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The Development Of A One-Shot Learning Machine Learning For Industrial Use With Predictive Maintenance, Conor O Brien Oct 2023

The Development Of A One-Shot Learning Machine Learning For Industrial Use With Predictive Maintenance, Conor O Brien

Theses

With the advent of Industry 4.0, Manufacturing operations have become more connected and automated. Modern industrial monitoring technology can monitor the performance of both the sensor utilised and the material under monitoring. This has led to a trend where legacy machines without this technology are being removed from production and/or not included in new reconfigurations of production lines, well before their productive lifespan had ended. A key driver for this is the difficulty in retrofitting Predictive Maintenance (PdM) systems to legacy machines, in part due to the machine-to-machine variation present in older machines. Accounting for this variation in PdM systems …


Combination Therapy Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer With Paclitaxel And Ambrisentan, A Selective Antagonist Of The Endothelin Type A Receptor, Inhibits Tumor Growth And Metastasis, Farah Nasser Almahrook Oct 2023

Combination Therapy Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer With Paclitaxel And Ambrisentan, A Selective Antagonist Of The Endothelin Type A Receptor, Inhibits Tumor Growth And Metastasis, Farah Nasser Almahrook

Theses

Cancer treatment is a big challenge especially when associated with metastasis. Moreover, the importance of using combination therapy is increasing, especially for highly invasive, drug-resistant cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Ambrisentan, a selective antagonist of the endothelin type A receptor (ETAR) was previously shown to reduce metastasis of TNBC in a preclinical tumor model when used prophylactically. In the current study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Ambrisentan, given as monotherapy or in combination with Paclitaxel, on TNBC. The data show that oral dosing with Ambrisentan led to a significant retardation in tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, combining …


Investigation And Analysis Of Circular Economy Indicators In The Manufacturing Industry, Dina Al Jamal Oct 2023

Investigation And Analysis Of Circular Economy Indicators In The Manufacturing Industry, Dina Al Jamal

Theses

In the pursuit of sustainable development, the concept of the Circular Economy (CE) has emerged as a compelling and transformative alternative to the traditional linear economic model (i.e., take, make, use, dispose). The limitations of the linear economy in addressing contemporary global challenges have highlighted the urgency of adopting a more regenerative approach. Simply put, the circular economy aims to maximize the value extracted from available resources over their lifecycle, thereby ensuring the fulfillment of both current and future generations' needs. This thesis sheds light on a pivotal solution for effectively integrating circular economy principles into enterprises, thereby reinforcing sustainability. …


Enhancing Autism Education: Exploring Interactive Videos And Ai Integration For Effective Teaching, Fatima Ahmed Alraeesi Oct 2023

Enhancing Autism Education: Exploring Interactive Videos And Ai Integration For Effective Teaching, Fatima Ahmed Alraeesi

Theses

This research focuses on enhancing autism education by integrating interactive videos and AI solutions to improve teacher training. As the number of autistic students rises, it becomes crucial for special education teachers to employ effective teaching strategies tailored to individual needs. The most effective teaching methods for autistic students involve understanding the condition and incorporating customized instruction strategies, such as adapting assignments to suit the student's needs, assisting those with difficulty speaking, and employing visual aids for better organization. The proposed solution involves utilizing interactive video technology to train teachers, bridging the gap between research and practical implementation of educational …


Molecular And Biochemical Analysis Of Cytochrome P450 2c19 And 2d6, Reema Saleous Oct 2023

Molecular And Biochemical Analysis Of Cytochrome P450 2c19 And 2d6, Reema Saleous

Theses

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is a relatively new field of study. It links genetics to pharmacology since it deals with the influence of the genetic makeup of the individual on their ability to respond to specific medications. Some of the most important genes in this field, dubbed very important pharmacogenes (VIPs), belong to the cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily of drug metabolizing enzymes. The two members of this family that are the main focus of this thesis are CYP2C19 and CYP2D6. They play major roles in the metabolism of numerous medications, and it is therefore imperative that variations within those genes in various …


Equilibrium And Active Self-Assembly And Collective Properties Of Network-Based Biomaterials, Lauren Melcher Sep 2023

Equilibrium And Active Self-Assembly And Collective Properties Of Network-Based Biomaterials, Lauren Melcher

Theses

Biological systems have the unique ability to self-organize, respond to environmental stimuli, and generate autonomous motion and work. The fields of biomaterials and synthetic biology seek to recapitulate these remarkable properties of biological systems in in-vitro reconstitutions of biological systems, and in abiotic or biotic-abiotic hybrid materials to better understand the underlying rules of life and to predict the design principles of biomimetic smart materials. Motivated by this, we create bottom-up mathematical models, rooted in experiments, of network-based synthetic and biological materials. These encompass two-dimensional colloidal networks connected by rhythmic crosslinkers, and three-dimensional biopolymer networks assembled via depletion interactions, physical …


Upgrading Biomass To Bio-Oil: Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation And Pyrolysis Of Vanillin And Anisole Biomass Model Compounds, Ahmad J. Yaghi Sep 2023

Upgrading Biomass To Bio-Oil: Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation And Pyrolysis Of Vanillin And Anisole Biomass Model Compounds, Ahmad J. Yaghi

Theses

The purpose of this project is to investigate capacity of selected formulations of catalysts toward the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of biomass model compounds in the gas phase with the underlying aim to produce hydrocarbon cuts that can be directly used as transportation fuels. The first part of this project is to devoted to illustrate procedures for the synthesis of potent (HDO) catalysts. Synthesized catalysts encompass nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and palladium (Pd) supported on zeolite, cerium oxide (CeO2) or alumina (Al2O3). Various characterization techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR) were deployed …


Comparison Of The Effects Of Catchment Land Use/Land Cover On Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Communities And Water Quality In Three Rivers Of The Dingle Peninsula, Brooke Elizabeth Chesler Aug 2023

Comparison Of The Effects Of Catchment Land Use/Land Cover On Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Communities And Water Quality In Three Rivers Of The Dingle Peninsula, Brooke Elizabeth Chesler

Theses

The Dingle Peninsula, a dynamic coastal ecosystem in the southwest of Ireland, provides an appropriate location to study the delicate balance that exists between human activities i.e., tourism, agriculture, and forestry, and their resulting impacts on the environment. Thus, the adjacent Feohanagh, Milltown, and Owenmore catchments were analysed via three-minute kick-samples divided proportionally by substrata for macroinvertebrate community composition, in-situ physico-chemical measurements for water quality parameters, and CORINE classification of land use and land cover (LULC). The overall goal was to identify the effect of LULC on water quality using macroinvertebrates as bioindicators. The presence of sensitive or tolerant macroinvertebrates …


Modifying Attention Away From Food Cues: The Utility Of Attentional Bias Modification Training Among Emotional Eaters, Moet Aita Aug 2023

Modifying Attention Away From Food Cues: The Utility Of Attentional Bias Modification Training Among Emotional Eaters, Moet Aita

Theses

The current study (N=153) was designed to explore the relationships between emotional eating and emotion regulation, attentional biases, and food consumption. Emotional eating describes the tendency to eat in response to emotional experiences, especially negative emotions, and is associated with the consumption of high-fat, sugary foods. The present study explored whether food intake could be modified among a sample of emotional and non-emotional eaters by shifting attention away from high-calorie pictorial food stimuli using the attentional bias modification (ABM) training paradigm. Participants were randomly assigned to either the attentional-training group, placebo-training group, or control group. Following the training, participants underwent …


Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of The Marine Invertebrate Community Associated With Amathia Verticillata, Emily Masini Zavacki, Nathalie Reyns Phd, Michel Boudrias Phd, Jeff Crooks Phd Aug 2023

Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of The Marine Invertebrate Community Associated With Amathia Verticillata, Emily Masini Zavacki, Nathalie Reyns Phd, Michel Boudrias Phd, Jeff Crooks Phd

Theses

Non-indigenous species (NIS) are often thought to have negative consequences on ecosystems. However, some NIS are ecosystem engineers, organisms that modify and/or create habitats by changing physical structure (either biogenic or abiotic), such as Amathia verticillata (previously Zoobotryon verticillatum [delle Chiaje, 1822]), a non-indigenous bryozoan with a global distribution. The role of NIS as ecosystem engineers can be complicated due to the mix of impacts that they may have on the ecosystem. Thus, the role of A. verticillata as an ecosystem engineer may shift our understanding about its ecological role on anthropogenic structures, such as docks through an urbanized area, …


Analysis Of The Aerosol Composition, Its Deposition And Uptake In Electronic Cigarette Users, Chamodhi Ravihansi Polgampola Ralalage Aug 2023

Analysis Of The Aerosol Composition, Its Deposition And Uptake In Electronic Cigarette Users, Chamodhi Ravihansi Polgampola Ralalage

Theses

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generate aerosol (particles in a gas matrix) by vaporizing the e-liquid, consisting of propylene glycol (PG), glycerol (GL), nicotine, and other additives. Aerosol enters the respiratory tract (RT) of the user, where part of it is deposited, while the rest is exhaled. Compounds in the gas and particle phase have different deposition mechanisms in the RT, thus determining the location of deposition. The location of deposition and amount of a compound will influence the biological response in the body. Identifying the composition of each constituent in the gas phase and particle phase would enhance the understanding of …


Analyzing The Impact Of Process-Oriented Technology In Programming Education, Kate Arendes Aug 2023

Analyzing The Impact Of Process-Oriented Technology In Programming Education, Kate Arendes

Theses

Currently, there exist several factors in programming education that deter novice programmers. Computer science students are often significantly penalized for programs that do not compile, reflecting how current teaching standards are focused on the product of the student’s efforts, rather than the independent pieces of code that would otherwise execute properly. Novice programmers struggle with interpreting error messages that identify where and why a program failed, but are written with the assumption that the author already has mastered the fundamental concepts that they are trying to implement. In the classroom, educators may show presentations with pre-written code or perform live …


Purification And Detection Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria From Whole Blood With Nano-Sieve, Xinye Chen Aug 2023

Purification And Detection Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria From Whole Blood With Nano-Sieve, Xinye Chen

Theses

Life-threatening bloodstream infections (BSI), such as sepsis, mainly caused by the body’s syndromic response to pathogen infection, are a major public health concern, leading to ~11 million deaths each year. The identification of sepsis presents significant challenges in the diagnostic process, as the isolation of low concentration pathogens from bodily fluids (e.g., human blood) is extremely demanding, and typically relies on time-consuming and complicated isolation processes. Therefore, this work aims to explore the potential of microfluidics as a powerful tool for rapid purification and concentration of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) from blood samples, meanwhile developing a molecular diagnostic technology by combining …


Dual Function Molecular Imaging Probes For Breast Cancer, Christopher Denyse Aug 2023

Dual Function Molecular Imaging Probes For Breast Cancer, Christopher Denyse

Theses

Breast cancer (BrCa) is a pressing health concern, necessitating the development of effective imaging and therapeutic agents. To address this need, we designed and synthesized molecularly targeted imaging and therapeutic agents that combine visualization and treatment of tumors in real-time. Our approach involved the development of dual-modal agents, incorporating the fluorescent near infrared (NIR) dye, IRDye78, and a chlorin-based photosensitizer (PS) dye, Mesopyropheoborbide-a (mPPa), coupled to a BrCa-targeting peptide, "18-4." Additionally, we created a water-soluble, single-modal targeted PS probe for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of BrCa for use guided by other imaging methods. Our methodology was based on a modular approach, …


Reconsidering Fertility Imagery In The Murals Of Teotihuacan, Grace T.O. Ray Aug 2023

Reconsidering Fertility Imagery In The Murals Of Teotihuacan, Grace T.O. Ray

Theses

This thesis explores fertility imagery in the Tepantitla Paradise and Tetitla Goddess murals of ancient Teotihuacan in Mexico. In the beginning of the 1970s, these murals had been utilized as case studies in the assertion for the existence of a central female deity known as the Great Goddess, based on an abundance of fertility imagery within the scenes. Scholarship in the field has since discredited this theory, but the deity in the murals remains unidentified. In addition, the city does not offer surviving written texts to provide context for cosmological beliefs, only Teotihuacan’s vibrant material culture was left behind after …


Biomimetic Aerosol Exposure System For In Vitro Human Airway Exposure Studies, Samantha Emma Sarles Aug 2023

Biomimetic Aerosol Exposure System For In Vitro Human Airway Exposure Studies, Samantha Emma Sarles

Theses

Tobacco use remains the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, disproportionately affecting residents of rural areas, people who are financially disadvantaged, and adults who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. The impact that electronic cigarettes will have on public health is not yet fully understood. Combinations of electronic cigarette products, human airway geometries, and user behaviors create barriers to understanding products’ interaction with the human airway and their health effects. Current in vitro emissions systems, also called smoking robots, lack biomimicry, use unrealistic flow conditions, produce unrealistic aerosol dose, and provide inaccurate bio-mechanical cues to cell …


A Familiar Unknown, Samantha Sonnenfeld Aug 2023

A Familiar Unknown, Samantha Sonnenfeld

Theses

This thesis examines how using glass can challenge perceptions of small moments and their importance by overlaying stellar imagery on everyday spaces to imbue notions of investigative leisure with cosmic importance. I use many types of glass to reinterpret what function can mean and how objects can create lenses for understanding each other, our universe, and ultimately ourselves. Looking at where conversations are shared and introspection blossoms, I find that objects hold their own gravity and can draw us into a moment that sets the scene for solo or group development.


Strategy-Specific Differentiation In Response To Resources And Drivers Of Spring Migration Phenology In Rocky Mountain Elk, Storm Crews Aug 2023

Strategy-Specific Differentiation In Response To Resources And Drivers Of Spring Migration Phenology In Rocky Mountain Elk, Storm Crews

Theses

Elk (Cervus canadensis) are known to exhibit high movement strategy diversity compared to other ungulate species. Most elk populations are migratory or partially migratory, presenting unique conservation and management challenges. For example, successful maintenance of multiple seasonal ranges and connectivity between them is necessary to conserve populations with migratory behaviors. Further study of the structure and maintenance of movement strategy diversity within partially migratory populations is needed to assist management and refine fundamental ecological theory. Improved understanding of the determinants of elk migratory timing is also important, with the dynamics of significant drivers likely to shift under future climate change …


Understanding Natural Resource Conflicts As Causes And Consequences Of The Transition Towards Ecosystem Management: A Case Study Of The Shawnee National Forest In Southern Illinois, Usa, Nicole Mooar Aug 2023

Understanding Natural Resource Conflicts As Causes And Consequences Of The Transition Towards Ecosystem Management: A Case Study Of The Shawnee National Forest In Southern Illinois, Usa, Nicole Mooar

Theses

Since the 1980s, approaches to managing forest resources in the US and around the world have been shifting from the conventional sustained yield approach towards ecosystem management. Ecosystem management is a resource management paradigm that seeks to employ a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to landscape scale conservation, as well as the integration of socio-economic and biophysical considerations with the overall goal of enhancing the health and resilience of coupled social-ecological systems. While the role of natural resource conflicts as drivers of the transition towards ecosystem management has received some research attention, the potential roles of ecosystem management in emerging natural …


Differential Movement Response Of Silver Carp To Individual And Environmental Conditions In The Illinois And Wabash Rivers, Taylor Mogavero Aug 2023

Differential Movement Response Of Silver Carp To Individual And Environmental Conditions In The Illinois And Wabash Rivers, Taylor Mogavero

Theses

Knowledge about the spatial dynamics of invasive species is essential to predict, restrict, and prevent their spread to new areas. Invasive Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) populations are expanding on all fronts and are threatening to establish in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Understanding their movement patterns is vital to prevent their populations from spreading further and to improve management efficiency. This study looked at multiple factors to understand which have an influence on the movement of invasive Silver Carp in two different river systems. Chapter 1 examined the relationship between individual and environmental factors—including length, body condition, temperature, and discharge—and movement …


Design Of A Current Mode Circuit For Zeroth-Order Optimization Of Memristor-Based Neuromorphic Systems, Shery George Mathews Jul 2023

Design Of A Current Mode Circuit For Zeroth-Order Optimization Of Memristor-Based Neuromorphic Systems, Shery George Mathews

Theses

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have become widely used over the past decade due to their excellent performance in applications such as object recognition and classification, time series forecasting, machine translation, and more. Key factors contributing to the success of ANNs in these domains include the availability of large datasets and constant improvements in powerful parallel processing architectures such as graphics processing units (GPUs). However, modern ANN models' growing size and complexity preclude their deployment on resource-constrained hardware for edge applications. Neuromorphic computing seeks to address this challenge by using brain-inspired principles to co-design the ANN hardware and algorithms for improved …


Rare Earth Element Extraction From Secondary Source Materials: Understanding Economics And Environmental Impacts Of Development., Ajay Kumar Gupta Jul 2023

Rare Earth Element Extraction From Secondary Source Materials: Understanding Economics And Environmental Impacts Of Development., Ajay Kumar Gupta

Theses

Rare earth elements are an integral part of modern industry. Although not “rare” in terms of crustal abundance, concentrations in natural deposits are rarely of economic benefit. Vital to high-tech sectors and sustainable technologies, such as renewable energy, electric transportation, military, and medicine, rare earths are traditionally produced with high environmental impact and complications of economic efficiency in separating 15 – 17 chemically similar metals that occur in tandem. Given the rapid growth projected for these metals, development is expected to increase around the globe and new deposits for rare earths is of interest. Recovering them from secondary sources, such …


Design And Optimization Of Devices And Architectures For Neuromorphic Silicon Photonics, Matthew Van Niekerk Jul 2023

Design And Optimization Of Devices And Architectures For Neuromorphic Silicon Photonics, Matthew Van Niekerk

Theses

Neuromorphic photonics is an exciting field at the intersection of neuroscience, integrated photonics, and microelectronics. To realize large-scale neural network-inspired systems, we must have a toolbox of linear and nonlinear operators. Here, we review state of the art for integrated photonic linear operators, which can perform linear operations using interference or wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) techniques, and nonlinear operators, which perform nonlinear operations with a combination of photodetection and modulation. We present some devices that fit into the needed toolbox. A new type of directional coupler, using skin depth engineering of electromagnetic waves, suppresses optical crosstalk and eliminates the need for waveguide …


Phylogeny And Taxonomy Of Genus Physaria In North America, Binoshi Hettihewa Jul 2023

Phylogeny And Taxonomy Of Genus Physaria In North America, Binoshi Hettihewa

Theses

Physaria is a genus of ~108 species belonging to family Brassicaceae that is predominantly distributed in Western North America, but one species occurs in Arctic Russia and Northern Canada and several species occur in South America. Regardless of the vast number of species in the genus, the genus lacks a well-resolved phylogeny representing many taxa, partially because phylogeny reconstruction is complicated by the fact that many species of Physaria vary in chromosome numbers and ploidy levels. In chapter 1, we review how polyploids are formed and become established and summarize what is known about variation in chromosome number and ploidy …


Development And Validation Of Epidemiological Models For Informing Intervention Strategies And Preventing Critical Resource Shortages, Kimberly A. Dautel Jul 2023

Development And Validation Of Epidemiological Models For Informing Intervention Strategies And Preventing Critical Resource Shortages, Kimberly A. Dautel

Theses

Epidemiological models have been used to measure, understand, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Both model development and model validation are important when utilizing models to help inform public health responses. The goal of this work is to advance mathematical modeling efforts of infectious diseases of current worldwide importance through model development and validation. The model development portion focuses on modeling interventions strategies for two infectious diseases. The first model formulated captures education campaign as the collective effort aimed at educating the public about the nature of the Ebola virus, its transmission routes, and the importance of early detection and …


Diffractive Light And Solar Sails, Prateek Ranjan Srivastava Jul 2023

Diffractive Light And Solar Sails, Prateek Ranjan Srivastava

Theses

In the realm of space exploration, humanity has achieved remarkable feats like landing humans on the moon. However, our progress in venturing beyond our solar system has been limited. Light sails, which utilize photon momentum from laser or solar radiation, o↵er a promising propulsion technology. Unlike traditional rockets, light sails carry no fuel and can achieve high velocities and precise orbital maneuvers. In this research, we propose using an elementary space variant di↵ractive film to design passively stable light sails propelled by laser radiation. We also explore applying this concept to solar sails, enabling spiral trajectories and high orbital inclination …


An Evolutionary Comparative Study Of Congenital Stationary Night Blindness-Associated Trpm1 Genetic Variants Of Uncertain Significance In Horses And Humans Utilizing Caenorhabditis Elegans, Gabrielle Davis Jul 2023

An Evolutionary Comparative Study Of Congenital Stationary Night Blindness-Associated Trpm1 Genetic Variants Of Uncertain Significance In Horses And Humans Utilizing Caenorhabditis Elegans, Gabrielle Davis

Theses

Congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) is a heterogeneous collection of genetic diseases affecting the eyes and vision in horses and humans. Current research has implicated several genetic mutations impacting different genes involved in phototransduction and signal transmission, including TRPM1. In horses, genetic mutations in TRPM1 also result in a leopard spotting pattern or leopard complex. The goal of this study is to examine the potential impact of CSNB associated TRPM1 missense variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Previous research in Caenorhabditis elegans have revealed an orthologous TRPM1 gene known as gon-2 that allows for comparative studies. The evolutionary relationship of …


Characterization Of Antimicrobial Properties Of Excrement And Functional Microbiome Of Black Vultures (Coragyps Atratus), Bridgette Gray Jul 2023

Characterization Of Antimicrobial Properties Of Excrement And Functional Microbiome Of Black Vultures (Coragyps Atratus), Bridgette Gray

Theses

Black vultures, Coragyps atratus, are obligate scavenging birds that consume and dispose of decaying carcasses and carrion. They fulfill a key ecological niche in the environments in which they live. It has been observed that these vultures sometimes excrete bodily waste onto their legs. This adaptive behavior could help aid them in controlling bacteria and other microbes they encounter while stepping into a carcass to eat. This study directly examined the antimicrobial properties of the excrement of black vultures across various bacterial species utilizing a zone of inhibition test and a nematode species utilizing a survival assay. The black vulture …


Continual Domain Adaptation Through Knowledge Distillation, Georgi Thomas Jul 2023

Continual Domain Adaptation Through Knowledge Distillation, Georgi Thomas

Theses

Domain Adaptation (DA) techniques aim to overcome the domain shift between a source domain used for training and the target domain used for testing and deployment. Domain adaptation methods assume the entire target domain is accessible during the adaptation process. We use efficient architectures in the continual data-constrained DA paradigm where the unlabeled data in the target domain is received continually in batches. In recent years, Vision Transformers have emerged as an alternative to traditional Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) as the feature extraction backbone for image classification and other computer vision tasks. Within the field of DA, these attention-based architectures …


Phylogeography Of The Pacific Sardine, Sardinops Sagax, In The Northeastern Pacific, Ella Adams Jun 2023

Phylogeography Of The Pacific Sardine, Sardinops Sagax, In The Northeastern Pacific, Ella Adams

Theses

The Pacific Sardine, (Sardinops sagax), is a small, coastal pelagic species in the family Clupeidae. Sardine are an ecologically important forage fish for many animals, including larger, economically and ecologically important fishes, and have historically supported an important commercial fishery. When the fishery declined in the 1940s, a massive effort in understanding population structure for the Pacific Sardine resulted in a wealth of literature. Initially, these studies agreed on a large panmictic population with high annual variation, but the general consensus has since been that there are multiple subpopulations of the Pacific Sardine along the West Coast of …