Digital Commons Network^™

Design And Application Of Ph Sensitive Peptides For Fluorescence Imaging And Therapy Of Tumors, Michael Dupont

Open Access Dissertations

The most common cancer treatments are chemotherapy and radiation therapy which include an untargeted delivery of toxic molecules, resulting in systemic effects and reduction in patient comfort. This leads to research for cancer treatments that are targeted and will reduce the severity of systemic effects on patients. Tumor resection surgery also has its own complications relating to not having real time confirmation of tumor geometry and position. pHLIP peptide targets acidity which is a characteristic of most cancer lines due to the Warburg effect, along with targeting tumor associated macrophages, cancer associated fibroblasts, and myeloid derives suppresser cells that are …

Effects Of Western Diet Or Exercise Exposure In A Novel Rat Model Of Late-Onset Alzheimer’S Disease, Jennifer M. Mattar

Open Access Dissertations

Sporadic, late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) accounts for a staggering 98% of cases yet does not arise from a single genetic mutation. Rather, an extensive body of research has revealed that LOAD is likely the result of complex interactions between genetics and several lifestyle factors. There exists a substantial gap in understanding the mechanisms behind LOAD development and the impacts of lifestyle on disease progression. Enhanced rodent models may help elucidate mechanisms by which LOAD develops. This longitudinal study introduces a novel rat model of LOAD (CrAβ), created using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to express humanized Aβ. The effects of a …

Assessing Plastic Pollution On Shorelines And In Coastal Sediments, Victoria Madison Fulfer

Open Access Dissertations

Plastics have become pollutants around the world, entering the marine environment predominantly from many land-based sources. A small proportion of plastics in the marine environment also come from sea-based activities such as fishing, boating, and shipping. Once in the environment, the low density of most plastic polymers allows transport around the globe by winds, rivers, currents, waves, floodwaters, and tides. As a result, the ultimate fate of present and past plastic pollution is poorly constrained; however, much material in the sea is thought to accumulate in marine sediment over time.

Plastics in the environment have a wide range of morphologies …

Developing Effective Physical And Chemical Adjuvants For Influenza And Tumor Vaccines, Yibo Li

Open Access Dissertations

An adjuvant is a pharmacological substance added to a vaccine to enhance the intensity, breadth and endurance of the immune responses. Traditional discovery and development of vaccine adjuvants mainly based on empirical experiences have been slow, but the situation has improved in the past two decades as more molecular mechanisms of vaccine adjuvants were revealed. Now it has been widely recognized that most adjuvants activate innate immune system by targeting pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as toll-like receptors (TLRs) to enhance adaptive immune responses. PRRs are proteins expressed mainly on innate immune cells, such as dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Nutriton-Focused Steam Summer Program For Urban Youth, Jacquelyn Potvin

Open Access Dissertations

Background: Youth from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse families are at increased risk for academic challenges and nutritionally inadequate diets. Summer programs offer an opportunity to foster interest and engage students in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) education while addressing summer learning loss. Nutrition education early in life can help youth develop healthy dietary behaviors that they carry into adulthood. Project stRIde: Science and Technology Reinforced by Innovative Dietary Education was a summer program for 4-6th grade youth from racially and ethnically diverse and low-income families. The goal of the program was to engage youth in nutrition-centered …

An Exploration Of The Adverse Outcomes Of Divorce, Emma Pascuzzi

Open Access Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to gain a deeper understanding of the potential impact experiencing parental divorce has on later adulthood developmental outcomes. Divorce is considered an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) with significant implications for future life events. Given the high divorce rates in the U.S., understanding its impacts on children is crucial, with approximately 750,000 divorces recorded in 2019. Existing research indicates that children of divorced parents often face more mental and physical health issues compared to those from intact families (Amato, 2014). Current literature suggests that divorce, like other life events, can have long-term effects into adulthood …

Investigation Of Electrolytes For Silicon-Containing Anodes And On High Voltage Cathodes In Lithium-Ion Batteries, Leah Rynearson

Open Access Dissertations

Lithium-ion batteries have become essential to modern day life as people are increasingly reliant on mobile technologies. One rapidly developing application is the use of lithium-ion batteries to make electric vehicles (EV) more feasible for consumers. However, in order to compete with the driving range of the commonly used combustible engine, batteries used in EV applications need to be further improved and optimized to give higher energy densities and increased capacity retention.

One way to improve energy density is to switch the anode material from the relatively low energy dense graphite to the much higher capacity silicon; however, the silicon-lithium …

Design, Simulation, And Rapid Prototyping Of Soft Robotic Actuators For Deep-Sea Applications, Alexander Yin

Open Access Dissertations

A new design and rapid prototyping approach for hydraulic soft actuators was developed and used to create bio-inspired underwater soft actuators that were tested and applied in the field. Underwater soft-bodied animals demonstrate complex approaches to move around the ocean and sophisticated methods of physically interacting with other organism and objects. Studying the functional design and kinematics of these animals can provide insight and solutions for complex tasks and locomotion, and soft robotics provides pathways to create complex actuators that imitate or are inspired by these animals. However, creating a complex soft actuator is currently an arduous and time-consuming process …

The Effects Of Retirement Education, Priming And Presentation Order On Wealth Management Outcomes, Robert J. Glew

Open Access Dissertations

Over the past two decades the burden of funding one’s retirement income has been shifting from employers to employees. As a result, many employees have found themselves without the necessary replacement income at retirement and either continue to work or adjust their lifestyle to meet their income level. The scope of the problem has been described as a national concern. One potential solution is to provide individuals with retirement education to assist them when making retirement planning decisions. A significant amount of academic research has been conducted in this area, however, several recent meta-analyses have concluded mixed results about the …

Airline Supply Chains: A Supply Chain Flow Approach, Gervais Tchoutan Ngoudjou

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation consists of two essays on airline supply chains (ASC). Managing ASC is inherently challenging, and the impact of COVID-19 and recent disruptions has only added to the complexity. Timely delivery of inventory in the right quantities is crucial, making effective supply chain management (SCM) essential for airlines. However, optimizing supply chain operations in the airline industry is an intricate task, fraught with unique challenges. High capital expenditures, fuel price fluctuations, and substantial maintenance costs must be navigated, while continuous technology and fleet investments require a precise balance in inventory management to avoid obsolete parts and missed deliveries. The …

Thermal And Isothermal Investigations Of The Ni(110) Surface With Leed And Ipes, Christopher Lee Carruba Jr.

Open Access Dissertations

Inverse photoemission spectroscopy (IPES) is an effective technique for determining the unoccupied electron states at a surface. It has often been described as a complimentary analysis technique to photoemission spectroscopy (PES). In contrast to photoemission, IPES analyzes the states above the Fermi energy. This method provides valuable information about a region that photoemission is unable to explore. Low energy electron diffraction (LEED) is an analysis technique for determining the surface structure of a material. LEED spot intensity measurements can be used to study the reconstruction of metal surfaces following ion-induced surface damage and thermal annealing.

In this thesis, three studies …

Diagnostics Development For And Study Of Energetic Materials Subject To Shock Loading, Robert Ichiyama

Open Access Dissertations

A wide range of shock physics experiments require a high pressure, 2D-planar shock with pressure and temporal uniformity. Researchers, traditionally, would utilize a gas gun facility or high explosive plane wave lens. These techniques have several limitations. Gun facilities have high facility cost and long experiment times. Legacy fast-slow explosive lenses require labor intensive and high risk, high precision pressed or casted and, subsequently, machined explosives. Any design changes made with the explosives in such traditional lenses leads to significant increases in cost and time. Previous groups demonstrated that inert waveguides can generate a planar shock using only a single …

Advanced Deformation Modeling Constrained By Geodesy: Applications To Underground Nuclear Testing And Submarine Volcanoes, Sandra Slead

Open Access Dissertations

Geodetic techniques make it possible to observe crustal deformation associated with many subsurface processes, both natural and anthropogenic. When a perturbation occurs beneath the ground surface, such as magma injection into a magma chamber, detonation of a clandestine nuclear weapon, slip on a tectonic fault, or withdrawal of groundwater from an aquifer, the surrounding crust undergoes a deformation response that can be measured on the surface. Those measurements, combined with our understanding of the Earth's expected response, can be inverted through deformation modeling to reveal details about subsurface events that we often cannot directly observe. Insights gleaned from geodetic measurements …

Societal Impacts Of Harmful Macroalgal Blooms On Caribbean Communities, Kenneth Hamel

Open Access Dissertations

Pelagic Sargassum species, long considered a vital component of Caribbean ecosystems, began to arrive on and near shore in unprecedented quantities starting in 2011; these arrivals have transformed many Caribbean people’s perspectives of these macroalgae from a native benefit to an alien invader, and are now regarded widely as a harmful algal bloom (HAB). HABs often receive attention for the ecological and economic damage they present, but other human dimensions are less commonly considered, and this is doubly true of Sargassum events. This dissertation was intended to fill increasingly pronounced research gaps by providing exploratory evidence that can be useful …

Differential Gene Expression Analysis: Genomic Response In Human Peripheral Blood Following Neutron Exposure For Radiation Biodosimetry Applications, Rashmi Basavaraj

Open Access Dissertations

Radiation Biodosimetry is a crucial method for evaluating the biological consequences of radiation exposure on health outcomes. This technique estimates radiation dose by analyzing the biological effects it causes in the body becomes especially valuable in situations where traditional physical dosimeters, like badges, are unavailable or unreliable. In these scenarios, Radiation Biodosimetry enables accurate dose assessment, which is critical for making informed decisions during emergency response (triage), treatment planning, and long-term health risk evaluation.

Current biodosimetry methods struggle to accurately estimate radiation doses, especially for low-dose exposures or complex scenarios involving both neutrons and photons, like those arising from improvised …

Chasing Soot Across The Sea: The Fate And Transport Of Particulate Black Carbon In The Equatorial Atlantic, Samuel D. Katz

Open Access Dissertations

This study investigated BC in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean and Congo River outflow, aiming to elucidate its origins, distribution, fluxes and understand methodological differences in BC quantification. Sediment and atmospheric samples were collected from the Equatorial Atlantic and Congo River outflow. For the sedimentary analysis, the chemothermal oxidation at 375°C method was primally used, while different BC quantification methods were employed with the Congo core, together with stable and radiogenic carbon isotope measurements, to trace BC sources and age. BC air samples were quantified using the thermal optical transmission method, air mass back trajectories, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) diagnostic …

Eddy-Topographic Interactions, Alexis Johnson Exley

Open Access Dissertations

Eddies are an integral component of the large-scale ocean circulation and climate system. They play a significant role in redistributing heat and energy around the globe, locally enhance primary productivity and aid in carbon sequestration. They primarily result from instability processes that modify large scale flow into smaller scale features, often facilitated by interactions with large topography. This dissertation is focused on these interactions, the dynamics that govern the generation and maintenance of mesoscale eddies and global implications for our climate system.

The role of topography in the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current Eddy (LCE) separation cycle is investigated in …

Measurement Invariance Of Novel Transtheoretical Model Exercise Scales, Kathleen Monahan

Open Access Dissertations

Purpose. To assess the measurement invariance of three novel Transtheoretical Model exercise measures.

Design. Cross-sectional.

Setting. Online survey study in the United States (US).

Subjects. 748 Black and/or Hispanic US-based adults.

Measures. Demographics, exercise engagement (IPAQ-SF), Stage of Change, Decisional Balance, Self-efficacy, and Barriers to regular exercise.

Analyses. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses with increased restraints on model parameters to assess configural (no constraints), metric (factor loadings constrained), and scalar invariance (factor loadings and item intercepts constrained) in a sequential manner.

Results. Decisional Balance demonstrated scalar invariance across binary genders and metric invariance across …

Thermal And Electronic Properties Of Ni(110) Surface Using Inverse Photoemission Spectroscopy, Lakshitha Dinusha Lathpandura

Open Access Dissertations

I have used a k-resolved inverse photoemission spectrometer to measure the spectral line intensity attenuation with increasing temperature observed on the unoccupied electronic structure of Ni(110) along the azimuth. By employing the Debye-Waller model to the results of a transition into the sp-derived bulk state, I estimate the effective surface Debye temperature of Ni(110) to be 240 ± 20 K. A phonon-slab calculation based on density functional perturbation theory yields a Debye temperature of a bi-layer Ni(100) slab is 343 K. The experimental underestimate can be explained by the fact that the valence electrons involved in inverse photoemission …

Late Pleistocene-Holocene Environmental Change At The Southern Ocean Sea Ice Edge Documented By Diatom Assemblages And Diatom-Bound Nitrogen Isotopes, Isabel Dove

Open Access Dissertations

The Southern Ocean plays a key role in modulating global climate via physical and biogeochemical processes, both today and in the past. Wind-driven upwelling brings nutrient-rich deep water to the surface, enabling carbon exchange with the atmosphere and fueling primary production that facilitates long-term storage of carbon in the deep ocean. The nitrogen isotopic composition of organic matter within diatom microfossils (δ¹⁵N_DB) has been used to reconstruct changes in nutrient utilization related to upwelling-driven supply and biological demand and consequent impact on climate across Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles (2.58 Ma - 11.7 ka) and over the Holocene …

Nanotube Spectral Fingerprinting And Machine Learning For Optimized Bioimaging/Sensing Applications, Aceer Nadeem

Open Access Dissertations

This thesis presents a multifaceted exploration of the optimization and application of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in biomedical contexts, with a specific focus on enhancing their stability, functionality, and use as optical biosensors. The research spans several key areas, including the development of innovative techniques that couple machine learning with spectral fingerprinting for advanced diagnostics, the investigation of SWCNT chirality and its implications for cellular interactions, and the optimization of lyophilization processes to improve long-term stability and reproducibility.

The first section of the thesis delves into the fundamental properties of SWCNTs, emphasizing their unique electronic and optical characteristics. These properties, …

Navigating Flood Risk In U.S. Municipal Planning: A Mental Model Analysis, Kyle Mcelroy

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation explores the integration of Flood Risk Management (FRM) into municipal planning in the United States through three interrelated studies. The research addresses the central question: How do U.S. municipalities integrate FRM into urban planning, and what factors, principles, and challenges shape this process?

The first study reviews current practices, principles, and challenges in integrating FRM with municipal planning. It highlights gaps in actionable guidance, the roles of diverse planners, and strategies to balance competing priorities, such as economic development and infrastructure needs. The second study develops an Expert Mental Model (EMM) to capture the nuanced interplay between external …

Telechelic Polymers As High-Performance Rheological Modifiers In Biomimetic Polymer-Linked Emulsions, Daniel P. Keane

Open Access Dissertations

Due to the complexity of biological tissue and the numerous challenges associated with research into biological particle transport, it is of interest to scientists to develop a synthetic mimic that can replicate key attributes of multicellular tissue. The work presented in this dissertation details the design, characterization, and application of a synthetic material for use as a phantom material in research into biological particle transport. Furthermore, the designed materials introduce exciting polymer physics problems and present broad potential uses as rheological modifiers for colloidal systems and 3D printing inks. The polymer-linked emulsions which form the basis of this work are …

Advancing Clinical-Community Partnerships To Address Pediatric Food Insecurity, Nader Hamdi

Open Access Dissertations

Background: Children and families experiencing low income in the United States are at a greater risk of food insecurity (FI) and suboptimal diet quality than the general population. Childhood FI, which is associated with numerous poor health and developmental outcomes, has become so pervasive that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends universal FI screenings. Routine FI screening in clinical settings presents opportunities for clinic-community partnerships to connect families experiencing FI with food access and nutrition education (FANE) programs. A variety of FANE programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (SNAP-Ed), are administered at the federal level to …

Creep Deformation Of Solution Strengthened Nickel-Based Superalloys, Daniel Lee Spader

Open Access Dissertations

Materials selected for high temperature applications, as seen in aerospace and energy generation, must possess exceptional strength, toughness, and microstructural stability. Achieving these properties at elevated temperatures requires the use of increasingly complex alloys to cope with the extreme environment. One of the most prevalent families of materials used in these environments are nickel-based superalloys. With the increase in time, temperature, and microstructural complexity, creep deformation and its associated diffusional processes make prediction of long-term deformation increasingly challenging. As the operational life of some of these materials approach 60 years, one-to-one testing cannot be conducted in laboratory environments. As the …

Burden Among Caregivers Of Youth With Psychotic Disorders And Clinical High Risk For Psychosis, Devon Carroll

Open Access Dissertations

Schizophrenia ranks among the most debilitating psychiatric disorders across the lifespan, leading to poor recovery outcomes, high mortality rates, and a surge in comorbid health conditions (Charlson et al., 2018). When psychotic illness strikes before age 18, it follows a more complex clinical course, presents with more severe negative psychotic symptoms, and carries a greater genetic vulnerability (Armando et al., 2018; Lin et al, 2016). Children categorized with “clinical high risk for psychosis” (CHR-P), a term used to describe a prodromal phase characterized by a gradual onset and presentation of sub-threshold psychotic symptoms, experience high rates of suicidal behavior and …

Seeking Clarity In The Coastal Zone: Quantifying Submarine Groundwater Discharge (Sgd) By Thermal Infrared (Tir) Imagery And Radionuclide Tracer Modeling, Kyle S. R. Young

Open Access Dissertations

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is the flow of water from continental shelves to coastal waterbodies and is an important transport vector of terrestrially-sourced waters and pollutants to coastal waterbodies. Subject to variabilities and forcings operating over numerous scales, SGD is particularly difficult to quantify at the spatial resolutions necessary to assess source characteristics, while obtaining the coverage necessary to understand its spatial controls. Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems-deployed thermal infrared sensors (sUAS-TIR) provide a means of identifying SGD source zones and quantifying SGD TIR thermal anomaly (“plume”) areas at very high spatial resolutions over large areas, though are unable to quantify …

Exploration Of Overactuated Auv Control: Investigation Of Frequency Based Control Allocation For Hovering Operation And Cross Body Thruster Dynamics For Variable Forward Speed Operation, Alexei Sondergeld

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation explores overactuated depth control of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The depth actuators that are explored include the traditional aft thruster and maneuvering fins, as well as an actively controlled ballast/buoyancy system and some form of vertical thruster system. Our ultimate goal is to combine the mobility of an AUV with the hovering capability of a controllable float. We aim to assess control systems that can strategically allocate control effort between actuators in a manner informed by the strengths and weaknesses of these actuators. The ultimate objective is to allow an AUV to operate through the full range of …

The Impact Of Computer-Based Simulations On Content Knowledge And Engagement Of Anatomy & Physiology Ii Students, Bonnie Rayta

Open Access Dissertations

This exploratory mixed-methods study looks to examine if there is a relationship between the use of computer-based simulations (CBS), student knowledge and student engagement in an anatomy and physiology II course. Research question one (RQ 1) asked: does the integration of CBS into lecture-based instruction improve students’ knowledge (KWD) in a second semester anatomy and physiology II course compared to students who participated in non-CBS instruction. Research question two (RQ 2) asked: does the integration of CBS into lecture-based instruction improve students’ engagement (ENG) in a second semester undergraduate anatomy and physiology II course compared to students who participate in …

1d Granular Chains Of Closed-Cell Pvc Foams Under Low And Medium Velocity Impacts, Vikranth Kumar Reddy Madhirala

Open Access Dissertations

Chapter 1: This study experimentally analyses the deformation and energy retention behavior often closed-cell PVC foam disks constituting a one-dimensional granular chain subjected to low-velocity impacts. A pressure-driven impactor loads disk chains of two densities, each at 1 and 10 m/s. The deformations of the disks are captured using high-speed cameras, and the chain’s input and output forces are recorded during the impact. Energy retained by the chain and the disks is calculated using the deformations of the disks, input, output, and contact forces. The results show that the energy retained by the chain of H130 foam is 3 …