Digital Commons Network^™

Adaptive Water Governance And Community Resilience: Assessing The Impact Of The Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture Partnership On Communities In The Cache River Watershed Of Southern Illinois, Rachel Emeline Boucher

Theses

Resilience is a concept that is becoming heavily researched in the sustainability and resource management literature. For rural resource-dependent communities, community resilience is the ability to adapt to various drivers of change while maintaining or enhancing community well-being. In recent decades, the field of water resource governance has been transitioning from a reliance on command-and-control institutional structures toward adaptive multi-level institutions, such as adaptive co-management and adaptive governance. These transitions offer potential opportunities for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of resource-dependent communities. However, the relationship between these emerging governance approaches and community resilience is not fully understood. The Cache River …

The Effects Of Fluopyram On Macrophomina Phaseolina And Charcoal Rot Of Soybean, Annie Caroline Padgett

Theses

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid., is a soilborne fungus that causes charcoal rot in over 500 plant species including Zea mays L. and Glycine max (L.) Merr. The pathogen is present in most soybean growing regions of the United States. Infection in soybean can occur after emergence and throughout the vegetative growth stages in a range of environmental conditions. The syndrome is manifest during periods of hot and dry conditions during the reproductive states of the crop. Management options are lacking and consist of avoidance and irrigating crops to lessen the damage caused by the pathogen. Fluopyram is a succinate dehydrogenase …

Mathematical Model And Parameter Estimation For Tumor Growth, Lujun Yin

Theses

We consider a tumor growth model initially proposed by Ward and King in 1997. Our primary goal is to find an efficient and accurate numerical method for the identification of parameters in the model (an inverse problem) from measurements of the evolving tumor over time. The so-called direct problem, in this case, is to solve a system of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations for given fixed values of the unknown parameters. We compare several derivative-free and gradient-based methods for the solution of the inverse problem which is formulated as an optimization problem with the system of partial differential equations (PDEs) …

Holographic Generative Memory: Neurally Inspired One-Shot Learning With Memory Augmented Neural Networks, Dillon R. Graham

Theses

Humans quickly parse and categorize stimuli by combining perceptual information and previously learned knowledge. We are capable of learning new information quickly with only a few observations, and sometimes even a single observation. This one-shot learning (OSL) capability is still very difficult to realize in machine learning models. Novelty is commonly thought to be the primary driver for OSL. However, neuroscience literature shows that biological OSL mechanisms are guided by uncertainty, rather than novelty, motivating us to explore this idea for machine learning.

In this work, we investigate OSL for neural networks using more robust compositional knowledge representations and a …

The Graphic Design Archive: Generating Higher Levels Of Scholarship Through A User Experience Approach To Scholarly Image Database Design, Jenna Shay

Theses

Innovations in the user experiences of digital image collections have taken image-based searching from the realm of basic one-way searches and sorts and delivered users a new world of dynamic and interactive explorations that offer mechanisms for higher-level cognitive functions such as comparing, analyzing, sorting, sharing, designing, and creating in an intuitive environment. While innovations in image search functionality often occur first in non-academic applications (e.g., social media), image archives meant to amasse and preserve visual information for the ages would benefit by adopting and adapting search innovations.

Students and scholars that access image-based archives of information to gather resources …

Transcriptomics Of Learning, Pablo Iturralde

Theses

Learning is a basic and important component of behavior yet we have very little empirical information about the interaction between mechanisms of learning and evolution. In our work, we are testing hypotheses about the neurogenetic mechanisms through which animal learning abilities evolve. We are able to test this directly by using experimentally evolved populations of flies, which differ in learning ability. These populations were previously evolved within the lab by creating worlds with different patterns of change following theoretically predicted effects on which enhanced learning will evolve. How has evolution acted to modulate genes and gene expression in the brain …

Evaluating Material Consumption At The Intersection Of Technological Innovation And Shifting Consumer Demand: A Case Study Of Consumer Electronics, Barbara V. Kasulaitis

Theses

Increasing availability of consumer electronics offers the potential to improve quality of life, extend educational access, and improve efficiency of industrial processes, yet introduce their own set of challenges including increasingly diverse material supply chains, the fastest growing waste stream, and high life cycle resource demands. A significant body of research has been developed to understand material and energy flows across the product life cycle, but to date, that research has neglected to understand aggregate material flows across a community of interrelated products that are consumed, used, and disposed of together.

This research explores that research gap, first evaluating the …

Functional Imaging Connectome Of The Human Brain And Its Associations With Biological And Behavioral Characteristics, Chao Zhang

Theses

Functional connectome of the human brain explores the temporal associations of different brain regions. Functional connectivity (FC) measures derived from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rfMRI) characterize the brain network at rest and studies have shown that rfMRI FC is closely related to individual subject's biological and behavioral measures. In this thesis we investigate a large rfMRI dataset from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) and utilize statistical methods to facilitate the understanding of fundamental FC-behavior associations of the human brain. Our studies include reliability analysis of FC statistics, demonstration of FC spatial patterns, and predictive analysis of individual biological …

Effects Of Fullerenes On A Freshwater Benthic Community: Toxicity And Implications For Ecological Functions And Services, Sarah Ponte Cabral

Theses

Production of engineered carbon-based nanomaterials (CNM) is rising, with increased risk of release to the environment during production, transportation, use, and disposal. This trend highlights a need to understand potential impacts of CNM on the natural environment. Fullerenes (n-C60) are insoluble in water, and form aggregates that settle quickly, suggesting higher relative vulnerability of aquatic benthic ecosystems. This study aimed to determine eco-toxicity of fullerene and its functionalized derivatives on functionally representative benthic organisms, and evaluate how the potential lethal and sub-lethal effects of fullerene on these organisms indirectly impact benthic ecosystem function, including decomposition, primary productivity and nutrient cycling. …

Young, Low-Mass Stars: X-Rays And Circumstellar Environments, Kristina Marie Punzi

Theses

Nearby, young stars are the ideal targets for investigations of stellar and protoplanetary disk evolution, so as to understand the processes involved in planet formation and evolution, as well as the origins of our Solar System. High energy radiation (X-ray and FUV) from the central star significantly alters the structure, chemistry, and ionization of planet-forming circumstellar disks. In this dissertation, I present observations of young stars and star-disk systems to better understand the connection between stellar high energy radiation and the evolution of circumstellar environments, and to further develop methods to exploit the signatures of youth, as well as methods …

Mechanochemical Nitration Of Aromatic Compounds, Oleg Shlomo Lagoviyer

Theses

Aromatic compounds such as toluene are commercially nitrated using a combination of nitric acid with other strong acids. This process relies on the use of highly corrosive chemicals and generates environmentally harmful waste, which is difficult to handle and dispose of. In this study aromatic nitration using solvent-free mechanochemical processing of environmentally benign precursors has been achieved and investigated. Mononitrotoluene was synthesized by milling toluene with sodium nitrate and molybdenum trioxide as a catalyst. Several parameters affecting the desired product yield and selectivity were identified and varied. MNT yields in excess of 60% have been achieved in different tests. The …

The Impact Of Copper On Non-Indigenous And Native Species Of Suspension-Feeding Bivalves In Mission Bay, San Diego, California, Brian Juhl

Theses

Native (Chione californiensis) and non-indigenous bivalve species [Musculista senhousia (now known as Arcuatula senhousia), and Venerupis philippinarum] were collected from Mission Bay, San Diego, California and exposed to copper contaminated water at estimated concentrations of 0 ppb, 25 ppb, and 50 ppb over the course of two experimental periods of 18 days and 12 days. Bivalves were placed in tanks in a temperature controlled environment, and measurements of a number of parameters were taken during and after the exposure to copper: survivorship, feeding rates, growth, mucus production, and tissue copper concentrations for the entire body, …

Intense Ultrasonic Waves In Fluids: Nonlinear Behaviour, Jitendra Kewalramani

Theses

High-intensity ultrasonic wave has several engineering, biological, medical and chemical applications. High intensity acoustic waves can lead to a desired change in a medium by initiating one or more diverse mechanisms such as acoustic cavitation, heating, radiation pressure, or chemical reactions. Nonlinear nature of intense acoustic waves opens an entire new spectrum of applications. Hence there is need to understand and model the mechanism of nonlinear wave motion for practical applications of intense acoustic waves.

In this research, one-dimensional motion of shock waves in an ideal fluid is studied to include nonlinearity. In nonlinear acoustics, the propagation velocity of different …

The Temporal And Spatial Dynamics Of Larval Supply, Settlement, And Adult Populations Of Chthamalus Fissus Within The La Jolla, California Rocky Intertidal, Catharine Hargenrader

Theses

The role of post-settlement processes in benthic invertebrate recruitment dynamics has been well established; however, more recently, studies have been resolving the pre-settlement processes and environmental variables that may shape initial settlement. We examined the major space occupying barnacle Chthamalus fissus to determine the spatial and temporal dynamics of settlement in relation to larval supply, adult populations, and habitat characteristics (including elevation as a proxy for immersion, proximity to water’s edge, and the availability of free space) within the La Jolla, CA rocky intertidal. With respect to habitat characteristics, we investigated the influence of available free space on the dynamics …

Modeling Health Effects Of Particulate Matter Emissions From Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks Involved In High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing With Benmap-Ce, Katelijn Van Munster

Theses

The use of high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) has grown substantially in the past decade, and with it the number of heavy duty diesel trucks (HDDTs) used to transport HVHF materials and wastes. This research is a pilot study for the third phase of a three-phase project to determine the potential negative health effects caused by these HDDTs. This pilot study developed the methodology of modeling health effects, subsequent costs, and their spatial distribution with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program – Community Edition (BenMAP-CE), using data from previous phases of the project and focusing on …

Comparative Transcriptomics Of Grapevine Powdery Mildew, Christopher Wayne Snyder

Theses

Grapevine Powdery Mildew is caused by the obligately biotrophic fungus Erysiphe (syn. Uncinula) necator. This plant disease leads to severe crop loss and subsequent economic burden for the wine and juice industry. While the life cycle of the fungus has been explained, the mechanisms underlying how the fungus surpasses the grape’s defenses are not fully understood. In order to identify suitable targets for gene silencing approaches, a better understanding of the Powdery Mildew transcriptome is necessary. De novo assembled contigs of E. necator G14 mRNA were compared to the published E. necator C-strain transcriptome to determine the areas of overlap …

Investigation Of The Role Of Gene Clusters In Terpene Biosynthesis In Sorghum Bicolor, Rebecca Hay

Theses

The staple crop Sorghum bicolor shows potential as a source of secondary metabolite-based biofuels due to its diverse phenotype and chemical profile. S. bicolor produces a variety of high-energy metabolites, including terpenes which are a potential renewable source of fuel additives. Information on the biosynthetic and genetic pathways by which S. bicolor terpenes are produced is limited and these pathways must be better understood before they can be engineered for human applications. Recent work on plant biosynthetic pathways has shown that terpenes can be modified by the products of clustered genes. Identification of biosynthetic gene clusters may accelerate the elucidation …

Cyclist Safety In Urban Areas, Limin He

Theses

Cycling as an alternative means of transport is encouraged in urban areas because of the societal and environmental benefits it brings to most cities. However, the conflicts between cyclists and motorists become more obvious in complex urban areas, which places cyclists in a dangerous situation- a higher chance to get involved in serious injuries. To analyze how the problem happens, this paper talks about the user research, environment and collisions analysis. Then, this paper presents survey procedure and results related to user demands for cycling safety. The visibility limitation was found to be the main reason for the conflicts. In …

Microfluidic Study Of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2o2) Transport Modeled On The Msn-Da Neuron Pathway, Carrie A. Phillips

Theses

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are produced throughout the body and can cause damage, lead to neurodegenerative disorders, and deactivate neurons involved in the release of essential neurotransmitters. However, the underlying mechanisms affecting neuronal dysfunction are controversial and are not yet well understood. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a common ROS, has been shown to inhibit evoked dopamine (DA) in the Nigrostriatal region of the brain. Although unconfirmed, one theory claims that the DA-modulating H2O2 is produced in medium spiny neurons (MSN), based on close proximity. However, most literature cites H2O2 as a very small molecule which can travel far, diffuse readily, and …

Effect Of Lead Contaminated Soils On Lycopene And Mineral Contents Of Tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum), Andrea T. Amati

Theses

Eating fruits and vegetables is beneficial to human health, not just because they provide essential nutrients and vitamins, but also because phytochemicals scavenge free radicals and can reduce the risk of developing cancer and other diseases. However, not all people have access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. People who live in “food deserts” often are limited to smaller stores where prices are higher and the quality and variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are scarce. Urban gardens have been proposed as a potential solution to the issue of food deserts and as a way to promote nutrition in low …

A New Graphene Quantum Dot Sensor For Estimating An Antibiotic Concentration, Nuzhet Nihaar Nasir Ahamed

Theses

The antibiotics have impacted the human ailments by curtailing the growth of microbes and by providing relief from microbial diseases. While there are a large number of analytical methods available for the determination of antibiotics concentration, they are time consuming and impractical for usage in the fields. This thesis is aimed at overcoming the deficiencies of those methods in developing a new sensor. It reports a study of graphene quantum dots (GQD) bound ferric ion for sensing an antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (CP). The interaction of ferric ion with CP was used as a probe for the analytical estimation of CP using …

Protein Vaccines Against Acute Otitis Media Caused By Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae In A Murine Model, Mark Zavorin

Theses

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is one of the major organisms in the upper respiratory nasopharyngeal microbiota. In addition to its role as a commensal in the nasopharynx, NTHi is also the cause of sinusitis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Most relevant to this work, NTHi is one of the major causes of otitis media (OM), an inflammatory disease of the middle ear that affects 65-300 million children globally each year. In the US, acute OM (AOM or ear infection) is the most common reason for prescribed antibiotics. Due to the dramatic increase in antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, there is currently an …

Recommendations For Redesign: Revising The Rochester Museum And Science Center's "Native Peoples Of The Americas" Exhibit, Jess Andrews

Theses

This thesis proposes methods for redesigning the Rochester Museum and Science Center’s (RMSC) Native Peoples of the Americas exhibit to ensure better representation of the Native cultures it displays. Explorations of these methods include a survey of the current exhibit, focusing on specific areas and design elements that need to be addressed, as well as brief comparative surveys of other Native American and ethnographic exhibits at the RMSC as well as exhibits at Ganondagan State Historic Site and the New York and Washington branches of the National Museum of the American Indian. The literature review considers the history of Native …

Contractive Autoencoding For Hierarchical Temporal Memory And Sparse Distributed Representation Binding, Luke G. Boudreau

Theses

Hierarchical Temporal Memory is a brain inspired memory prediction framework modeled after the uniform structure and connectivity of pyramidal neurons found in the human neocortex. Similar to the neocortex, Hierarchical Temporal Memory processes spatiotemporal information for anomaly detection and prediction. A critical component in the Hierarchical Temporal Memory algorithm is the Spatial Pooler, which is responsible for processing feedforward data into sparse distributed representations.

This study addresses three fundamental research questions for Hierarchical Temporal Memory algorithms. What are the metrics for understanding the semantic content of sparse distributed representations? The semantic content and relationships between representations was visualized with uniqueness …

Identifying The Main Effects That Cause Spatial Variation In A Stereolithographic 3d-Printer With A Test Target And Graphical Analysis, Joseph V. Kain

Theses

This thesis investigates a stereolithography printers’ ability to resolve converging features within its build volume. This experiment employs the use of a Formlab Form 2 stereolithography device to create Geometric Element Test Target (GETT) artifacts designed in Solidworks. The sample will consist of a global arrangement of test artifacts in predetermined positions from a fractional factorial design of experiments. Each local sample will be a slanted ray GETT with designed wedge heights of 1 and 2mm. The finished array of samples are photographed and cataloged for graphical analysis. The ray step heights will be measured using a caliper and graphical …

Machine-Insect Interface: Spatial Navigation Of A Mobile Robot By A Drosophila, Suddarsun Shivakumar

Theses

Machine-insect interfaces have been studied in detail in the past few decades. Animal-machine interfaces have been developed in various ways. In our study, we develop a machine-insect interface wherein an untethered fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is tracked to remotely control a mobile robot. We develop the Active Omni-directional Treadmill (AOT) model, and integrate into the mobile robot to create the interface between the robot and the fruit fly. In this system, a fruit fly is allowed to walk on top of a transparent ball. As the fly tries to walk on the ball, we track the position of the fly …

Investigating The Etiology Of Preschoolers' Somatic Symptoms And Internalizing Problems: A Twin Study, Matthew Jamnik

Theses

This study investigated the etiology of preschoolers’ somatic symptoms and internalizing problems, using a twin sample. A specific focus was placed on the genetic (i.e., DRD4 and 5-HTTLPR) and environmental (i.e., SES, household chaos, family conflict, and maternal emotional stability) factors that were hypothesized to be associated with these problems. This project also explored the possible gene-environmental interactions (GxE) that may exist among these contributors. It was hypothesized that children who are at greatest risk due to their genotype, environment, or a combination of the two would display elevated somatic symptoms and internalizing problems, compared to children who were less …

Illuminating Dietary And Physiological Change In An Insectivorous Bat Community Exposed To Artificial Light At Night, Zachary Cravens

Theses

Global light pollution is increasing worldwide, nearly doubling over the past 25 years, and the encroachment of artificial light into remaining dark areas threatens to disturb natural rhythms of wildlife species, such as bats. Artificial light impacts the behaviour of insectivorous bats in numerous ways, including changing foraging behaviour and altering prey selection. I conducted two manipulative field experiments to investigate effects of light pollution on prey selection in an insectivorous bat community. In the first experiment, I collected fecal samples from 6 species of insectivorous bats in naturally dark and artificially lit conditions and identified prey items using molecular …

Application Of Plant Based Edible Coatings For Maintaining Post Harvest Quality And Extending Shelf Life Of Strawberries, Rajiv Dhital

Theses

Strawberries are a popular fruit with a pleasing color and flavor. However, its delicate tissue and high sugar content makes it highly perishable with visible mold. In this study, we have attempted to test feasibility of different edible coatings for extending shelf life of ‘Chandler’ strawberries subjected to simulated vibrations of local transportation. Six types of coatings were compared based on the quality of treated berries. Curcumin and limonene were used as natural antimicrobials and coatings were prepared from their liposomes and were over-coated with methyl cellulose. One set of each coating type were subjected to the simulated vibration of …

Empowering Women Through Advertising: A Content Analysis On 'Femvertising' Campaigns, Shan Wang

Theses

This study selects and content analyzes a sample of 40 femvertising videos, aims to explore what messages are delivered by the videos, and whether the campaigns actually break down the cliched ways in which media present women as the companies claim. The messages of the videos sent to viewers are qualitative content analyzed to provide a general description of the campaign videos. Women’s representations in the campaign videos are quantitively coded in terms of how women look like (i.e. physical characteristics), what age groups they are in, what traits they possess, and what roles they play in the advertisements. Also, …