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Computational Characterization Of Extracellular Electro-Osmotic Flow During Tissue Repair, Ashley Jorgensen-Blocker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electrical stimulation (ES) therapy promotes the healing of chronic epidermal wounds and suppresses the degeneration of articular cartilage. Despite the success of ES therapy, the underlying mechanisms by which ES promotes tissue repair are largely unknown, preventing the standardization and optimization of treatments. One proposed mechanism involves electro-osmotic flow (EOF), electrically driven water flow generated within close proximity to the cell surface. EOF induces the transport of macromolecules and removes metabolic wastes and inflammatory molecules from these dense tissues through interstitial flow. This dissertation investigates the application of weak electric fields (EFs) to non-excitable cells and the generation of EOF …

Improving Stream Connectivity In South Dakota, Colton Rainier Curtis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stream connectivity is crucial for fish movement and genetic diversity in fragmented landscapes. Road-crossings often act as barriers, disrupting hydrology and isolating fish populations. The Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) has developed rapid road-crossing assessment protocols and tools to prioritize restoration projects. However, managers lack tools for planning, directing, and initiating roadcrossing assessments. Managers also require modeling approaches to effectively identify and monitor road-crossings across dynamic stream networks. Presented here is a case study offering a roadmap for effective implementation of collaborative road-crossing assessments and prioritization of remediation projects, alongside an exploration of predictive modeling approaches to identify problematic crossings …

2,3,4 Trihydroxybenzoic Acid, A Plant Secondary Metabolite Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth, Mina Akter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nature offers many sources such as fruits, beverage crops, vegetables, herbs, spices, tea, dark chocolate, and wine, that are rich in hydroxybenzoic acids (HBAs). They are a prominent phenolic acids with excellent biochemical and antioxidant properties. Due to the vast dietary health benefits of HBAs such as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, immunoregulatory, antimicrobial, antithrombotic, antidiabetic, anticancer properties and cardioprotective capabilities, they are attracting the attention of physicians and researchers alike to understand their mechanisms of action. It is anticipated that the understanding of the role of HBAs for their greater use in diet/supplements is beneficial to reverse common illnesses such as inflammation, …

An Integrated Hybrid P2p-Dr Networks For A Transactive Energy Market Platform Considering Electricity Network Constraints, Sheroze Liaquat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Field Scale Evaluation Of A Flow-Through Filtration System With Mixed Media To Remove E. Coli From Stormwater, Ankur Debnath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main goal of this research was to establish a field-scale stormwater filtration system which is flow-through and cost-effective in terms of construction and maintenance. The filter is constructed in a downstream drainage of a retention pond where the stormwater goes through the porous space of media so that it maintains low retention time with minimum disturbance in flow. The filter consists of two 20ft long sections with concrete channel and ripraps on the inlet & outlet side. 30% Steel chips and 70% steel slags in the size range of 6.00-12.5 mm have been used as media which has been …

Development And Characterization Of Transparent Soil Using Biodegradable Polysaccharides, Said Badshah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Computational And Experimental Modeling Of Particle Transport Inside Respiratory Pathways And Indoor Environments, Abir Malakar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis aims to explore efficient drug delivery to clinical target sites along the human upper airway that strongly depends on variables associated with the delivery device and the drug formulation, e.g., the device plume angle, particle sizes of drug solution, drug delivery speed of the device, viscosity of the drug solution, delivery axis orientation, and the formulation density. In our investigation, we prioritize the nasopharynx, the primary site of initial viral infection, as the ideal target zone for drug delivery. We have used Large Eddy Simulation and Lagrangian techniques to replicate breathing at 15 L/min and quantify regional drug …

Longevity In Afrikaner Cattle: A Survival Analysis, Allison M. Bot Steffl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Afrikaner breed of cattle is indigenous to South Africa and due to their hardiness was once the most popular breed amongst farmers. The objectives for this study were to: (1) estimate environmental effects (age at first calving, season) and (2) genetic variance affecting longevity in Afrikaner cattle using survival analysis and a Weibull model and (3) evaluate the effect of the Infusion Project on longevity utilizing a Cox model. For the first objective, age at first calving impacted longevity as younger age at first calving was associated with decreased longevity. Season of birth and year of birth also impacted …

Assessing The Performance And Cost Effectiveness Of Rainwater Harvesting For High Tunnel Production Across Climates In The Continental United States, Mustafa Aydogdu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Several factors such as global climate change, population growth, urban and agricultural expansion, rising water demand, unequal water distribution, hydro-political conditions, declining water quality, rainwater scarcity, and temperature-induced drought contribute to water resource degradation. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) emerges as a sustainable solution, involving the collection and storage of rainwater for agriculture, livestock, and domestic use. RWH reduces reliance on municipal water, mitigates climate change impacts, and decreases runoff. Conventional RWH systems in the US vary in effectiveness. Increasing storage and water use enhances RWH effectiveness, improving stormwater runoff and reducing potable water use. High tunnel production of vegetable crops has …

Lidar Remote Sensing And The Monitoring Of Brazilian Amazon Forest Structure: Tackling Issues And Finding New Possibilities, Pedro Valle De Carvalho E Oliveira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Amazon is the largest tropical forest in the world and around 60% of it is in Brazil. The amount of carbon stored in the region uncertain, the impacts of land use and climate changes are unknown, and what drives the dynamic of the forest structure is still under a heated debate. Optical remote sensing has been used for a long time to assist the monitoring of the Brazilian Amazon. However, optical remote sensing only allows a comprehensive study from the top of the forest canopy. In contrast, lidar remote sensing of forests can produce robust information regarding the canopy …

Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation Of Battery Thermal Management System At The Pack Level In Electric Vehicles, Yifan Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electric vehicles (EVs) rely heavily on lithium batteries due to their high energy density, despite their tendency to generate excess heat during operation. Managing this heat is crucial for safety and performance. Battery Thermal Management Systems (BTMS) are essential for maintaining optimal battery temperature and mitigating risks like short circuits. This article examines various cooling methods for BTMS, including air and liquid cooling, and discusses the selection of cooling media and layout configurations within battery packs (BPs). It also highlights the importance of combining multiple cooling methods for efficient heat dissipation. Emerging technologies like Phase Change Materials (PCMs) show promise …

Campus Leaders’ Support Of Culturally Responsive Classroom Management Strategies: Single Exploratory Case Study, Charmon L. Barksdale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This study addressed the growing concern regarding the disproportionate suspension rates experienced by African American students. The problem addressed in this study was the variation in leadership support for teachers implementing culturally responsive classroom management strategies to manage culturally diverse student behaviors. This is important to African American students' educational experiences within the learning environment. This exploratory single case study examined school leaders' and teachers' perspectives on the use of culturally responsive strategies to answer the research questions regarding the definition and descriptions of culturally responsive practices, participants' perspectives on the benefits and challenges of these practices, and the …

Using A Three-Dimensional Theoretical Orientation Matching Model To Predict Therapeutic Outcomes, Daniel Rhodes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Matching helpers and clients in a therapeutic setting is inefficient and ineffective. So far, there are no significant and enduring variables that reliably match helpers and clients that lead to positive therapeutic outcomes. This study attempts to match helper and client using theoretical orientation. It uses a quantitative methodology to predict therapeutic outcomes given match quality in the therapeutic dyad. Participants were 30 dyadic pairs—consisting of one helper and one client—who had a pre-existing therapeutic relationship. Each was given an assessment tool, used to measure their theoretical orientation to psychotherapy. Results showed no statistically significant relationships between theoretical orientation match …

Air-Jet Bioprinting Of Stem Cell-Encapsulated Alginate Micro-Droplets For Organoid Biomanufacturing, Mirabella B. Stump

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biomanufactured 3D-organoids show promise for modeling and treating various conditions, particularly insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type-1 diabetes). Pancreatic islet organoids serve as sustainable sources of insulin-producing β-cells, potentially restoring insulin regulation in patients and providing a long-term solution for diabetes. Hydrogel droplet printing is an emerging technique in regenerative medicine due to its advantageous tunability and biocompatibility; however, challenges of consistency, quality control, and scalability persist. To address these issues, we developed a novel air-jetting based droplet bioprinting system for the generation of monodispersed alginate micro-droplets. The objective of this project was to incorporate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into …

Comparative Functional And Genomic Analysis Of Protein Targets Of Sexual Selection In Primates, Brianna Ports

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual selection is driven by the differential reproductive success of individuals, which is influenced by competition for mates and mate choice. In primates, this selective pressure has been attributed to the development of distinct anatomical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics. By employing comparative functional and genomic methodologies, this study aimed to assess the repercussions of primate sexual selection. To better understand the mechanisms driving sexually selected traits, an unbiased genome-wide analysis was used to associate rates of protein evolution with relative testes size and sexual size dimorphism. While previous research focused on the rapid evolution of male reproductive proteins in response …

Inclusive Education For All: Identifying Teacher Beliefs About Working With Students With Disabilities, Chelsea Sharek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the beliefs K-12 teachers have when working with students with disabilities in a rural Pennsylvania school district. This study aimed to identify if teachers’ personal beliefs created biases about their students and school systems; thus, forming barriers and preventing an inclusive education when working with disabled students. Instrumentation for this quantitative study is the Multidimensional Attitudes Towards Inclusive Education Scale (MATIES) survey. Findings suggest that some teachers at Sunnyside School District (pseudonym) hold personal beliefs that could create biases about their students and school system that may form barriers when working with …

Interactive Effects Of Sublethal Concentrations Of Fracking Biocides And Abandoned Mine Drainage On Amphipod Behavior, Kelly Lenhart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the sublethal effects of three pollutants, namely glutaraldehyde, 4,4-dimethyloxazolidine (DMO), and abandoned mine drainage (AMD), on amphipods. The primary objective was to investigate their combined effects on amphipods. The three pollutants, despite having the potential to combine in the environment, have not been studied to determine their potential for detrimental interactive effects which could result in unexpected environmental damage.

The research employed a series of experimental setups involving controlled exposure of amphipods to varying, putatively sublethal, concentrations of the chemicals of interest. Subsequently, effects were assessed via both behavioral and feeding assessments. To facilitate this analysis, novel …

Large - Scale Manufacturing Of Fluorescent Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions For Oxygen Delivery, Anneliese Troidle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over 100,000 Americans are currently waiting for a life – saving organ transplant, yet 17 patients die daily waiting for a transplant they will never receive [1]. Preservation of organs is an area that has seen innovation throughout the years and can improve rates of transplantation, yet vascularized composite allotransplantation preservation has not followed suit [2]. Current standard of care is use of electrolyte solutions such as Histidine – Tryptophan – Ketoglutarate (HTK) or University of Wisconsin (UW) Solution, yet these perfusates lack an oxygen carrying component [3]. Hemoglobin – based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) …

The Normative Requirement For Shared Decision Making (Sdm) In Healthcare Ethics, Margaret Nornor-Quadjie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Medicine and medical technology started to advance after World War II. During that period, the practice of medicine became technical. A lot began to happen in the biomedical world during the period after WWII that attracted comments, criticisms, and analyses from scholars. Perhaps, the 1947 Doctors’ Trial at the Nuremberg Tribunal and the Nuremberg Code may be said to be the defining moment for bioethics. These events eventually led to, in the United States, the passage of the National Research Act of 1974 that established the Institutional Review Board system and the National Commission for Protection of Human Subjects of …

Population Trends And Trophic Ecology Of The Invasive Peacock Eel (Macrognathus Siamensis) In The Florida Everglades, Grace Kahmann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species threaten the ecological integrity of ecosystems worldwide, including the Florida Coastal Everglades. This study investigated the ecological role of the peacock eel (Macrognathus siamensis) within this ecosystem, emphasizing its population trends and the environmental factors that affect its population performance, and the potential for interactions with native fish assemblages and coastal food webs. I used 19 years of electrofishing data to investigate the population trends of peacock eels at the marsh-mangrove ecotone of the Shark River Estuary, Everglades National Park (Florida, USA). I found that peacock eel populations have increased since their first detection in 2002, and their …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of Inclusive Preschool Education Through The Lens Of Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Educators., Brooke Noon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Young children with special needs have been educated in early childhood settings with typically developing peers for over 40 years. Successful educational inclusion in the least restrictive environment requires appropriate aids and supports (Individuals with Disabilities Act, 2004). Although researchers have studied many aspects of special education, little investigation has been conducted on the perspectives of dual certified interdisciplinary early childhood educator’s (IECE) perceptions on full inclusion in preschool. This study was designed to examine the connection between the perceptions of IECE teacher’s experiences as a dual certified educator in preschool. In total, 10 IECE teachers were interviewed and completed …

Synergistic Strategies In Sinter-Based Material Extrusion (Mex) 3d Printing Of Copper: Process Development, Product Design, Predictive Maps And Models., Kameswara Pavan Kumar Ajjarapu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

3D printing pure copper with high electrical conductivity and exceptional density has long been challenging. While laser-based additive manufacturing technologies suffered due to copper's highly reflective nature towards laser beams, parts printed via binder-assisted technologies failed to reach over 90% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard), electrical conductivity. Although promising techniques such as binder jetting, filament, and pellet-based 3D printing that can print copper exist, they however still face difficulties in achieving both high sintered densities and electrical conductivity values. This is due to a lack of comprehensive understanding of property evolution from green to sintered states and the strategies that …

Investigating Mems Devices In Flow Conditions Relevant To Flow-Through Systems., Mohammad Shafquatul Islam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Advancements in microscale actuating technologies has substantially expanded the possibilities of interacting with the surrounding environment. Microstructures that deflect in response to mechanical forces are one of the largest application areas of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). MEMS devices, functioning as sensors, actuators, and support structures, find applications in inertial sensors, pressure sensors, chemical sensors, and robotics, among others. Driven by the critical role of catalytic membrane reactors, this dissertation aims to evaluate enzyme activity on polymeric membranes and explore how fabrication methods from the field of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) can incorporate sensing and actuation into these porous surfaces. Toward …

Agency In Learning And E-Learning Through The Lens Of Disability And Inclusivity., Marta Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Through the analysis of ethnographic, qualitative data collected from students and their stakeholders at the University of Louisville, this thesis examines the experiences of students with disabilities in spaces of higher education, particularly virtual learning spaces. This research has illuminated systemic gaps in disability resources and accessibility within the landscape of higher education, restricting the agency of students with disabilities and their stakeholders.

Adaptive Personalized Drug Delivery Method For Warfarin And Anemia Management: Modeling And Control., Affan Affan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Personalized precision medicine aims to develop the appropriate treatments for suitable patients at the right time to obtain optimal results. Personalized medicine is challenging due to inter- and intra-patient variability, narrow therapeutic window, the effect of other medications, comorbidity (more than one disease at a time), nonlinear patient dynamics, and time-varying patient dose response characteristics which include bleeding (internal and external). This research aims to develop a framework for an adaptive personalized modeling and control method with minimum clinical patient specific dose response data for optimal drug dosing. The proposed methodology is applied to anemia and warfarin management. It is …

Environmental Exposures And Male Reproductive Outcomes., Damilola Rukayat Owoade

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Male sexual dysfunction comprises various conditions, including erectile dysfunction (ED) and ejaculatory dysfunction. Testosterone deficiency (TD), which has been linked to some of these sexual dysfunctions, is characterized by low production of testosterone by the testes. These male reproductive outcomes may develop due to exposure to various risk factors, including environmental exposures. These environmental exposures may include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and tear gas. This dissertation aims to examine the effects of tear gas exposure and VOCs on male reproductive outcomes. The association between tear gas exposure and male reproductive outcomes was assessed using data obtained from an online anonymous …

Communicating In Crisis: Rhetorical (De)Stabilization During The Covid-19 Pandemic., Brittany Nicole Smart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project explores the role of rhetoric in crisis—how rhetoric can contribute to both the stabilization and destabilization of a worldwide health emergency. Specifically, I utilize the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study to investigate how institutional rhetorics exacerbated the ongoing burnout epidemic amongst healthcare workers. Through a feminist, materialist take on institutional ethnography (Fullagar & Pavlidis, 2021; Griffith & Smith, 2014), I show how, while institutions like the CDC were under pressure to contain the spread of the virus, in the chaos of communicating safety regulations to healthcare professionals, they inadvertently subverted clinician autonomy and expertise by “coordinating” (LaFrance, …

Quantification Of Tumor Biophysical Heterogeneity Through Mechanical And Ultrastructural Analysis., Bradley James Mahaffey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly invasive, aggressive brain cancer that carries a median survival of 15 months. This poor prognosis is due, in part, to its resistance to standard therapeutic intervention. Recent studies have demonstrated that tumor heterogeneity plays a critical role in facilitation therapy resistance by mediating tumor adaptation through microenvironmental cues. Efforts to describe these microenvironmental differences may aid in the development of strategies to combat resistance. GBM can be separated into two distinct regions – a core and a rim, which are thought to drive specific aspects of tumor evolution. The core is proliferative as evidenced by …

Critical Regionality & Alternative Pedagogies In Eastern Kentucky., Zachary Shelton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the history of several Appalachian educational institutions, their approaches, and how that may influence contemporary Eastern Kentucky students (the Appalachian region in Kentucky). Eastern Kentucky today suffers from high rates of poverty and low rates of educational attainment, with a postsecondary attainment rate less than half of the nation’s average. This study proposes looking at Eastern Kentucky’s educational history and proposing ways to alter the current standardized pedagogies in secondary schools to cultivate higher rates of academic interest and motivation. I approach Eastern Kentucky’s complex history with the institution of education and its contemporary implications through a …

Design, Fabrication, And Integration Of Robotic Skin Sensors For Human Robot Interaction., Olalekan Olakitan Olowo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Enhancing physical human-robot interaction in modern robotics relies on refining the tactile perception of robot skin sensors. This research focuses on crucial aspects of the development process, including fabrication techniques, miniaturization, and integration for a more efficient collaborative human-robot interface. The fabrication process of robot skin sensors, designed to mimic human skin, is explored both within and outside cleanroom environments. An enhanced technique is presented to increase fabrication yield and create more miniaturized sensor designs with feature sizes in the tens of microns. These sensors function as piezoresistive arrays using organic polymers like PEDOT: PSS as the pressure-sensing medium. Various …