Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Celebrity Endorsements On Treatment Choices Made By Professionals And Parents With Children Diagnosed With Asd, Jenika Karnik

Theses

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated that one in 50 children are diagnosed with Autism in the U.S. Now, parents out there not only have to face a doctor's diagnosis, but also a flood of confusing promises for recoveries and miracle cures. Parents have to sift through recommendations made by media, celebrities, professionals, and many, many more. The purpose of this study is to examine what influences the choices parents make involving treatment for their children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Movement Of Juvenile Coho Salmon (Onchorynchus Kisutch) And Dolly Varden Char (Salvelinus Malma) In Headwater Rearing Habitat In The Kenai Lowlands Of South-Central Alaska, Kristin Berger

Theses

Patterns of juvenile salmonid movement in natal streams provide insight into factors driving movement and ways to develop proactive conservation practices for wild salmon populations. This work expands on years of ongoing investigations for a comprehensive understanding of landscape and habitat characteristics important for salmon success. This study ties into an existing model for headwater streams in the Kenai Lowlands which predicts the presence of juvenile coho salmon and Dolly Varden by age-class based on catchment topography, wetland geomorphology, water chemistry, substrate composition, channel morphology, and macroinvertebrate and fish communities (King et al. 2012). We tagged nearly 1,000 juvenile coho …

Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy: Modeling And Interferogram Processing, Cara Perkins

Theses

This work presents a radiometric model of a spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) and a corresponding interferogram-processing algorithm for the calculation of calibrated spectral radiance measurements. The SHS relies on Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTS) principles, and shares design similarities with the Michelson Interferometer. The advantages of the SHS design, including the lack of moving parts, high throughput, and instantaneous spectral measurements, make it suitable as a field-deployable instrument. Operating in the long-wave infrared (LWIR), the imaging SHS design example included provides the capability of performing chemical detection based on reflectance and emissivity properties of surfaces of organic compounds. This LWIR SHS …

The Abundance And Biodiversity Of Arthropods In Biofuel Crops: Insects And Arachnids In Corn, Switchgrass And Native Mixed Grass Prairie Fields, Caitlin Kempski

Theses

Concerns about fossil fuel prices and harmful effects have prompted research and investment in biofuel development. Biofuels have the potential to provide a stable fuel source that reduces carbon emissions. However, the ecological impacts of different crop choices should be examined. Arthropod communities in corn and switchgrass monocultures and mixed grass prairie polycultures were examined to determine the impact of the crop choice on the arthropod communities. Results show that, when compared to corn and switchgrass fields, mixed grass prairie fields had higher values for arthropod biomass, number, size, the number of orders present, the number of individuals in each …

Improved Economic Feasibility Of Green Energy And Fuel Production Through Wastewater Based Microalgae Growth, Cole Adams

Theses

A growing concern of the impacts from carbon emitting fuels has lead to the development of potentially carbon natural biofuels in the form of biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas. Unfortunately, first generation sources such as corn, palm, and soy, have not been able to meet the needs of an environmental friendly fuel. In response, microalgae have been proposed by many as an alternative, with the potential to overcome many of the limitations of the first generation sources. Biofuel production from microalgae, however, has not been economically competitive with other petroleum based fuel, and has environmental issues of its own. The viability …

Effects Of Nest And Nest Site Characteristics On Humboldt Penguins’ Breeding Success At Punta San Juan, Peru: Implications For Conservation, Alonso Joaquin Bussalleu

Theses

Populations of Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in Peru began declining significantly in the 19th century because of industrial guano mining and a later increase in fishing. Guano mining changed the features of the penguins’ breeding habitat by eliminating the substrate where this species excavated their burrows. We analyzed the effects of nest and nest site characteristics and monitoring methodologies on Humboldt penguins’ breeding performance at Punta San Juan, Peru. We used a binomial generalized linear mixed model with random intercept to tests for differences in the probability of successfully raising at least one fledgling and also tested for differences in …

Analysis Of Compressive Sensing For Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Applications, Maria Busuioceanu

Theses

Compressive Sensing (CS) systems capture data with fewer measurements than traditional sensors assuming that imagery is redundant and compressible in the spectral and spatial dimensions. This thesis utilizes a model of the Coded Aperture Snapshot Spectral Imager-Dual Disperser (CASSI-DD) to simulate CS measurements from traditionally sensed HyMap images. A novel reconstruction algorithm that combines spectral smoothing and spatial total variation (TV) is used to create high resolution hyperspectral imagery from the simulated CS measurements. This research examines the effect of the number of measurements, which corresponds to the percentage of physical data sampled, on the quality of simulated CS data …

Quantity And Composition Of Stream Dissolved Organic Matter In The Watershed Of Conesus Lake, New York, Morgan R. Bida

Theses

The watershed of Conesus Lake, New York is drained by more than 18 unique streams and several smaller tributaries and has multiple land uses, varying from highly agricultural to primarily wooded, making the lake an ideal study site for analysis of the effects of land use on various water quality parameters. Previous water quality and watershed-health studies at Conesus Lake have focused on the delivery of inorganic nutrients to the lake. We know much less, however, about the effects of watershed land use on the quantity and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) exported to the lake. We sought to …

Floristics And Above-Ground Biomass (Agb) In Peatlands In Peruvian Lowland Amazonia, Loreto – Peru, Elvis Valderrama

Theses

Amazonian forests comprise almost 10% of stored carbon (C) in the world’s land ecosystems. This C is held both in above-ground biomass (AGB) and in the soil. AGB in an individual plant depends on plant size, often measured in trees as height (H) and diameter (D), and the density of plant tissues, often approximated in trees by wood density (WD). Soil C storage depends on the balance between inputs from AGB due to mortality and senescence and outputs due to decay and erosion. Peatlands, wetlands recently described in northern Peruvian Amazonia, show unusually high rates of soil C accumulation. For …

Genes Of Interest In Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Studies Of Genome-Wide Expression Profiling Data From Lung And Peripheral Blood Samples, Jared A. Mereness

Theses

The goal of this study was to identify BPD markers by gene expression profiling in lung and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression data. Studies of BPD are often focused on lung tissue, but rarely venture to find markers of the disease outside of the most affected tissue. Genes identified from these analyses can be used as markers of BPD, and may also be linked with causal mechanisms of the disease. First, we tested the biological relevance of BPD biomarkers previously identified in lung tissue by assessing their importance in normal lung development. Next, we identified sets of differentially …

Current Sensing Feedback For Humanoid Stability, Matthew Decapua

Theses

For humanoid robots to function in changing environments, they must be able to maintain balance similar to human beings. At present, humanoids recover from pushes by the use of either the ankles or hips and a rigid body. This method has been proven to work, but causes excessive strain on the joints of the robot and does not maximize on the capabilities of a humanlike body. The focus of this paper is to enable advanced dynamic balancing through torque classification and balance improving positional changes. For the robot to be able to balance dynamically, external torques must be determined accurately. …

Representing And Inferring Visual Perceptual Skills In Dermatological Image Understanding, Rui Li

Theses

Experts have a remarkable capability of locating, perceptually organizing, identifying, and categorizing objects in images specific to their domains of expertise. Eliciting and representing their visual strategies and some aspects of domain knowledge will benefit a wide range of studies and applications. For example, image understanding may be improved through active learning frameworks by transferring human domain knowledge into image-based computational procedures, intelligent user interfaces enhanced by inferring dynamic informational needs in real time, and cognitive processing analyzed via unveiling the engaged underlying cognitive processes.

An eye tracking experiment was conducted to collect both eye movement and verbal narrative data …

Phase Retrieval Using Power Measurements, Jamal Arif

Theses

Optical signals have two basic components that are power and phase, which can be demonstrated in both time and frequency domains. The common diagnostics which are available in the market only measure power component in time or frequency domain. However in certain areas phase measurements are also required. The phase retrieval techniques are used to calculate phase measurements from different methods. There are a number of applications where phase measurements are required like astronomy, wavefront sensing technique (James Webb space telescope), x-ray crystallography, fiber optic telecommunications etc. Various phase retrieval algorithms have been used in retrieving phase measurements in temporal …

Control Of Invasive Typha Spp. In A Restored Freshwater Wetland, Kathryn Boa

Theses

Wetlands are critically important habitats that provide many ecosystem services but loss and degradation of wetland habitat and functions has led to the growing need to create and restore functionally sound wetlands. In temperate climates, Typha spp. are an invasive plant genus that is problematic for mitigation efforts as it spreads quickly and aggressively into disturbed habitats and creates monotypic stands with dense rhizomes that are difficult to eradicate. Control is most often attempted through mechanical cutting or application of herbicide. In this study I surveyed four mitigation wetland vegetation communities in two years to determine species distribution and change …

Integration Technologies For Implantable Microsystems, Dean Johnson

Theses

Microsystems targeted for implantation require careful consideration of power, thermals, size, reliability, and biocompatibility. The presented research explored appropriate integration technologies for an implantable drug delivery system suitable for use in mice weighing less than 20 grams. Microsystems technology advancements include in situ pump diaphragm formation; integrated, low volume microfluidic coupling technologies; and incorporation of a low voltage, low-power pump actuation with a zero-power off state. Utility of the developed integration technologies have been tested through in vitro reliability and validation experiments. A four-chamber peristaltic pump was created using micromachining (e.g. thin film deposition and Si etching) and direct write …

Role Of Smarcad1 In Human Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Colony Growth, Migration And Invasion, Elham M. Al-Kubaisy

Theses

Breast cancer is the most common cancer seen in women worldwide accounting for more than 1.3 million cases and 458 000 deaths a year worldwide. Breast cancer patients are at high risk of recurrence in the form of metastatic disease. Genes associated with invasion and metastasis provides an aggressive edge in proliferation and growth during colonization of the metastatic site. The SMARCAD1 (SWI/SNF-related, Matrix-associated, Actin-dependent Regulator of Chromatin, containing DEAD/H box 1) protein is the human homolog of yeast Fun30 (Function Unknown Now 30) proteins. These proteins are members of the Snf2 helicase motif-containing protein families, and are known to …

Comparative Pedestrian Visibility Under Solid State Led Sources, Dana Younis

Theses

One of the important factors in striving towards sustainable urban living is the safety of pedestrians. This safety is influence by many factors, one of which is the ability of drivers to see pedestrians. During the night, pedestrian visibility becomes more difficult, especially on two-way streets, where headlamps of cars from the opposite direction cause glare to drivers. Newer types of headlamps are using LEDs and Xenon which are glarier than older halogen types.

This study is arranged in two parts. The first part of which examines the effect of oncoming car headlamps on pedestrian night time visibility. Detection distance …

Enzymatic Production Of Biodiesel From Fats Extracted From Lamb Meat Using Supercritical Co2, Hanifa Easa Taher

Theses

Due to the reduction in fossil fuel reserves and associated environmental impacts from using petroleum fuels, biodiesel has been presented as a feasible alternative because it is sustainable and environmentally friendly. In this study, it is proposed to investigate the feasibility of enzymatic production of biodiesel from waste animal fats using supercritical fluid technology for the extraction and reaction. The operating conditions that resulted in the optimum extraction and biodiesel production yield were identified. To the best of my knowledge of the investigators, the waste animal fat extracted by supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂) for the production of biodiesel …

Production Of Stable Bcs Class Ii Drug Suspensions By Melt Emulsification And Subsequent Incorporation Into Polymer Strip Films, Emanuel Joseph Vizzotti

Theses

One of the ways to improve the dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs is to produce fine drug particles with increased surface area. This increase will lead to bioavailability enhancement. However, smaller drug particles are thermodynamically unstable and tend to aggregate or grow. Therefore, proper formulation and process parameters must be chosen to keep the particles small. In this study, fine drug particles of two model drugs, fenofibrate and ibuprofen, are prepared by the melt emulsification technique. The influence of suspension formulation (i.e., the inclusion of polymers and surface-active agents) on particle stability is investigated. Moreover, different agitation techniques during …

Heterogeneous Combustion Of Condensed Particles In Transition Regime, Deniz Yildiz

Theses

A steady-state model of heterogeneous combustion for a spherical particle is developed accounting for the transition regime of heat and mass transfer. The model assumes formation of condensed products and reaction rate controlled by the transport of oxidizer to the particle surface. The model is based on the Fuchs’ limiting sphere approach. Calculations are performed for combustion of zirconium particles of different sizes. Temperature and oxygen concentration profiles are calculated and compared to those predicted by the continuous medium transfer model. It is shown that for particles in the range from 100 nm up to 30 gm heat and mass …

Hollow Fiber Membrane-Based Air Gap Membrane Distillation, Xuan Wang

Theses

Membrane Distillation (MD) is a thermally-driven separation process. In this research, desalination of 1 % NaCl solution is achieved by one type of MD namely, Air Gap Membrane Distillation (AGMD). The characteristics of AGMD are evaluated by using a hollow-fiber-set-based compact device. Hot brine solution and cold water are passed through two different fiber sets separately: porous hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride hollow fibers of the E type (PVDF E) and solid polypropylene (PP) hollow fibers. Vapor from the hot brine crosses the membrane pores of the PVDF fibers and the air gap, and finally condenses over the surface of solid hollow …

Finite Element Modeling Of Temperature Elevation Due To Nir Exposure In Neural Tissue, Atabek Can Yucel

Theses

Near infrared (NIR) lasers have been used in various types of medical applications. Heating is one of the most important concerns in the neural tissue when illuminated with NIR light. Rodent models are frequently used to study laser-tissue interactions. As a part of ongoing research project in the neural interface laboratory, direct measurements of temperature in the rat brain cortex as a response to a pulsed sequence of NIR laser beam are available. In this thesis, finite element modeling approach is used to model and simulate the temperature elevation in neural tissue under the effect of NIR laser pulsing. Steady …

Brain Computer Interface Based Neurorehabilitation Technique Using A Commercially Available Eeg Headset, Abhineet Mishra

Theses

Neurorehabilitation has recently been augmented with the use of virtual reality and rehabilitation robotics. In many systems, some known volitional control must exist in order to synchronize the user intended movement with the therapeutic virtual or robotic movement. Brain Computer Interface (BCI) aims to open up a new rehabilitation option for clinical population having no residual movement due to disease or injury to the central or peripheral nervous system. Brain activity contains a wide variety of electrical signals which can be acquired using many invasive and non-invasive acquisition techniques and holds the potential to be used as an input to …

Polyaseeker: A Computational Framework For Identifying Polyadenylation Cleavage Site From Rna-Seq, Xiao Ling

Theses

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) of mRNA plays a crucial role for post-transcriptional gene regulation. Recently, advances in next generation sequencing technology have made it possible to efficiently characterize the transcriptome and identify the 3’end of polyadenylated RNAs. However, no comprehensive bioi nformatic pipelines have fulfilled this goal. The PolyASeeker, a computational framework for identifying polyadenylation cleavage sites from RNA-Seq data is proposed in this thesis. By using the simulated RNA-seq dataset, a novel method is developed to evaluate the performance of the proposed framework versus the traditional A-stretch approach, and compute accurate Precisions and Recalls that previous estimation could not get. …

Engineering Spores To Display G Protein-Coupled Receptors For Directed Evolution, Alyssa Misoo Kim

Theses

All human cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane made from a phospholipid bilayer, which is responsible for maintaining a biologically active species, while stopping entry of deleterious substances from the outside. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the membrane proteins, which transmit signals across the cell membrane. GPCRs are involved in almost every physiological process, and irregular control leads to pathological conditions. Therefore, they are major drug targets. Crystal structure determination is required to understand the molecular details of activation/deactivation. However, GPCRs are difficult to crystallize because of stability issues. An efficient protein engineering system needs to be developed. The …

Deer Impact And Plant Resistance Traits, Xueyang Fan

Theses

White-tail deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a generalist herbivore, are widely considered to influence ecological communities, ecosystems and human wellbeing by foraging preferentially on certain plant species. Previous research has shown that high deer density can change the relative abundance of tree species in forest communities. Furthermore, some evidence shows that resistance traits of plants can influence plant photosynthetic ability which is an important factor in an ecosystem. The purpose of this experiment is to test whether plant resistance traits can change within species when they are exposed to high levels of deer herbivores. The experiment, established in 1979, enclosed …

Effect Of Tablet Compression On The Dissolution Of Aspirin Tablets Using A Novel Off-Center Paddle Impeller (Opi) Dissolution Testing System, Chuan Sun

Theses

In the pharmaceutical industry, dissolution testing is routinely carried out to determine the dissolution rate of oral solid dosage forms. Among several testing devices, the USP Dissolution Apparatus 2 is the device most commonly used. However, despite its widespread use, this apparatus has been shown to produce test failures and to be very sensitive to a number of small geometry changes.

The objective of this study was to determine whether a novel dissolution system termed “OPI” for “off-center paddle impeller” was sensitive enough to determine differences in tablet dissolution profiles caused by different compression pressure during the tablet manufacturing process. …

Current Measurements In Electrospinning, Clinton K. Lien

Theses

Electrospinning provides an economical method of producing nanofibers. The current carried by the main spinning jet is found to be one of the factors in determining the diameter of the fiber product. However, current sources such as the corona discharge and secondary jets will lead to a systematic overestimation of the actual current value.

In this research, experiments with different configurations are set up to investigate the influence of various parameters on the measured current. It is noticed that the measured current is nearly independent on the flow rate of the solution and the external cover. A large amount of …

Qsar Modeling Of Chemical Penetration Enhancers Using Novel Replacement Algorithms, Hui Qiu

Theses

The applications of transdermal delivery are limited because of the resistance of the skin to drug diffusion. Only potent drugs, with molecular weight less than 500 Da, are suitable to cross the skin barrier. Chemical Penetration Enhancers (CPEs) are used to promote the absorption of solutes across the dermal layers. In this investigation, a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) model is applied to relate chemical penetration enhancer structures with the flux enhancement ratio through a statistical approach.

A database, consisting of 61 non-polar CPEs, is selected for the study. Each compound is represented by 777 QSAR descriptors, which encode the physical …

Methane Partial Oxidation Over Phthalocyanine Catalyst, Yuan Zhu

Theses

The partial oxidation reaction of methane over a zeolite-supported ruthenium phthalocyanine catalyst is studied in a packed bed reactor. The investigation of such reaction is desirable because partial oxidation of methane yields a synthesis gas that can be upgraded to liquid chemicals and fuels.

Reactants of this study are He-diluted CH₄ and O₂. The effluent includes unreacted CH₄ and O₂, He, CO, CO₂, H₂, and H₂O vapor. Thermal conductivity gas chromatography is applied to identify the mole fractions of reactants and products. System pressure is maintained at 50 …