Digital Commons Network^™

Stability And Control In Complex Networks Of Dynamical Systems, Saeed Manaffam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stability analysis of networked dynamical systems has been of interest in many disciplines such as biology and physics and chemistry with applications such as LASER cooling and plasma stability. These large networks are often modeled to have a completely random (Erdös-Rényi) or semi-random (Small-World) topologies. The former model is often used due to mathematical tractability while the latter has been shown to be a better model for most real life networks. The recent emergence of cyber physical systems, and in particular the smart grid, has given rise to a number of engineering questions regarding the control and optimization of such …

Worldwide Infrastructure For Neuroevolution: A Modular Library To Turn Any Evolutionary Domain Into An Online Interactive Platform, Paul Szerlip

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Across many scientific disciplines, there has emerged an open opportunity to utilize the scale and reach of the Internet to collect scientific contributions from scientists and non-scientists alike. This process, called citizen science, has already shown great promise in the fields of biology and astronomy. Within the fields of artificial life (ALife) and evolutionary computation (EC) experiments in collaborative interactive evolution (CIE) have demonstrated the ability to collect thousands of experimental contributions from hundreds of users across the glob. However, such collaborative evolutionary systems can take nearly a year to build with a small team of researchers. This dissertation introduces …

Enhanced Microwave Hyperthermia Using Nanoparticles, Maryory Urdaneta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation a study of enhanced hyperthermia for cancer treatment through the use of magnetic nanoparticles is presented. Hyperthermia has been in use for many years, as a potential alternative method in cancer treatment, and high frequency microwave radiation has been used successfully to raise the tumor temperature to around 42°C in superficial tumors without causing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Magnetic fluid hyperthermia involves the use of magnetic nanoparticles injected into the tumor before exposure to microwave radiation. The magnetic energy in the nanoparticles is converted into heat allowing for a more rapid rise of temperature in the …

Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Water Footprint Of Residential Waste Collection And Management Systems, Mousa Maimoun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three troublesome issues concerning residential curbside collection (RCC) and municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems in the United States motivated this research. First, reliance upon inefficient collection and scheduling procedures negatively affect RCC efficiency, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and cost. Second, the neglected impact of MSW management practices on water resources. Third, the implications of alternative fuels on the environmental and financial performance of waste collection where fuel plays a significant rule. The goal of this study was to select the best RCC program, MSW management practice, and collection fuel. For this study, field data were collected for RCC programs …

A Generic Framework For Multi-Method Modeling And Simulation Of Complex Systems Using Discrete Event, System Dynamics And Agent Based Approaches., Konstantinos Mykoniatis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Decisions about Modeling and Simulation (M&S) of Complex Systems (CS) need to be evaluated prior to implementation. Discrete Event (DE), System Dynamics (SD), and Agent Based (AB) are three different M&S approaches widely applied to enhance decision-making of complex systems. However, single type M&S approaches can face serious challenges in representing the overall multidimensional nature of CS and may result in the design of oversimplified models excluding important factors. Conceptual frameworks are necessary to offer useful guidance for combining and/or integrating different M&S approaches. Although several hybrid M&S frameworks have been described and are currently deployed, there is limited guidance …

Research On High-Performance And Scalable Data Access In Parallel Big Data Computing, Jiangling Yin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To facilitate big data processing, many dedicated data-intensive storage systems such as Google File System(GFS), Hadoop Distributed File System(HDFS) and Quantcast File System(QFS) have been developed. Currently, the Hadoop Distributed File System(HDFS) [20] is the state-of-art and most popular open-source distributed file system for big data processing. It is widely deployed as the bedrock for many big data processing systems/frameworks, such as the script-based pig system, MPI-based parallel programs, graph processing systems and scala/java-based Spark frameworks. These systems/applications employ parallel processes/executors to speed up data processing within scale-out clusters. Job or task schedulers in parallel big data applications such as …

Pressurized Metal Bellows Shock Absorber For Space Applications., John Trautwein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Numerous spacecraft designs exist for exploring the surfaces of planetary bodies and each have their own advantages and disadvantages. All successful landings have been made by stationary landers or wheeled rovers that rely on one-time use mechanisms, such as crushable aluminum honeycomb shock absorbers or inflatable airbags, to reduce shock loading to the spacecraft during landing. The stationary lander is the simplest type of lander, but can only take data from one location. Wheeled rovers add complexity in exchange for mobility to explore different locations. Rovers are limited by the terrain they can traverse; rovers becoming stuck have ended missions. …

Mathematical Modeling Of Carbon Removal In The A-Stage Activated Sludge System, Thomas Nogaj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research developed a dynamic activated sludge model (ASM) to better describe the overall removal of organic substrate, quantified as chemical oxygen demand (COD), from A-stage high rate activated sludge (HRAS) systems. This dynamic computer model is based on a modified ASM1 (Henze et al., 2000) model. It was determined early in the project that influent soluble COD, which is normally represented by a single state variable in ASM1, had to be subdivided into two state variables (SBs and SBf, or slow and fast fractions) to simulate the performance of A-stage systems. Also, the addition of state variables differentiating colloidal …

Novel Delivery Systems For Iron Replenishment, Naresh Modepalli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Iron is an integral part of hemoglobin and essential for the production of red blood cells. Iron deficiency and the resulting anemia are major nutritional deficiency disorders. The majority of patient populations suffering from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are women of child bearing age and children of all ages. Iron deficiency is a complication of various other chronic conditions. Oral iron salts or colloidal parenteral iron formulations are treatment options for iron replenishment since several decades, but they are associated with severe side effects along with other patient noncompliance issues. Transdermal delivery of iron could be a potential alternative to …

An Examination Of Factors That Contribute To Binge Eating Among Bariatric Patients, Erin Neuman-Boone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Binge eating is the most common eating disorder among individuals presenting for bariatric surgery. The majority of patients with pre-surgical binge eating experience a short-term reduction in binge eating symptoms following surgery. However, binge eating symptoms can re-emerge. This quantitative study examined variables related to and predictive of binge eating within the bariatric patient population. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to determine whether daily hassles, uplifts, depression, pre-surgical binge eating, time since surgery, and weight regain were predictors of binge eating within the bariatric patient population. One hundred and twenty-six participants completed either an electronic or paper version …

Recursive Behavior Recording: Complex Motor Stereotypies And Anatomical Behavior Descriptions, Nathaniel Bobbitt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A novel anatomical behavioral descriptive taxonomy improves motion capture in complex motor stereotypies (CMS) by indexing precise time data without degradation in the complexity of whole body movement in CMS. The absence of etiological explanation of complex motor stereotypies warrants the aggregation of a core CMS dataset to compare regulation of repetitive behaviors in the time domain. A set of visual formalisms trap configurations of behavioral markers (lateralized movements) for behavioral phenotype discovery as paired transitions (from, to) and asymmetries within repetitive restrictive behaviors. This translational project integrates NIH MeSH (medical subject headings) taxonomy with direct biological interface (wearable sensors …

Perceptions Of Race And Privilege: An Examination Of Intercultural Competence And Service-Learning In The Mississippi Delta, Laura Antonow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods constructivist case study was to examine how college students process issues of race and privilege when participating in service-learning in a predominantly minority, underserved region, and if that experience impacts their intercultural competence. The participants were University of Mississippi students (N=20) conducting service in the Mississippi Delta. The qualitative research included pre-service focus groups and post-service in-depth interviews, and syllabi and class written reflections were analyzed. The quantitative research included pre- and post-tests using the Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS) that assessed participants’ awareness of and attitudes about racial inequities and privilege before and …

The Spectroscopic Characterization Of Newly Developed Emissive Materials And The Effects Of Environment On Their Photophysical Properties, Louis Edward Mcnamara

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of new materials capable of efficient charge transfer and energy storage has become increasingly important in many areas of modern chemical research. This is especially true for the development of emissive optoelectronic devices and in the field of solar to electric energy conversion. The characterization of the photophysical properties of new molecular systems for these applications has become critical in the design and development of these materials. Many molecular building blocks have been developed and understanding the properties of these molecules at a fundamental level is essential for their successful implementation and future engineering. This dissertation focuses on …

Evaluation Of Inhibitors Of Histone Deacetylases As Potential Neurotrophic Agents, Surabhi Shukla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs) have shown promising neuroprotective and neuroactive properties. A set of pan- and isoform-specific HDAC inhibitors were evaluated for neurotrophic activity on Neuroscreen-1 (NS-1) cells, a subclone of PC-12 (rat pheochromocytoma) cells.

The HDAC inhibitors were tested alone and in combination with nerve growth factor (NGF). An in vitro method has been standardized that measures neurite outgrowth along with cytotoxicity of test compounds in a single assay. The neurotrophin signaling pathways were interrogated with selective inhibitors of MEK1/2 (PD98059/U0126) PI3K (LY294002) and TrkA (GW441756) and phosphorylation of target kinases. Associated factors namely, acetylation of histones …

Oviposition Site Selection By Mosquitoes: Predator-Released Kairomones And Responses To Different Taxa, Lauren Larea Eveland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oviposition site selection is a critical reproductive behavior for egg-laying organisms that offer little to no parental care. Determining the mechanisms females use to assess sites is critical to understanding life history traits, community structure, and species interactions. Mosquitoes are excellent model organisms for studying oviposition site selection for numerous reasons: 1) a poor decision can lead to zero reproductive success, 2) females actively assess and choose among habitat patches when locating an oviposition site, 3) larvae remain in the habitat where they hatch until they metamorphose, and 4) they lay conspicuous egg rafts that allow direct assessment of oviposition. …

The Influence Of Facial Attractiveness And Babyfaceness On Actors' Memorability, April Marie Burns

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While researchers suggest that people displaying emotional expressions are memorable because of meanings associated with the expressions, the current study explored whether other facial characteristics, such as attractiveness and babyfaceness, how much an adult's face resembles a baby's, influence memorability as well. Introductory psychology students (150 female, 53 male) participated in an incidental memory task in which they attempted to recognize actors they had previously seen displaying emotional expressions who varied in both emotional attractiveness, how attractive actors appear due to changes in facial features associated with displaying emotional expressions, and emotional babyfaceness, how babyfaced actors appear due to changes …

Adaptive Movements And Thermoregulation In Big-Eared Bats, Cody Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are a variety of (non-exclusive) reasons to explain the presence of group-living, but clustering or huddling is especially important for small endotherms with high surface-area-to-volume ratios. Clustering is interesting because variations within clustering are seldom investigated despite anecdotal evidence that bat clustering varies widely. I studied a colony of Rafinesque's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) to learn more about clustering behavior using infrared video. I predicted that temperature would be the primary driver of how and when bats cluster while roosting. The actual relationship was not as predicted by an energetic model. High density clusters of bats were comacross a …

The Evaluation Of Chromium Propionate Supplementation On Insulin Responsiveness In Finishing Steers And Energy Status In Newly Weaned Steer Calves, Zachary K. F. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of supplemental dietary chromium (0 or 400 ppb) on insulin responsiveness in finishing steers (Exp 1. and Exp 2.), and energy status in newly weaned steers upon introduction to the feedlot (Exp 3.). To evaluate insulin responsiveness, two models were used with finished steers of different ages: Exp 1. 12 steers; 24 mo old (BW=783 ± 29 kg); and Exp 2. 24 steers; 14 mo old (BW=625 ± 24 kg). A jugular infusion of insulin (0.45 IU bovine insulin/ kg of BW0.75, INS) was pulse dosed 2 h post-prandial. A …

Transdermal Iontophoretic Delivery Of Lipophilic Drugs, Abhishek Juluri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Iontophoresis is one of the most widely studied active technique for enhancing transdermal delivery of drugs. However, its ability to enhance the delivery of highly lipophilic compounds is poor due to lack of any charge and poor water solubility of molecules. Propofol, a sedative and anesthetic drug was chosen as a one of the model lipophilic drug in this study. Initially, feasibility of delivery of propofol phosphate, a water soluble prodrug of propofol, via transdermal route using iontophoresis in combination with chemical permeation enhancers was investigated. Cathodal iontophoresis in combination with 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulphate synergistically enhanced the flux of …

Gold Nanomolecules : Developing Synthetic Protocols, Characterization And Investigation Of Ligand Effects On Structure And Properties, Praneeth Reddy Nimmala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The term "Nano" in chemistry refers to particles/molecules in the size range 1 to 100 nm. Gold nanoparticles were used in ancient times in making decorative glass as they produce vibrant, size dependent, colors upon interaction with light. Gold is a preferred choice of metal for the synthesis of nanoparticles mainly due to its inertness to atmospheric conditions and most chemicals. Gold thiolate nanomolecules, which is the primary focus of this dissertation research, are chemical molecules with a fixed number of gold atoms and organo-thiolate ligands. They are of the form Aux(SR)y and possess molecule-like properties as a result of …

Synthetic Study Of Karlotoxins And Investigation Of Alpha-Diaminoboryl Carbanion Chemistry, Yusuke Takahashi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Karlotoxins (KmTxs), produced by a toxic marine/estuarine phytoplankton, the dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum, are known to be ichthyotoxic, thus being associated with numerous fish deaths events worldwide. They have also been reported to show a variety of biological activities such as hemolytic, cytotoxic, and anti-fungal activities. Recently, the Hamann group successfully assigned the absolute configurations of KmTx2, the first complete structure elucidation among the congeners. In a structural sense, karlotoxins are a family of linear polyketides with three distinctive regions; a bis-tetrahydropyran core fragment, a long, highly oxygenated carbon chain, and a lipophilic chlorodiene unit. Such potent biological activities as well …

Lipid & Surfactant Based Systems For Improved Delivery Of Poorly Soluble Apis, Sri Satyasai Nagendra Babu Punyamurthula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A large number of pharmaceutical compounds belong to class II and IV of biopharmaceutical classification of drug (BCS). Class II compounds are limited by their poor aqueous solubility, while class IV compounds suffer from poor solubility and permeability. This translates to poor absorption and low plasma levels post oral administration. Lipids comprise of fatty acids and their derivatives and are considered a biocompatible option for drug delivery. In the studies discussed in following chapters, lipid based drug delivery systems (LBDDS) have been utilized in improving the handling, ease of formulation, solubility and bioavailability of three compounds. In the first study, …

Protein-Ligand Interaction Studies And Identification Of New Drug-Like Hits As Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators, Pankaj Pandey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) belong to the family of class A GPCRs. The CB1 receptor is predominately found in the central nervous system and regulates various neuromodulatory and physiological processes while CB2 receptors are found in peripheral tissues, particularly in the immune system tissues. This dissertation reports several projects including: (1) an examination of the putative binding modes of Cannabis-derived ligands with CB1 and CB2 receptors, (2) the identification of novel CB1 inverse agonists, and (3) the identification of allosteric site(s) in the CB2 receptor and screening of new CB2 allosteric modulators (AMs).

Chapter 1 describes background information …

Effects Of Benzo[A]Pyrene And Cyp19a1b Knockdown On Zebrafish Development, Khalid M. Alharthy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that is both an endocrine disruptor and a carcinogen. Aromatase (CYP19) is a key enzyme in steroidogenesis playing a key role in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad feedback loop. We hypothesized that BaP would negatively impact cyp19a1b expression in zebrafish, in turn, adversely affecting development and physiology. Here, we consider whether the toxicities observed following BaP exposure are comparable to those following a transient morpholino (MO)-mediated CYP19a1b knockdown or exposure to an aromatase inhibitor (fadrozole) during early development. One-cell zebrafish embryos were injected with a CYP19a1b-MO or control-MO. Other non-injected embryos were exposed to nominal waterborne …

Applying Problem-Of-Practice Methods From The Discipline Of Higher Education Within The Justice System: Turning The Concept Of Therapy Dogs For Child Victims Into A Statewide Initiative., Jessie Holton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation-in-Practice introduces a law enforcement concept-to-practice model designed by combining tested methods of organizational analysis often utilized by those in the discipline of education. The model incorporates a two phase design with the first phase focusing on implementing and evaluating innovative changes within a medium size law enforcement agency for a micro-level analysis. A second phase examines the ability to replicate the concept program on a statewide, macro-level, by incorporating a re-design method utilizing organizational resource and structure frames. The concept applied to this model was the introduction of a therapy dog interaction during investigations involving crimes against children …

Design, Synthesis, And Biological Evaluation Of Sigma Receptors (Σrs) Ligands As Potential Pharmacotherapy For Cancer And Drug Addiction, Walid Alsharif

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sigma receptors are a well-defined unique class of receptors and are highly expressed in the central nervous system and also widely distributed in peripheral organs and tissues. There are two subtypes of sigma receptors: sigma-1 and sigma-2. These receptors are thought to be associated with functions and disorders such as inflammation, depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and drug abuse. The sigma-1 receptor has been demonstrated to be involved in acute and chronic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine toxicities. However, the role of sigma-2 receptors is less clear due to the lack of availability of detailed protein structural information and truly …

Autoregulation Of The Glial Gene Reversed Polarity In Drosophila Melanogaster, Jamie L. Wood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During development, cells of the nervous system begin as unspecified precursors and proceed along one of two developmental paths to become either neurons or glia. I seek to understand more about the genes that control this process, focusing on the lesser understood of the cell types, glial cells. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system, previous work from my lab and others has established the role of the master regulatory transcription factor Gcm in directing neuronal precursor cells to assume a lateral glial fate. Gcm acts on many target genes, one of which is reversed polarity (repo). repo is necessary …

Mercury Methylation Potentials In Sediments An Ancient Cypress Wetland Using Species-Specific Isotope Dilution-Gc-Icp-Ms: Analytical Method Development And The Effect Of Sorbent Amendments, Derek Davin Bussan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A novel method was developed to measure mercury (Hg) directly in environmental solids using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with online sample ashing. The method combines a direct mercury analyzer (DMA) that is based on sample combustion, Hg pre-concentration by amalgamation with gold, and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), with a high resolution ICP-MS. Unlike AAS, the ICP-MS is capable of individual isotope measurements allowing for accurate quantitation by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) and for isotope tracer experiments. The method was validated using certified reference materials including sediment (NIST 2709), leaves (NIST 1547), and fish-muscle (DORM-3), with recoveries within …

Birdie See, Birdie Do: Zebra Finch Observational Learning In Three Cognitive Domains With Discussion Of Cerebellar Involvement, Amy Hribar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Observational learning is a cognitive ability that allows individuals to acquire information or skills through watching others. Examples of observational learning can be seen in all major vertebrate groups and some invertebrates. Observational learning may confer a selective advantage to animals due to improvements in decision-making and increased behavioral flexibility. While studies of animals’ observational learning capabilities and the types of information acquired have been examined in many species, multiple types of observational learning have rarely been examined in non-rodent species in controlled laboratory experiments. Additionally, only recently have the neural mechanisms that support observational learning been examined. I sought …

Modeling And Analysis Of A Three-Species Food Web With Facilitated And Intraguild Predation, Joshua Castro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biotic interactions are known to shape natural community assemblages and biodiversity. Positive interactions such as facilitation have recently received attention in ecological food webs. Mechanistic models have improved our understanding of these complex food web interactions. Here, focus is given to a three-species food web system with a beach dune natural community in mind. In the last decade, there has been a series of studies investigating intraguild predation between two major loggerhead sea turtle nest predators, North American raccoons and Atlantic ghost crabs. Studies have also highlighted that ghost crab predation assists raccoons in finding nests (i.e., facilitated predation). However, …