Digital Commons Network^™

Design Of A Neuromemristive Echo State Network Architecture, Qutaiba Mohammed Saleh

Theses

Echo state neural networks (ESNs) provide an efficient classification technique for spatiotemporal signals. The feedback connections in the ESN enable feature extraction in both spatial and temporal components in time series data. This property has been used in several application domains such as image and video analysis, anomaly detection, and speech recognition. The software implementations of the ESN demonstrated efficiency in processing such applications, and have low design cost and flexibility. However, hardware implementation is necessary for power constrained resources applications such as therapeutic and mobile devices. Moreover, software realization consumes an order or more power compared to the hardware …

Doping Profile Measurements In Silicon Using Terahertz Domain Spectroscopy (Thz-Tds) Via Electrochemical Anodic Oxidation, Gaurav Tulsyan

Theses

Doping profiles are engineered to manipulate device properties and to determine electrical performances of microelectronic devices frequently. To support engineering studies afterward, essential information is usually required from physically characterized doping profiles.

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), Spreading Resistance Profiling (SRP) and Electrochemical Capacitance Voltage (ECV) profiling are standard techniques for now to map profile. SIMS yields a chemical doping profile via ion sputtering process and owns a better resolution, whereas ECV and SRP produce an electrical doping profile detecting free carriers in microelectronic devices. The major difference between electrical and chemical doping profiles is at heavily doped regions greater …

Measuring The Terahertz Refractive Index Of Boron-Doped Silicon Using A Photoconducting Antenna Terahertz Generator, Brendan P. Mcnamara

Theses

The frequency range commonly referred to as the terahertz gap occurs between the infrared and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This range of frequencies is highly suited to investigating the free carrier interactions of materials, as the range is particularly sensitive to these interactions. Using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), it is possible to measure the effect these interactions have on a terahertz pulse and, using classical optical techniques, determine the terahertz refractive index of a given material, which is directly related to the free carrier spectrum of said material. Knowing the refractive index of a material in the THz …

A Switched System Identification Approach To Spindle Modeling, Mohsin Farooq

Theses

Due to new advances in convex optimization, in particular, semidefinite programming, previously infeasible problems are now in the realm of possibility. Mainly, there have been new breakthroughs in the model- ing of signals as the output of switched dynamical systems where the switching indicates underlying events of interest. This method is known as hybrid system identification. These problems can be formulated as polynomial optimization problems by which, through algebraic refor- mulations, convex optimization approaches now exist.

In this work, we explore the application of these new approaches, which lay at the intersection of systems and control with machine learning, for …

A Comparison Of Fish Communities In Southwestern Lake Ontario Tributaries From One Century Ago, Ben Carson

Theses

I evaluated a study performed by Albert Hazen Wright between 1902 and 1904, on the Tributaries of Lake Ontario in Monroe County, NY. I extracted data from Wright's original graphical analysis, and analyzed these data with Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), to assess the value of these data for use as historical benchmarks for future studies on the same tributaries. Wright identified 52 species of fish within his distribution diagrams, eight of the species were rare species and were not analyzed with the CCA. Of the 44 remaining species analyzed, 37 matched very well between Wright's interpretations of his data, and …

J-Wave Syndromes: Brugada And Early Repolarization Syndromes., Charles Antzelevitch, Gan-Xin Yan

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

A prominent J wave is encountered in a number of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia syndromes, including the Brugada syndrome and early repolarization syndromes. Brugada syndrome and early repolarization syndromes differ with respect to the magnitude and lead location of abnormal J waves and are thought to represent a continuous spectrum of phenotypic expression termed J-wave syndromes. Despite two decades of intensive research, risk stratification and the approach to therapy of these 2 inherited cardiac arrhythmia syndromes are still undergoing rapid evolution. Our objective in this review is to provide an integrated synopsis of the clinical characteristics, risk stratifiers, and molecular, ionic, …

Sex And Race And/Or Ethnicity Differences In Patients Undergoing Radiofrequency Ablation For Barrett's Esophagus: Results From The U.S. Rfa Registry., Sarina Pasricha, Nan Li, William J. Bulsiewicz, Richard I. Rothstein, Anthony Infantolino, Atilla Ertan, Daniel S. Camara, Evan S. Dellon, George Triadafilopoulos, Charles J. Lightdale, Ryan D. Madanick, William D. Lyday, Raman V. Muthusamy, Bergein F. Overholt, Nicholas J. Shaheen

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Little is known about differences in Barrett's esophagus (BE) characteristics by sex and race and/or ethnicity or these differences in response to radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

OBJECTIVE: We compared disease-specific characteristics, treatment efficacy, and safety outcomes by sex and race and/or ethnicity in patients treated with RFA for BE.

DESIGN: The U.S. RFA patient registry is a multicenter collaboration reporting processes and outcomes of care for patients treated with RFA for BE.

PATIENTS: Patients enrolled with BE.

INTERVENTIONS: RFA.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: We assessed safety (stricture, bleeding, perforation, hospitalization), efficacy (complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia [CEIM]), complete eradication of dysplasia, …

The Experience Of Recalling Christian Spiritual Songs On Affect Dysregulation In The Mood And Anxiety Disorders, Nancy J. Cochran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although existing treatment methods for the mood and anxiety disorders have improved the lives of many who suffer from these conditions, there remains a significant portion of the population for whom these methods are only partially effective or are ineffective entirely. The purpose of the present study was to explore the experiences of a spiritually-integrated music therapy intervention with a nonclinical population during times of affect dysregulation. Ten participants used this intervention over the course of a two-week period and were interviewed regarding their experiences. The results indicated that the participants were impacted in their biological, spiritual, social and psychological …

Coxiella Burnetii And Leishmania Mexicana Residing Within Similar Parasitophorous Vacuoles Elicit Disparate Host Responses, Jess A. Millar, Raquel Valdés, Fenil Kacharia, Scott M. Landfear, Eric D. Cambronne, Rahul Raghavan, Lynn Soong, Emilio Luis Malchiodi

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Coxiella burnetii is a bacterium that thrives in an acidic parasitophorous vacuole (PV) derived from lysosomes. Leishmania mexicana, a eukaryote, has also independently evolved to live in a morphologically similar PV. As Coxiella and Leishmania are highly divergent organisms that cause different diseases, we reasoned that their respective infections would likely elicit distinct host responses despite producing phenotypically similar parasite-containing vacuoles. The objective of this study was to investigate, at the molecular level, the macrophage response to each pathogen. Infection of THP-1 (human monocyte/macrophage) cells with Coxiella and Leishmania elicited disparate host responses. At 5 days post-infection, when …

Big Data, Bigger Dilemmas: A Critical Review, Hamid Ekbia, Michael Mattioli, Inna Koupe, G. Arave, Ali Ghazinejad, Timothy Bowman, Venkatq R. Suri, Tsou Andrew, Scott Weingart, Cassidy R. Sugimoto

Articles by Maurer Faculty

The recent interest in Big Data has generated a broad range of new academic, corporate, and policy practices along with an evolving debate among its proponents, detractors, and skeptics. While the practices draw on a common set of tools, techniques, and technologies, most contributions to the debate come either from a particular disciplinary perspective or with a focus on a domain-specific issue. A close examination of these contributions reveals a set of common problematics that arise in various guises and in different places. It also demonstrates the need for a critical synthesis of the conceptual and practical dilemmas surrounding Big …

Technology Assessment Of Waste Disposal Technologies For Tillamook County, Jing Jiang, Abhishek Jain, Jonathan Lui, Jorge Garcia, Standley Limarta

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

We propose a two-level filter system to evaluate the potential for alternative waste management practices by conversion of locally-generated waste products such as animal mortality, manure, and wood waste into beneficial products such as energy in Tillamook county of Oregon. At the first level - coarse grained filter, three basic factors, technical readiness level (TRL), scaling capacity, and feedstock, are used to initially filter out the scanned technologies which can be potentially used in waste management. At the secondary level filter - fine grained filter, a numeric scoring model is created to evaluate technologies from the output of the first …

Review Of Biomedical Čerenkov Luminescence Imaging Applications, Kaveh Tanha, Ali Mahmoud Pashazadeh, Brian W. Pogue

Dartmouth Scholarship

Čerenkov radiation is a fascinating optical signal, which has been exploited for unique diagnostic biological sensing and imaging, with significantly expanded use just in the last half decade. Čerenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI) has desirable capabilities for niche applications, using specially designed measurement systems that report on radiation distributions, radiotracer and nanoparticle concentrations, and are directly applied to procedures such as medicine assessment, endoscopy, surgery, quality assurance and dosimetry. When compared to the other imaging tools such as PET and SPECT, CLI can have the key advantage of lower cost, higher throughput and lower imaging time. CLI can also provide imaging …

Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Imaging For Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist-Inhibiting Atherosclerosis And Markers Of Inflammation In Atherosclerotic Development In Apolipoprotein-E Knockout Mice, Rong-Juan Li, Yan Sun, Qin Wang, Jiao Yang, Ya Yang, Li Song, Zheng Wang, Xiang-Hong Luo, Rui-Juan Su

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

We sought to validate the hypothesis that the development of atherosclerosis can be suppressed by the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in murine models of atherosclerosis in vivo, noninvasively seen by means of high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy, and we studied changes in inflammatory markers such as IL-1 and C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels in these models of atherosclerosis.

We divided IL-1Ra+/−/apolipoprotein-E (apoE)−/− and IL-1Ra+/+/apoE−/− mice into 2 age groups, used as atherosclerotic models. The control groups were age-matched IL-1Ra+/+/apoE+/+ mice. Plaque thickness was measured in the ascending aorta in short-axis images by means of ultrasound and histology. Plasma levels of IL-1 and …

Perceived Effects Of Community Gardening In Lower Mississippi Delta Gardening Participants, Alicia S. Landry, Nikki Chittendon, Christine Eh Coker, Caitlin Weiss

Journal of Extension

This article describes the perceived physical and psychological health impacts of community gardening on participants in the Mississippi Delta. Themes identified include the use of gardening as an educational tool and as a means to increase self-efficacy and responsibility for personal and community health. Additional benefits of gardening as identified by the study include exposure to new types of healthy foods, increased physical activity, and the building of a legacy. Incorporation of gardening into school curriculum could equip young residents with gardening skills and improve the likelihood that community gardens will be maintained.

Low-Income Mothers' Perceptions Of Barriers To Using Farmers Markets: A Snap-Ed Initiative To Understand Access Points To Local Foods, Sarah A. Misyak, Meredith Ledllie Johnson, Mary M. Mcferren, Jennifer L. Culhane, Kim L. Niewolny, Kathryn Hosig, Elena Serrano

Journal of Extension

The study reported here describes a Virginia Family Nutrition Program's target population's perceptions of barriers to using a farmers market to access local foods. Mothers from a rural county photographed their shopping experience. Using a photo elicitation process to develop themes related to food access, the mothers identified barriers to shopping at farmers markets. The results can provide guidance to agents, program assistants, and farmers market coordinators on promoting use of farmers markets by low-income populations. The development of experiential learning opportunities to overcome barriers is critical if farmers markets are encouraged as an avenue for promoting healthy eating.

Weed Garden: An Effective Tool For Extension Education, Leslie Beck, Aaron J. Patton

Journal of Extension

A weed garden was constructed to quantify and improve identification skills among clientele. The garden was planted with over 100 weed species based on surveys on problematic weeds. The weed garden proved useful for introducing additional hands-on learning activities into traditional lecture-based seminars. Through seminar and field day attendee feedback, data were gathered on weeds commonly misidentified. The data reflected the need to continue focusing education efforts on weed identification and to increase training on weeds commonly misidentified. Through continued use of the weed garden, Extension specialists can enhance clientele identification skills and aid in developing effective weed management strategies.

Parents' Calcium Knowledge Is Associated With Parental Practices To Promote Calcium Intake Among Parents Of Early Adolescent Children, Carolyn W. Gunther, Angela M. Rose, Christine Bruhn, Mary Cluskey, Marla Reicks, Rickelle Richards, Siew Sun Wong, C.J. Boushey, Scottie Misner, Beth Olson

Journal of Extension

The study reported here aimed to identify the relationship of parents' calcium knowledge with diet-related parental practices and determinants of calcium knowledge. A cross-sectional survey was conducted measuring parental practices, calcium knowledge, and demographics. A convenience sample of 599 racially/ethnically diverse parents of children 10-13y completed questionnaires. Higher education and having a daughter were associated with higher calcium knowledge; being Asian or Hispanic and born outside the U.S. were associated with lower calcium knowledge. Parents with greater calcium knowledge were more likely to engage in healthy parenting practices. These factors may be important considerations for Extension educators in nutrition education.

Using Dice Games To Teach Hazards, Risk, And Outcomes In Haccp Classes, Omar A. Oyarzabal

Journal of Extension

This article describes the incorporation of a dice game (piggy) to teach food safety hazards and risk in an engaging way in HACCP classes. Each player accumulates points by rolling two dice, but loses points in a turn when rolling a 7, or all accumulated points when rolling two consecutive doubles. This game helps explain the difference between a concrete event, a hazard (number 7) and risk of that hazard occurring (the probability of rolling number 7). Two consecutive doubles inflict a more severe loss and can help explain the variability in outcomes of food safety hazards.

Analysis Of A Health Occupations Education Model Of Integrated Academics, Karen E. Gable Ed.D., Beverly A. Ransdell B.A.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

The integration of academics and occupational education is a concept supported by the business community, vocational educators and state and federal policy makers. The 1990 Carl Perkins Amendments required federal moneys to be spent on progmms that integrate academic and vocational education course sequencing, so that students achieve both academic and occupational competencies (Section 235). This study analyzed the process and product of courses developed within a secondary Health Professions Center magnet program in Indiana against the elements of success as outlined by Statz and Gmbb (1991) and Pritz (1989).

Irex Fellow And Health Care In Azerbaijan, Iskandar Karimov M.D.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

No abstract provided.

Competency Assessment For Medical Laboratory Practitioners And Existing Rules And Regulations, Rajeshree P. Parikh Ed.D., S.B.B., M.S., M.Ed., B.Ed., B.S.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

Some of the challenges clinical laboratories faces today are the design and implementation of competency assessment programs. Section 493.1451 (b) (8) of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA, 1988) regulations states that technical supervisors are responsible for ensuring that staff maintain competency to perform test procedures and report results promptly, accurately, and proficiently. CLIA (1988) requires that the skills of technical personnel be assessed annually. The purpose of this study was to compare the perceptions of certified medical laboratory personnel who worked as educators, employers, or practitioners regarding the required competencies of three levels of laboratory personnel: Medical …

Characteristics Of An Adult Learner, Jo Ann M. Whiteman, Larry R. Hudson Ph.D.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

The purpose of this qualitative research was to compile and compare comments about adult learners from actual adult learners to research on characteristics of adult learners to validate self-perceptions. Participants were selected using a readily accessible population from the course. References were actually provided by the participants.

Earthworm Study, Carmen Shryock R.N., R.M.A., B.S., M.Ed.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

No abstract provided.

Aspiration And Preparation Of African And Caucasian American High School Students Interested In Health Careers For The Years 1975, 1985 And 1995, J. Raymond Jones Ph.D., Chet Rzonca Ed.D.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

This study investigated changes in selected measures of educational aspiration, preparation, and achievement of African and Caucasian American high school students for the years 1975, 1985, and 1995. A 5% sample of all ACT test takers for each of the years comprised the initial sample from which those high school students indicating a commitment for a health careers collegiate major were selected. Crosstabulation was used to present the data. In view of the large sample size statistical tests of inference were not considered necessary. In general, when comparing the three time periods, we found increased interest in health careers, higher …

A Study Of Aids Policies As Reported By Practical Nursing Programs Of Indiana, David K. Miller Rnc, B.S.N., M.S. Ed, Karen E. Gable Ed.D.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

Many of the nation’s nursing schools have yet to develop AIDS policies. Without such policy implementation, nursing educators face many problems. A recent study of nursing programs in Nebraska revealed that none of the schools’ policies met all of the twenty-one criteria set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American College Health Association (ACHA). The purposes of this study were to determine how many of Indiana’s practical nursing programs have created or implemented AIDS policies and to compare and contrast those policies with the criteria set by Witmer (1992), the CDC, and the ACHA. A self-reporting …

Basic Medical Laboratory Techniques, Rita Van Fleet R.N., M.Ed.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

No abstract provided.

Multiskilled Health Practitioners: Results Of A Graduate Assessment, Sherry Makely M.S., Richard Bamberg Ph.D., Mark H. Mattes M.S.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

To ascertain the assimilation of graduates into multiskilled practice, the Add-A-Comp Program, Methodist Hospital of Indiana, conducted an assessment of graduates over a 30-month period. Input was received both from the program’s graduates and supervisors of the graduates. Of the 40 responding graduates, 24 (60%) had functioned in a multiskilled capacity. The majority of graduates reported increased job satisfaction, security, challenge, opportunities, and perceived value to their employer resulting from their multiskilled employment, with 58% receiving additional compensation for multiskilled functioning. Of the 24 supervisor respondents, 92% felt that their multiskilled graduates’ knowledge and competency levels had met their expectations …

Career Ladder In Medical Laboratory With Multiple Certifying Agencies, Shirley A. Baker Mt(Ascp)Sc, Ph.D.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

The purpose of this article is to review the medical laboratory career ladder. Every health profession has a career ladder which involves education and experience. During the past few decades, workers were in abundance and entry into health occupations was primarily accomplished through education. Presently, there is a shortage of health care workers during an age of increasing health care needs. Therefore, the time has come to reassess the other avenue of career development, namely experience. Barriers to certification by experience have developed through eligibility requirements established by certifying agencies attempting to ensure public safety during a period of rapid …

Answering The Need For Multi-Skilled Practitioners In Radiologic Science: A Model Circular Design, Duane H. Akroyd Ph.D., R.T.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

In response to recent cost containment pressures due to the restructuring of health reimbursement and shifts in patient care, hospitals have begun to operations. The necessity of personnel costs has generated are able to perform more than represents the single largest focus on the efficiency of their reducing idle time and overall interest in health care workers who one function. Radiologic science group of graduates under the auspices of the American Medical Association's Council on Allied Health Education and Accreditation. Staffing in departments of radiology represent a major personnel need within the hospital setting. The purposes of this paper are …

Development Of An Integrated Human Science Course For Science Credit In The Indianapolis Public Schools, Rosie L. Hicks

Journal of Health Occupations Education

For the first time, in the state of Indiana, a model and precedent for meeting minimum high school science graduation requirements with a health occupations program has been accomplished. Because of the national and state thrust on improving education by increasing requirements for graduation and for sciences in particular, this model was developed to facilitate student completion of science courses prior to in-depth health occupations coursework. The Indianapolis Public Schools were granted permission to offer a four semester, eight-credit Integrated Human Studies course at the Health Professions Center during the summer of 1987. The course provides four credits in the …