the home football games played at Clemson Memorial Stadium. These football games attract crowds in excess of 80,000 fans, most of whom arrive by private vehicle. Trying to maneuver traffic for 80,000 people into one venue is a daunting task in itself. However, trying to maneuver it through a local transportation system designed for a campus with approximately 20,000 students and a city that has approximately 12,000 permanent residents can be a nightmare for state and local traffic enforcement officials. One of the …

A Dynamic Hair Rigging System For Maya, Wyndham Batton

All Theses

This thesis will cover the creation, use, and process of an automated rigging tool in Maya. The dynamic hair-rigging system’s purpose is to help control the function, style, and movement of hair, along with other uses. A solution for controlling and manipulating sections of hair is using an automated rigging system that allows for full artistic freedom over styling and animating hair. An interface was designed to aid rigging artists with producing quick and efficient rigs for hair. Along with the use for hair, the dynamic hair-rigging tool could also be used to drive and control chain, rope, and other …

Controlling Thermal Gelation Properties Of Novel Tetronic® Hydrogel-Based Tissue Adhesive, Martin Fernando Alejos

All Theses

The advancement in laparoscopic and robotic surgeries is calling for innovation in wound closure methods where the classical mechanical ligatures are proving very challenging due to reduction in surgical spaces, even for seasoned surgeons.1–3 Tissue adhesives have been investigated as an alternative and/or adjuvant method to address some of these unmet needs. Previously in our lab, Sanders and co-workers4 developed a successful synthetic adhesive by modifying Tetronic 1107 to incorporate acrylate (ACR) for chemical crosslinking and N-hydroxisuccinimide (NHS) to enhance tissue bonding, improving the seminal work done by Cho et al.5 However, solutions of modified T1107 would undergo reverse thermal …

Computational Evaluation Of Ventricular Assist Device Implementation In The Single Ventricle Circulation, Tyler Matthew Schmidt

All Theses

Patients with a single ventricle congenital heart defect are prone to increased volume loading, which can lead to heart failure and require mechanical circulatory support. A ventricular assist device (VAD) can serve as a bridge treatment option for these patients. However, in VAD support cases, pediatric patients possessing congenital heart defects have lower survival rates than patients without and outcomes worsen further in single ventricle cases. Performance differences between pulsatile and continuous flow VADs have also been clinically observed, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood.

Six pediatric, stage 1 single ventricle patients (cohort mean BSA = 0.30 m2) were …

Responses Of Aquatic Organisms To Exposures Of Sodium Carbonate Peroxyhydrate, Tyler David Geer

All Theses

Sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate (SCP), a granular algaecide containing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), is used to mitigate risks associated with noxious algae. Episodic exposures of SCP algaecides in aquatic systems prompt the need for a fundamental understanding of exposure-response relationships for aquatic organisms, both target and non-target, exposed to H2O2 as SCP. In the first experiment, influences of organic carbon on exposures of H2O2 as SCP and consequent responses of a frequent problematic alga (cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa) were measured. Results indicate that the exposure of H2O2 as SCP necessary to control growth of a noxious alga is proportional to the density of …

Proof Of Concept For A Urine-Based Method For Monitoring Blood Phenylalanine For Patients With Pku, Alexandra Cholewczynski

All Theses

There is a great need for an at-home, simple, inexpensive, and noninvasive testing method to monitor the blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels of patients with PKU. PKU is a rare genetic disorder that affects approximately one out 15,000 people, which results in dangerously high levels of Phe in the blood. This project aims to show proof of concept for such a test, which is based upon a previously developed test method that was historically used to diagnose PKU from a urine sample. This redesigned test method represents the optimization of a little-understood reaction between Fe3+ ions and phenylpyruvic acid (PPA) that …

Population Dynamics Of Black Bears In Northwestern South Carolina, Shefali Azad

All Theses

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are managed as a game species in the northwestern region of South Carolina. However, no formal research study has examined their long-term population trends. I used the Downing harvest population reconstruction technique to establish abundance trends. The total population in 2013 was estimated at about 412 bears, increasing from about 97 bears in 1998. I also derived abundance, density, average age, and sex ratios at a county-level to investigate differential stages of recovery. Overall my results suggest that in 1998-2013 Oconee county had a rapidly expanding population, Pickens county requires further investigation into potential bear overharvest, …

Novel Chemical Crosslinking To Stabilize Extracellular Matrix For Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Materials To Resist Calcification And Structural Degradation, Hobey Tam

All Dissertations

Over 350,000 artificial heart valves are implanted each year domestically in the US due to valvular stenosis, regurgitation, or congenital defects. However, worldwide, there is precipitous demand of artificial heart valves in emerging economies and this demand is in younger populations because the need for artificial valves in these regions are driven by disease states such as rheumatic fever. With the increasing demand on this life sustaining device, a more robust and durable biomaterial with higher implant life is necessary for increased patient patency and quality of life. Current heart valve replacements only last 10-15 years before implant failure occurs. …

Active Parental Care, Reproductive Performance, And A Novel Egg Predator Affecting Reproductive Investment In The Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus, J. Antonio Baeza, Lunden Simpson, Louis J. Ambrosio, Nathalia Mora, Rodrigo Guéron, Michael J. Childress

Publications

Background

We used the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus, one of the largest brooding invertebrates in the Western Atlantic, to test for the presence/absence of active parental care and to explore reproductive performance in large brooding marine organisms. Given [i] the compact and large embryo masses produced by P. argus, [ii] the expected disproportional increase in brooding costs with increasing embryo mass size, and [iii] the theoretical allometry of egg production with increasing body size, we predicted that parental females in this large species will engage in active brood care. We also predicted that larger broods from larger …

Hyberbranched Polymers As Biocompatible Oil Dispersants: Influence Of Salinity, Ph, And Concentration On Dispersion Effectiveness, Kristen Mae Carpenter

All Theses

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 marked one of the biggest spills in history. Like many other oil spills, Corexit 9500 was used to attempt to prevent some of the environmental impacts of the spill. The abundant use of Corexit during this spill raised public awareness and called into question the dispersant’s toxicity and long-term impacts on the environment. These concerns brought to light the need to discover less toxic, more biodegradable oil dispersants. This research helps determine the feasibility of using hyperbranched polymers (HBP) as oil dispersants by comparing their oil dispersion effectiveness to that of the commonly …

Fabrication And Characterization Of A Novel Porous Polymer Microsphere - Hydrogel Composite For Cell Therapy, Prathik Thulluri

All Theses

For patients with organ failure complications, organ transplantation is not alwaysan option due to a shortage of donors along with obstacles such as risk of pathogentransfer and the possibility of immune rejection. Tissue engineering approaches based oncell therapy provide a promising alternative that could potentially solve these problems.The success of cell therapy for tissue repair and regeneration requires reliable andefficient cell delivery methods. Currently, hydrogels are favored matrices for celldelivery because of their ability to be injected by minimally invasive techniques asviscous liquids and crosslinked in situ under mild conditions compatible with thehomogeneous incorporation of cells and bioactive molecules. However, …

Autologous Protein Solution Exhibits Potential To Mitigate Osteoarthritis (Oa) Progression In A Human Explant Co-Culture Model, Kathleen Emily Steckbeck

All Theses

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating and painful disease that affects upwards of one in every eight adults1,2. OA influences the entire joint, but is traditionally characterized by cartilage degradation3. OA is a multifactorial disease with genetic, biological, and biochemical consideration, but there has been a recent shift in scientific opinion that the pathological progression of OA stems from an inflammatory milieu produced by the feed-forward progressive pathway as evidenced by simultaneous cartilage and synovium co-culture4–7. Autologous protein solution (APS) poses as an intriguing potential OA therapy by possessing a high anti-inflammatory and anabolic mediator concentration profile that could potentially mitigate …

A Family Dispute: The African-American Community's Response To Uncle Tom, Spencer York

All Theses

This thesis is an attempt to understand the complex relationship between theAfrican-American community and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Itargues that a large reason for the negative connotation of “uncle Tom” within theAfrican-American community was caused by conflicts between intellectual patternsand traditions of the community and Stowe’s vision in her novel. This thesis looks atthe key texts in the intellectual history of the African-American community,including the literary responses by African Americans to the novel. This thesis seeksto fill gaps in the history of the African-American community by looking at howmembers of the community exercised their agency to achieve the …