Digital Commons Network^™

Advanced Earth Observation For Humanitarian Information Extraction, Chandi Witharana

Doctoral Dissertations

Advanced Earth observation (EO) is increasingly recognized as an indispensible tool to support rigorous and robust decision making in crisis management. In crisis scenarios, EO data need to be streamed through time-critical workflows for delivering reliable and effective information to civil protection authorities. In this context, the over arching goal of this research is to closely examine the integral segments of routing EO-based rapid mapping workflows to understand prevailing shortfalls and to devise novel approaches to catalyze conditioned geoinformation delivery to cater increasing user demand. This study envisions three interconnected objectives, which are primarily fuelled by very high spatial resolution …

Host Selection Of Spring Tiphia (Tiphia Vernalis) And Summer Tiphia (Tiphia Popilliavora), Natural Enemies Of Japanese And Oriental Beetles, Piyumi T. Obeysekara

Doctoral Dissertations

Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, and oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are major turfgrass pests in United States. Tiphia vernalis Rohwer and Tiphia popilliavora Rohwer (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) were introduced as biocontrol agents against these beetles. To test the attractiveness of Tiphia wasps to herbivore induced plant volatiles, two choice bio assays were conducted. Results showed that both T. vernalis and T. popilliavora were strongly attracted to volatiles emitted by grub-infested tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) over healthy grasses. The elevated levels of terpenes emitted by grub-infested Kentucky bluegrass and tall …

Mechanisms Of Dietary Protein-Induced Changes In Calcium Absorption Efficiency, Jessica D. Bihuniak

Doctoral Dissertations

We undertook a randomized, double-blind, crossover study in 14 healthy women who were required to ingest a 6-day low protein diet supplemented with CaSR-AAA (calcium-sensing receptor-activating amino acids), DAA (dibasic amino acids) or methylcellulose capsules (control). All subjects ingested all three diets in random order. Prior to each experimental diet subjects consumed an 11 day adjustment diet. Calcium absorption was measured on day 5 of each dietary intervention using dual-stable calcium isotopes. The clinical trial tested the hypothesis that dietary protein affects the efficiency of intestinal calcium absorption by activating the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR). Supplementation with CaSR-AAA did not …

Engineering Analysis Of Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair, Thuy Pham

Doctoral Dissertations

Surgical treatment for severe functional MR often involves mitral annuloplasty to improve leaflet apposition and ultimately downsize the dilated mitral valve. However, the high rate of operative mortalities of up to 6 ~12% have limited the more expanded use of this procedure. Recently, minimally invasive percutaneous transvenous mitral annuloplasty (PTMA) approaches using entirely catheter-based methods have been developed to reduce procedural morbidity and mortality. One of the approaches is to utilize the proximal location of the coronary sinus (CS) to the mitral annulus (MA) to percutaneously deploy a PTMA device within CS vessel. When the device contracts, it indirectly reshapes …

A Functional Trait Approach To Understanding Natural Regeneration And Restoration Of Neotropical Forests, Vanessa K. S. Boukili

Doctoral Dissertations

Over half of the Neotropical forests have been damaged by human activity, often converted to pasture or agriculture. Under the right conditions, second-growth forests can naturally regenerate once these lands are abandoned, providing a means of recuperating biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, the mechanisms of community assembly during the process of natural regeneration are not fully understood. Here I assess the relative influences of environmental filtering and stochasticity in the regeneration of pre-montane moist forest and lowland wet forests in Costa Rica. I quantify the ecological characteristics of trees and palms with leaf and stem functional traits, which are species-specific …

Logic And Grammar In Child Language: How Children Acquire The Semantics Of Polarity Sensitivity, Lyn Tieu

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines the acquisition of a phenomenon that lies at the interface of logic and grammar. Polarity-sensitive items (PSIs), including negative polarity items (NPIs) such as English any, are often characterized by their restricted distribution, and analyzed in terms of their licensing condition (compare John doesn’t have any books, where any is licensed by negation, with the unlicensed *John has any books). Any moreover oscillates between NPI uses and so-called ‘free choice’ uses (John may choose any book). While a small handful of previous acquisition studies on English any have targeted children’s knowledge …

Toward A Naturalistic Solution To The Moral Problem, David J. Lambie

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of my dissertation is to work toward providing a naturalistic solution to the moral problem. The moral problem arises because moral claims appear to be objectively true and have an essential act-guiding nature. The first chapter of my dissertation lays out some of the main views that have been held concerning the connection between moral judgments and moral motivation. The rest of the dissertation consists of two main projects. The first involves arguing that Michael Smith’s solution to the moral problem is implausible. In chapter two I draw upon pre-existing work as well as my own original contributions …

Modeling Cool-Season Turfgrass Lawn Growth And Quality Responses To Soil Nitrogen And Carbon, And Tissue Nitrogen Concentrations, Xingyuan Geng

Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The goal of turfgrass nitrogen (N) fertilization is to supply sufficient N for aesthetically and functionally high-quality turfgrass without accumulation of excessive soil N, which can facilitate nitrate (NO₃^-) leaching losses. Currently, subjective measures (e.g., assumed N needs of turfgrass species; visual preference of turfgrass quality; historical N rates) remain the primary means used to guide N fertilization of turf. This makes it is more likely that excessive N will be applied to turfgrass. It would be desirable to make N fertilizer application recommendations for turfgrass based on objective testing methods that decrease the chances of …

Influence Of Morphology And Environment On The Electrochemical Reactivity Of Nio, Neil Spinner

Doctoral Dissertations

In this thesis, nickel oxide was investigated as an electrocatalyst and electrode material in both aqueous and non-aqueous media. The effects of morphology resulting from several different synthesis techniques were examined for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol in alkaline media and the Li⁺ mass transport in lithium-ion batteries. Effects of environment changes, including electrocatalyst/electrode additives and choice of media, were also investigated to determine their influence on the reactivity and mechanism for the oxidation of organics such as methane and methanol. For the conversion of methane at room temperature, an array of oxygenate products were identified and theoretical reaction …

The Osterix Reporter Mouse Identifies A Bone Marrow Skeletal Progenitor Cell Population, Sara E. Strecker

Doctoral Dissertations

Multipotent skeletal progenitor cells that reside in the bone marrow and contribute to the maintenance and repair of bone tissue are difficult to identify and, as a result, remain poorly understood. Osterix is a zinc finger transcription factor, which functions as a key regulator of bone formation. Cells of the osteoblast lineage generate bone tissue by depositing a mineralized matrix [1, 2]. Osterix is selectively expressed in cells of the osteoblast lineage and has an essential function in osteoblast commitment and bone formation [1, 3]. While it is generally accepted that Osterix is expressed …

Nursing Administration Of The 3-Ounce Water Swallow Screen, Heather L. Warner Dr.

Doctoral Dissertations

Introduction

Accurate and timely evaluation of swallowing is necessary to determine how to safely administer medications, maintain adequate nutrition and hydration, and avoid deleterious sequelae of prandial aspiration pneumonia. Use of a validated and reliable screening tool for determination of aspiration risk is a critical component of dysphagia management. The 3-ounce water swallow challenge (Suiter & Leder, 2008) is a validated and reliable screening tool that is well supported in the literature.

Statement of the Problem

While use of the 3-ounce water swallow challenge (Suiter & Leder 2008) administered by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) is supported by current research, who else …

Exploring The Mechanisms By Which Increasing Dietary Protein Induces Iron Transporter Expression And Improves Intestinal Iron Absorption, Carrie Elizabeth Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Whole body iron balance is primarily controlled through the regulation of intestinal iron absorption. Therefore, the identification of factors that affect iron absorption is important for the development of therapies aimed at improving iron status in deficient individuals. We recently found that increasing dietary protein in rats enhances duodenal iron absorption. This protein-induced increase in iron absorption is associated with augmented transcript levels of key intestinal iron transporters, including the iron importer, DMT1.

To determine whether dietary protein directly affects DMT1 expression in vitro, the effect of amino acid supplementation on …

Extending The Shelf-Life Of Lyophilized Protein Formulations: Amino Acids As Stabilizers And Early Detection Of Amorphous Phase Separation, Kelly M. Forney-Stevens

Doctoral Dissertations

Lyophilized protein pharmaceuticals are not infinitely stable and have a limited shelf-life often necessitating refrigeration. Excipients are added to protect the product during both processing and storage; however, the mechanisms of stabilization are still not fully understood. The goal of this research was to better understand critical factors in stabilization of dried proteins, such that long-term, ambient-temperature storage can be achieved. There were two main objectives:

1) Investigate amino acids as excipients to potentially extend the shelf-life of lyophilized proteins.

2) Refine a method for detection of amorphous-amorphous phase separation to better assess potential long-term stabilization issues.

First, the stability …

Gifted Students’ Perceptions Of The Influence Of A Gifted Middle School Program On The Development Of Their Achievement Orientation, Micah N. Bruce-Davis

Doctoral Dissertations

In social cognitive theory, the development of self-perceptions is a complex process involving personality and environment. While educators may have little influence on students’ personality traits, they can attend to environmental components that support the development of positive self-perceptions. Developing positive self-perceptions has been identified as a key precursor to developing achievement behaviors. Achievement orientations are viewed as positive learning orientations with students focused on learning new material in comparison to a standard of excellence. Motivational variables such as achievement goals, self-efficacy beliefs, and intelligence beliefs have been connected to the development of an achievement orientation. These motivational variables have …

Biological Activities Of Influenza Virus Subpopulations: Characterization Of Infectious, Interferon-Inducing And Interferon Induction-Suppressing Particles, Christopher P. Malinoski

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the complex nature of the influenza virus quasispecies. Influenza populations exist as a mixture of mostly replication-deficient biologically-active particles. These particles are measured and quantified based upon the phenotype they manifest upon entry into the host. Three subpopulations are characterized: infectious, interferon-inducing, and interferon induction-suppressing particles.

It has been observed that only 5 out of every 100 particles of influenza are infectious. A novel biological assay was developed and, for the first time, directly demonstrated that infectious particles are the progenitors of all other virus particles. From the disparity observed to exist between the numbers of physical …

Magnetic Phase Separation And Ordering In Srcoox, Franz J. Rueckert

Doctoral Dissertations

SrCoO_x has generated interest due to its high oxygen mobility and unique magnetic properties. Above x = 2.75, SrCoO_x is a cubic perovskite and orders ferromagnetically. The magnetic ordering temperature is dependent on the oxygen content of the material. Distinct phases have been noted at x = 3.0 (T_C = 280), x = 2.88 (T_C = 220) and x = 2.75 (T_C = 160 K) in bulk samples. At oxygen contents between x = 2.88 and 3.0, the transitions of both end points are seen, though the sample retains a single crystal structure. While magnetic …

On Stream Assessment: Human Perception And Spatiotemporal Delineation Of Geomorphic Units, Benjamin Franek

Doctoral Dissertations

The utility of human visual assessments to stream geomorphic unit delineation as part of project work inception has been established in the literature. However, certain issues arise. The impact of flow stage variation on stream geomorphic unit (SGU) distribution is not well known and the relatively short time that is spent conducting a visual assessment is not adequate to sufficiently understand the stream spatiotemporal dynamic. Also, critical assumptions regarding personal proficiency with visual assessments are embraced, yet often go untested. Even more, various disciplines are discordant in the way they identify and define stream units – interpersonal differences lead to …

Atomic Layer Deposition Of Alkaline Earth Oxides: Process Optimization, Characterization, And Application, Han Wang

Doctoral Dissertations

Strontium Oxide (SrO) is of interest for the growth of epitaxial perovskite oxides on semiconductors where it acts as a buffer layer between the reactive semiconductor and metal oxide layers. Magnesium oxide (MgO) is widely used as the intervening tunnel barrier to enable efficient spin injection in the magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Due to the strong basicity, MgO and SrO are chemically unstable once exposed to the air, and ex situ chemical and structural analysis tools may not reveal the true properties of MgO and SrO films. Moreover, ex situ optimization of atomic layer deposition (ALD) process parameters, such as …

Enhancing Usability Of The Multi-Channel Analysis Of Surface Wave (Masw) Technique For Subsurface Physical Property Mapping By Incorporating Random-Array Seismic Acquisition, Prasanta Malati Yeluru

Doctoral Dissertations

Subsurface imaging is very critical to exploit subsurface resources, monitor the fluid movement in the reservoir, mapping tunnels etc. As science advances scientists and other researchers are constantly trying to develop new techniques and methods for subsurface imaging that are more effective, efficient, and are more robust under varying field conditions. The main focus of this research is one such effort to improve and increase the usability of the Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Wave method (MASW) method in determining regolith and rock properties by introducing a new type of receiver arrangement to extend its usage in places that are inaccessible …

Work/Family Conflict As A Predictor Of Employee Work Engagement Of Extension Professionals, April B. Martin

Doctoral Dissertations

This study utilizes stress theory to explore the effects of work-family conflict and family-work conflict upon the work engagement outcomes of employees. Using a web-based questionnaire with a primary data sample of 2,782 full time Extension professionals in 46 states, this study incorporates the structural equation modeling analytic technique. This study confirmed the single, second order work-family conflict construct consisting of six first order constructs of work-family time, strain and behavior and family-work time, strain, and behavior. The bi-directionality of work-family conflict and family-work conflict was sustained, as numerous research studies have recommended. The structural equation modeling analysis found the …

The Relationship Between Broad And Narrow Personality Traits And Change Of Academic Major, Nancy A. Foster

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits and academic major change in two samples of college undergraduates. Utilizing a field study design, a total number of 859 undergraduates completed an online inventory that included the “Big Five” and other -related, narrow personality traits, as well as academic major change and various demographic variables. A number of expected and unexpected findings emerged. As hypothesized, the traits of Sense of Identity and Extraversion were significantly and negatively related to decisions to change major, but only for certain grade levels. Contrary to expectations, Career Decidedness and Optimism …

Analysis, Prototyping, And Design Of An Ionization Profile Monitor For The Spallation Neutron Source Accumulator Ring, Dirk A. Bartkoski

Doctoral Dissertations

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) located in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is comprised of a 1 GeV linear H^- [H^-] accelerator followed by an accumulator ring that delivers high intensity 1 μs [microsecond] long pulses of 1.5x10¹⁴ [1.5x10^14] protons to a liquid mercury target for neutron production by spallation reaction. With its strict 0.01% total beam loss condition, planned power upgrade, and proposed second target station, SNS ring beam-profile diagnostics capable of monitoring evolving beam conditions during high-power conditions are crucial for efficient operation and improvement. By subjecting ionized electrons created during beam interactions with the residual …

The Advancement Of Bacterial Cellulose As A Bone And Vascular Scaffolds, Ryan Lee Hammonds

Doctoral Dissertations

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural hydrogel made of nanofibers. This material has been used in commercial products, including wound dressings. BC can be modified and optimized for improved performance in multiple applications. This work will focus on producing and characterizing resorbable cellulose, a composite for bone applications, and a composite for a synthetic venous valve leaflet.

BC can be produced and modified to perform as a degradable tissue scaffold. This is achieved by an oxidation procedure after the initial production and purification of native BC. A material characterization of oxidized BC was performed to identify the changes in properties …

Understanding The Student Perspective Of Teacher-Student Engagement In First-Year Studies Courses, Anton R. Reece

Doctoral Dissertations

Higher education institutions continue to seek high impact retention methods to address student attrition, particularly during the first year of college. First-year studies courses represent a major institutional intervention and retention resource designed to help higher education institutions meet the unique academic and social needs of students transitioning from high school to college. Teacher-student engagement is considered to be an essential part of student retention efforts. However, most of the research on teacher-student engagement has focused on pedagogical strategies and the teachers’ perspectives of engagement. What is lacking in the literature are studies of students’ perspectives of classroom engagement. This …

Tracking Real-Time Nanoparticle Positions And Measuring Three-Dimensional Solution Flow With A Four-Focus Confocal Microscope, James Andrew Germann

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents the development of instrumentation for measuring the position of a single emitter within the sample volume of a confocal fluorescence microscope with sub-diffraction limited precision in three dimensions together with applications for determining solution flow and for tracking a fluorescent nanoparticle as it undergoes Brownian diffusion. The localization method is based on comparing photon counts from alternating excitation of the emitter by four laser beams, which are focused at slightly offset positions in a tetrahedral pattern within the confocal volume. Two experimental set-ups are constructed. In the first, the four beams are from a femtosecond laser, which …

A Viscous Flow Analog To Prandtl’S Optimized Lifting Line Theory Utilizing Rotating Biquadratic Bodies Of Revolution, Mark Nathaniel Callender

Doctoral Dissertations

Prandtl’s lifting line theory expanded the Kutta-Joukowski theorem to calculate the lift and induced drag of finite wings. The circulation distribution about a real wing was represented by a superposition of infinitesimal vortex filaments. From this theory, the optimum distribution of circulation was determined to be elliptical. A consequence of this theory led to the prediction that the elliptical chord distribution on a real fixed wing would provide the elliptical circulation distribution. The author applied the same line of reasoning to lift-producing rotating cylinders in order to determine the cylindrical geometry that would theoretically produce an elliptical circulation distribution. The …

Ecological And Evolutionary Consequences Of Variation In Aristolochic Acids, A Chemical Resource, For Sequestering Specialist Troidini Butterflies, Romina Daniela Dimarco

Doctoral Dissertations

Plant-insect interactions provide an opportunity to examine fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes, including mechanisms of species cooccurrence and adaptations to herbivory and predation. An example is the interaction between butterflies in the Troidini tribe (Papilionidae), a group that sequesters chemical defenses from its host plants in the genus Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae).

In this dissertation, I examined the ecological and evolutionary consequences of variation in aristolochic acids, the chemical compounds sequestered by Troidini from it host plants, through a combination of observational, experimental and laboratory studies. I conducted studies at several sites throughout the Americas where different levels of knowledge about this …

Syntheses And Reactions Of Early Transition Metal Amidinate Compounds, Adam Christopher Lamb

Doctoral Dissertations

Homoleptic Groups 4 and 5 metal amide compounds have been used as precursors in CVD/ALD processes to make microelectronic metal oxide thin films. These compounds are often very air sensitive. Ancillary ligands such as amidinates have been used to reduce their air sensitivity and to make their handling easier. Reactions of amidinates with dioxygen and water have thus been used to make metal oxide thin films. Studies of these reactions are important in order to make better precursors and purer thin films. This dissertation focuses on the following areas: (a) Syntheses of zirconium and Group 5 amidinate amides; (b) Studies …

Supportive Leadership, Employee Engagement And Occupational Safety: A Field Study, Lauren Elizabeth Baxter

Doctoral Dissertations

This archival field study examined the relationships of supportive leadership, employee engagement, and safety outcomes in order to address the current knowledge gap regarding these concepts and also to test predictions of and extend the Job Demands-Job Resources Model. Participants were 3,312 employees from multiple departments located at 11 different locations of a large southeastern utility company. Data were collected on supportive leadership, employee engagement, and safety climate using archival data from self-report questionnaires. Recordable injuries and first-aid instances were collected through the organization’s archival safety records. Three consecutive years of data were included in the study. As expected, supportive …

High Energy Synchrotron X-Ray Study Of Fatigue Damage In Amorphous And Polycrystalline Engineering Alloys, Chih-Pin Chuang

Doctoral Dissertations

The dissertation summarizes a series of studies on the fatigue damage of both amorphous and crystalline engineering alloys. The attention focuses on the utilization of synchrotron x-ray scattering related techniques for advanced material characterizations. In the first part of the research, critical issues regarding the mechanical response and structural evolution of Bulk-Metallic Glasses (BMGs) in the elastic region are addressed. The effects of cyclic-loading on the microstructures of an amorphous alloy are investigated, aiming to provide better mechanistic understandings of fatigue damage in BMGs. The second part of the research focuses on the characterization method based on two-dimensional X-ray diffraction …