Digital Commons Network^™

Phantom Ocean, Real Impact: Natural Surf Sound Experiments Alter Foraging Activity And Habitat Use Across Taxa, Ryan N. Wardle

Master's Theses

A growing body of research focuses on how background sounds shape and alter critical elements of animals’ lives, such as foraging behavior, habitat use, and ecological interactions (Bradbury & Vehrencamp, 2011; Barber et al., 2010; Kight & Swaddle, 2011; Shannon et al., 2016). Much of this research has centered on the effects of anthropogenic noise (Dominoni et al., 2020; Francis & Barber, 2013; Ortega, 2012; Swaddle et al., 2015), but recent studies have also revealed that natural sound sources can influence animal behavior (Davidson et al., 2017; Le et al., 2019). Natural sounds, such as crashing surf, can create conditions …

A Protocol For Achieving Adherent Cell Culture Within A Microfluidic Device, Tarra Danielle Sanders

Master's Theses

The goal of this study is to design a protocol for the adherent cell culture within a novel microfluidic device. Microscale cell culture protocols were developed for loading cells using poly-L-lysine to enhance adherent cell culture of murine derived NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. This work sought to develop a method for adherent microculture by examining various sterilization, surface treatment, and seeding techniques. Using a vacuum suction loading technique, air plasma treatment and a poly-L-lysine surface treatment adherent cell culture was observed within the device. The work presented here is part of a collaborative effort that aims to develop protocols for the …

Understanding The Effects Of Long-Duration Spaceflight On Fracture Risk In The Human Femur Using Finite Element Analysis, Keyanna Brielle Henderson

Master's Theses

Long-duration spaceflight has been shown to have significant, lasting effects on the bone strength of astronauts and to contribute to age-related complications later in life. The microgravity environment of space causes a decrease in daily mechanical loading, which signals a state of disuse to bone cells. This affects the bone remodeling process, which is responsible for maintaining bone mass, causing an increase in damage and a decrease in density. This leads to bone fragility and decreases overall strength, posing a risk for fracture. However, there is little information pertaining to the timeline of bone loss and subsequent fracture risk.

This …

Impact Of Soil Properties On Removal Of Emerging Contaminants From Wastewater Effluent During Soil Aquifer Treatment, Lauren N. Riley

Master's Theses

This study evaluates soil properties that impact the effectiveness of soil aquifer treatment (SAT) as a polishing step to the remove two classes of ECs from wastewater effluent: pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and engineering nanomaterials (ENMs). In recent years, it has been determined that elevated levels of emerging contaminants (ECs) are being released into the environment with wastewater effluent. ECs are proven to cause adverse environmental and health effects as a result of long-term exposure. It is important to evaluate sustainable solutions to improve the current methods of wastewater treatment to address these ECs.

Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) …

A Comparison Of Two Protein Supplements On The Healing Of Stage Iii And Iv Pressure Injuries In Enterally Fed, Ventilator Dependent Long – Term Care Residents, Kalli Talaska

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in stage III or IV pressure injury size of enterally fed, ventilator dependent, long-term care residents after receiving one of two protein supplements in addition to enteral feeding meeting 100% of calculated needs. The two protein supplements were Beneprotein™ (powder) and Pro T Gold™ (liquid). The injuries were evaluated for change in size at two weeks and four weeks post initiation of protein supplement. Sixty subjects were reviewed – 30 for each supplement. Subjects included 20 males (33%) and 40 females (67%). The analysis indicated for the total sample, a …

Effects Of Marathon Training On Male And Female Femoral Stress Fracture Risk, Clara Lin

Master's Theses

Marathon runners are prone to femoral stress fractures due to the high magnitudes and frequencies of lower extremity loads during training. Female runners tend to have a greater incidence of stress fracture compared to male runners. Sex-specific differences in body structure, joint pressure, and muscle activation patterns that influence bone remodeling may cause this observed difference in stress fracture occurrence. The goal of this thesis was to develop a finite element model of the femur during marathon training, then determine if marathon training affected bone properties of male and female runners differently. To achieve this goal, a finite element femur …

Inducing The Overview Effect Using Virtual Reality, Nhat Quang Le

Master's Theses

Astronauts who return from space missions have reported and demonstrated a significant increase in their feelings of connection to humanity and the planet. This shift towards a more humanistic, global perspective in astronauts was termed the “overview effect” by White (2014). There is a lack of research on the overview effect despite the significant, positive changes in those who have experienced it. This study aims to provide empirical evidence of and a possible induction method for the overview effect. We hypothesized that it might be possible to induce the overview effect using virtual reality (VR). In the current study, 81 …

Effects Of Urbanization And Habitat On The Diet And Reproduction Of Red-Shouldered Hawks In Central California, Catherine Y. Fisher

Master's Theses

Urbanization alters biological community interactions and trophic structures compared to natural habitats; these changes may be reflected in the diets of apex predators such as raptors. The red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) is a dietary generalist that is expanding from natural and rural habitats into urbanized areas. In this study, direct observation was used to quantify the diet and reproductive success of red-shouldered hawks in Santa Clara County, California during the 2019 breeding season. GIS methods were used to quantify the nesting habitat and level of urbanization at each nest. Hawk diet consisted of mammals (50.4% by frequency and 77.7% by …

Lc-Ms/Ms Method Development For The Quantitation Of Methylmalonic Acid Using Aqueous Normal Phase Chromatography, Daniel Joseph Biocini

Master's Theses

The aim of the study was to develop a quantitative assay for methylmalonic acid (MMA), an important biomarker for clinical diagnosis of vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency. The techniques of liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) are used for separation and quantitation of MMA, as well as its endogenous isomer succinic acid. The MS/MS method was developed using an infusion set-up and manual tuning experiments. Relevant transitions were detected for the two analytes and MMA-d3, then a preliminary MS/MS method was developed. The preliminary LC method was further optimized. Various gradients, mobile phases (MPs), and additive combinations were used across …

Investigation Of Dna Interstrand Crosslink Repair Using Bis-Epoxide Analogs, Sanjay Rakesh Kalliat

Master's Theses

DNA interstrand crosslinking is a form of lesion that affects biological processes such as DNA replication and transcription. Due to this phenomenon, interstrand crosslink (ICL) agents such as cisplatin and other platinum-based compounds find application in chemotherapy. However, ICL repair is not well understood in mammalian cells and has only been characterized thoroughly for prokaryotes such as Escherichia coli. We worked to explore the utility of bis-epoxides in the investigation of ICL repair. This involves synthesizing novel bis-epoxides that could potentially induce ICLs and test their efficacy in ICL formation using a DNA repair assay. It is known that bis-epoxides …

Optimal Parameter Values For Accurate And Repeatable Nanoindentation Of Human Trabecular Bone, Stephen Matthew Kmak

Master's Theses

Nanoindentation techniques have not been standardized for use on bone tissues, making comparison of bone material properties obtained via nanoindentation across studies difficult and unreliable. This study determined a set of optimal parameter values for thermal drift correction time, dwell time, and loading rate that can be used to obtain accurate and repeatable material properties from human femoral trabecular bone through experimentation and statistical analysis. All testing was conducted using a single nanoindenter on a single trabeculae, with the assumption that material properties within the individual trabeculae were internally consistent. Parameters not of interest during this study, such as ambient …

Dairy Manure Flushwater Treatment By Algae Raceway Ponds And Aerated Biofilm Reactors, Darin Son

Master's Theses

Nitrogen removal technologies can help dairy industries meet their nutrient management needs. This thesis investigated two separate treatment technologies for total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) removal: algae raceway ponds and aerated biofilm reactors. Six 1000- liter algae raceway ponds and four 1000-liter tote tanks, each equipped with 10 sheets of nonwoven geotextile (i.e., thermally bonded or needle-punched) biofilm substrate, were used to treat the effluent from a flush dairy in central coastal California (TAN = 251 mg/L, cBOD5 = 204 mg/L). For the algae raceway ponds (TAN loading rate = 7 - 35 g/m³-day among 7-, 10- and 14-day hydraulic residence …

Transgenerational Plasticity Causes Differences In Uv-Tolerance Of Intertidal And Subtidal Populations Of The Purple Sea Urchin, Strongylocentrotus Purpuratus, Yareli Alvarez, Nikki L. Adams

Master's Theses

Planktonic larvae of marine organisms are increasingly being exposed and required to respond to a changing physical environment. Adult sea urchins occupy both intertidal and subtidal waters and broadcast spawn gametes into the water column to contend with variable physical conditions. To answer how populations of invertebrates residing at different depths adequately prepare their offspring to cope with different levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), we collected adult purple sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, from four sites (two intertidal and two subtidal (~15 m deep)) on the central coast of CA to compare UV tolerance in offspring. Our measurements of UVA …

Development Of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks For Enhancing Post-Combustion Co2 Capture, Dustin Lee

Master's Theses

Post-combustion CO₂ capture is a promising approach for complementing other strategies to mitigate climate change. Liquid absorption is currently used to capture CO₂ from post-combustion flue gases. However, the high energy cost required to regenerate the liquid absorbents is a major drawback for this process. As a result, solid sorbents have been investigated extensively in recent years as alternative media to capture CO₂ from flue gases. For example, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are nanoporous materials that have high surface areas, large pore volumes, and flexible designs. A large number of MOFs, however, suffer from 1) low CO …

Sensory Stressors Impact Species Responses Across Local And Continental Scales, Ashley A. Wilson

Master's Theses

Pervasive growth in industrialization and advances in technology now exposes much of the world to anthropogenic night light and noise (ANLN), which pose a global environmental challenge in terrestrial environments. An estimated one-tenth of the planet’s land area experiences artificial light at night — and that rises to 23% if skyglow is included. Moreover, anthropogenic noise is associated with urban development and transportation networks, as the ecological impact of roads alone is estimated to affect one-fifth of the total land cover of the United States and is increasing in space and intensity. Existing research involving impacts of light or noise …

Pressure Driven Desalination Utilizing Nanomaterials, Fangyou Xie

Master's Theses

Nanomaterials such as graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes, have demonstrated excellent properties for membrane desalination, including decrease of maintenance, increase of flux rate, simple solution casting, and impressive chemical inertness. Here, two projects are studied to investigate nanocarbon based membrane desalination. The first project is to prepare hybrid membranes with amyloid fibrils intercalated with graphene oxide sheets. The addition of protein amyloid fibrils expands the interlayer spacing between graphene oxide nanosheets and introduces additional functional groups in the diffusion pathways, resulting in increase of flux rate and rejection rate for the organic dyes. Amyloid fibrils also provide structural assistance to …

Design And Synthesis Of Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticle Conjugates For Metal Ion Sensing Applications, Hank Deuermeyer

Master's Theses

A novel series of fluorescent nanoparticle conjugates were designed and synthesized for the selective turn-off sensing of low concentrations of Cu2+ ion (nM-μM) in 2:1 ethanol:10 mM HEPES (pH 7). Silica nanoparticles (~250 nm) were modified with heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers and a third generation PAMAM dendron to function as chelator for Cu2+ ions. The organic dye fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was subsequently conjugated to the dendron to act as a fluorescent sensitizer for the nanoparticle that is quenched upon the binding of Cu2+. Fluorescent nanoparticle conjugates using third and fourth generation PAMAM dendrimers (SNP-G3-FITC and SNP-G4-FITC) were synthesized for …

An Investigation Of Antenna, Ligand Side-Chain, And Metal Ion Effects On The Optical And Mri Properties Of Bimodal Lanthanide (Iii) Complexes, Marisa Poveda

Master's Theses

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a leading anatomical imaging modality for disease diagnosis. With the aid of Gd³⁺ based contrast agents, high resolution images of biological structures can be obtained. However, there is an increased need for contrast agents that are responsive to specific analytes and chemical environments. Paramagnetic Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (PARACEST) agents that utilize a paramagnetic lanthanide ion chelated with a ligand have shown great promise in this area. Lanthanide ions also possess luminescence properties that do not suffer from common limitations of conventional optical imaging agents such as autofluorescence and photobleaching. The projects described in …

The Role Of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Supplementation In A Drosophila Model Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Derek Lee

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Electrostatic Denaturation Of Dna-Cisplatin Adducts, Eddie Madrigal

Master's Theses

In this thesis, electrochemical approaches are used to determine the properties of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by electrostatic denaturation. The electrochemical routine involves an application of a destabilization potential, an equilibration potential, and a square wave voltammogram (SWV) to monitor the extent of melting. Our method uses a monolayer consisting of thiol modified DNA and mercaptohexanol on a gold electrode. These electrodes are then incubated in a complementary sequence tagged with methylene blue. By using our electrostatic denaturation technique, different parameters are explored, such as surface densities, surface coverages, and ionic strengths. As proof of concept, these techniques were applied toward …

Assessing Seasonal Changes In Body Condition For Spotted (Phoca Largha), Ringed (Pusa Hispida), And Bearded (Erignathus Barbatus) Seals, Michelle Hartwick

Master's Theses

Anthropogenic global warming is causing unprecedented changes to occur within Arctic ecosystems. As sea ice continues to decline in both thickness and extent, ice-adapted species will be particularly affected. Specifically, Arctic seals are reliant on sea ice during critical life-history stages and many of their preferred prey depend on reliable patterns in annual sea ice cover. Thus, ongoing changes will likely affect the ability of Arctic seals to carry out key life-history tasks and maintain positive energy balance. One way to assess energy reserves is through examination of body condition. For seals, this is often done by measuring overall blubber …

Motivation And Social Withdrawal In Schizophrenia: Factors Related To Passive Social Withdrawal And Active Social Avoidance, Emily Anne Peters

Master's Theses

Schizophrenia is a disabling disorder and social withdrawal in schizophrenia is related to particularly adverse outcomes. Social withdrawal may be a result of “passive” motivation (disinterest or lack of drive to engage with others) or “active” motivation (fear, hostility, or distrust of others). The purpose of this study was to better understand passive social withdrawal and active social avoidance, by exploring their relationships with social abilities and social functioning outcomes. In addition, we explored whether the EEG frontal alpha asymmetry hypothesis, which has been previously linked to shyness and sociability, might contribute to our understanding of social withdrawal motivation.

This …

A Regional Vulnerability Assessment For The Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus Magister) To Changing Ocean Conditions: Insights From Model Projections And Empirical Experiments, Halle Berger

Master's Theses

Among global coastal regions, the Northern California Current System (N-CCS) is already experiencing effects from ocean acidification and hypoxia during the summer, primarily due to the region’s seasonal upwelling, current systems, and high productivity. Oxygen, pH, and temperature conditions are expected to become more stressful with continued fossil fuel emissions under global climate change, posing a serious threat to the region’s fisheries. N-CCS fishing communities rely heavily on the economically and culturally important Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister). The fishery is currently sustainably managed, but potential negative impacts from changing ocean conditions on Dungeness crab life stages and populations …

Fabrication, Testing And Theoretical Background Of A Quantum Dot Floating Gate Flash Non-Volatile Memory (Qdg Nvm), Nathan Butterfield

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Shyness X Niche Interactions Across Five Countries: A Mixed-Methods Exploratory Study, Daniell Carvalheiro

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Engineered Thermal Refuge In Streams As A Climate Warming Mitigation Strategy For Fish Populations Experiencing Thermal Stress, Rebekah Thielman

Master's Theses

Rising summer stream temperatures threaten the habitat of cold-water fishes globally. Streams with cold groundwater seeps can provide thermal refuge, however natural groundwater discharge is often patchy throughout watersheds, impacting habitat connectivity. This research was undertaken to evaluate the potential to engineer (active pumping) thermal refuge that mimic cold groundwater seeps under a range of natural streamflow conditions and varying cold-water injection rates. Natural groundwater averaging 10 °C was pumped into the river channel behind a removable baffle, used to inhibit mixing and dispersal of the groundwater plume. A fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing cable was deployed above the streambed, downstream …

Effect Of Unilateral Lower-Limb Amputation On Intact Limb Biomechanics: A Systematic Review, Amanda Boyd

Master's Theses

The United States will perform 30,000-40,000 amputations this year (Ertl et al., 2019). As a common medical intervention, there is extensive research regarding rehabilitation strategies and post-operative care. Many studies have explored the effects of the affected limb and prosthetic intervention yet have neglected that of the contralateral limb (De Asha et al., 2014; Jones et al., 2006; Winter & Sienko, 1988). Studies have reported an increase in secondary musculoskeletal conditions among unilateral lower-limb amputees, particularly in the intact limb, indicating the need for additional research (Gailey et al., 2008). The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the …

Application Of Lignin (Modified/Unmodified ) To Cement And Observing Effects, Ashique Ur Rahman Akond

Master's Theses

Biomass of various types have been known to be important sources of energy or raw material for products in industries for centuries. Biomass have been proven to be cost effective as sources of suitable chemicals that can enhance many industrial processes. Lignin is one of many very valuable components extractable from biomass. Using lignin, modified or unmodified, can improve the sustainability of manufacturing processes. In this work, lignin was extracted from two different biomass, i.e. coffee chaff and sugarcane bagasse. Coffee chaff is the dried skins of coffee beans, the waste product from the roasting process. Sugarcane bagasse is the …

The Role Of Notch In Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Adipogenesis, Mengcheng Liu

Master's Theses

Obesity is the leading cause of chronic disease and has contributed to significant health problems and complications. In order to solve this increasingly serious social problem, it is particularly important to deepen the understanding of the biological causes of obesity. Obesity is the result of an increased mass of adipose tissue after excessive caloric intake, and adipogenesis is the main strategy through which the body increases the number of adipocytes. However, due to the lack of research, the current understanding of adipogenesis is not enough to yield results in the clinic.

The regulation of adipogenesis is complex, and the role …

Exploring Experiences With Social Disorganization In Denver Communities, Tiffanie Pham

Master's Theses

Social disorganization theory states that individuals residing in disadvantaged communities are more likely to engage in delinquency and criminality due to the elements the individuals experience (Shaw & McKay, 1969). More specifically, social disorganization theory refers to the failure of the community to fully understand and acknowledge the common goals or solve any issues that the community might be experiencing (Kubrin & Weitzer, 2003). Utilizing social disorganization theory, specifically, the family disruption and poverty elements, the current literature focuses on individuals who reside in disadvantaged communities in Denver, Colorado. By using the qualitative approach, this study relied on in-depth interviews …