Digital Commons Network^™

Learnxdesign 2015 - Proceedings Of The 3rd International Conference For Design Education Researchers, Vol.3, Robin Vande Zande, Erik Bohemia, Ingvild Digranes

DRS Conference Volumes

Design in Kindergarten Through Higher Education. The conference was graciously hosted by the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. Highlighted at the heart of the conference were varied presentations and workshops. To prepare for the conference, we asked design researchers to submit their work for consideration. Scholars proposed 289 paper abstract, 31 workshop and 2 symposia submissions. The International Scientific Review Committee invited 243 paper abstract submissions to proceed into the next stage to submit as full papers. After double blind full paper review by the International Review Board, 106 full papers were accepted to be included in the …

Third-Harmonic Generation For Efficient Frequency Conversion And Microscopic Imaging, Cristina Rodriguez

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Third-harmonic (TH) generation microscopy is a highly versatile technique with a broad range of applications that derives its contrast from inhomogeneities in the linear and nonlinear optical properties of materials. The work presented in this thesis centers on the use of TH generation for microscopic imaging of dielectric thin film coatings and air plasmas, and analyzes stacks of thin films for efficient TH generation. We analyzed theoretically and experimentally the influence of spherical aberration in TH generation and determined the conditions under which this effect can be neglected. These results are relevant for applications involving material characterization, such as the …

The Electroreduction Of Carbon Dioxide On Porous Copper Nanoparticles, Monica Alisa Padilla

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Copper nanoparticles of porous, controlled structure were synthesized using the sacrificial support method (SSM). The precursor weight percent (wt%) of copper (Cu) and fumed silica (EH-5) was varied to determine the optimum ratio for this material. The precursors were reduced at i) 350°C in a 7% H2 atmosphere and ii) at 250°C in a 100% H2 atmosphere. The specific surface areas of the nanoparticles was measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller N2 absorption. The morphologies and widths of the nanoparticles were confirmed by imaging the nanoparticles by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The bulk composition of the nanoparticles was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). …

Using Electroencephalography To Assess Risk Taking Behavior In Varying Levels Of Congruency, John F. L. Pinner

Psychology ETDs

Electroencephalography (EEG) is an often-used tool of assessment to measure the electrical activity of populations of neurons at the scalp. Here, we used EEG in conjunction with a computer-based amalgamation of two common behavioral assessments: The Eriksen Flanker Task and the Balloon Analogue Risk Task to assess how varying levels of congruency modulate risky behavior. We recruited 36 participants from the University of New Mexico Department of Psychology research pool (Female = 26; Mean Age = 21.28, SD = 4.54). In this task, participants indicated the direction of the arrow in the center' from a line of five characters ' …

A Fatty Acid Based Bayesian Approach For Inferring Diet In Aquatic Consumers, Aaron W. E. Galloway, Michael T. Brett, Gordon W. Holtgrieve, Eric J. Ward, Ashley P. Ballantyne, Carolyn W. Burns, Martin J. Kainz, Doerthe C. Muller-Navarra, Jonas Persson, Joseph L. Ravet, Ursula Strandberg, Sami J. Taipale, Gunnel Alhgren

Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences Faculty Publications

We modified the stable isotope mixing model MixSIR to infer primary producer contributions to consumer diets based on their fatty acid composition. To parameterize the algorithm, we generated a ‘consumer-resource library’ of FA signatures of Daphnia fed different algal diets, using 34 feeding trials representing diverse phytoplankton lineages. This library corresponds to the resource or producer file in classic Bayesian mixing models such as MixSIR or SIAR. Because this library is based on the FA profiles of zooplankton consuming known diets, and not the FA profiles of algae directly, trophic modification of consumer lipids is directly accounted for. To test …

Muscle Fatigue At The End Of A Maximal Oxygen Consumption Test, Gustavo Sierra

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Fatigue is a task dependent multifactorial phenomenon, and the most common tool to analyze it is the VO2max test. The purpose of this study was to investigate if muscle is exhaustively taxed at the end of a VO2max test. This was based on data from sEMG, heart rate, and force applied to the pedals during and immediately after a VO2max test compared to an intense anaerobic test. Methods. 12 male participants (mean ± SD age = 28.09 ± 6.55 years, height = 176.7 ± 2.97 cm, weight = 73.31 ± 8.44 kg, and VO2max = 60.93 ± 9.75 mL/kg/min) were …

Mike And Emily Williams Spread Wealth Through Woods Society, Callie Mayo

University of Mississippi News

Alumni couple's generosity helps create scholarships like ones they received as students

Myocyte Contractility Can Be Maintained By Storing Cells With The Myosin Atpase Inhibitor 2,3 Butanedione Monoxime, Charles S. Chung, Charles Mechas, Kenneth S. Campbell

Physiology Faculty Publications

Isolated intact myocytes can be used to investigate contractile mechanisms and to screen new therapeutic compounds. These experiments typically require euthanizing an animal and isolating fresh cells each day or analyzing cultured myocytes, which quickly lose their rod-shaped morphology. Recent data suggest that the viability of canine myocytes can be prolonged using low temperature and N-benzyl-p-toluene sulfonamide (an inhibitor of skeletal myosin ATPase). We performed similar studies in rat myocytes in order to test whether the cardiac myosin ATPase inhibitors 2,3-Butanedione monoxime (BDM) and blebbistatin help to maintain cell-level function over multiple days. Myocytes were isolated from rats and separated …

Adsorption Selectivity Of Cations In Constrained Environments, Maria Oba

Master's Theses

The adsorption selectivity of Cs⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺ cations on a ZSM-5 zeolite was studied by collecting the adsorption envelopes and analyzing the data with adsorption modeling. The adsorption of alkali metals increased on ZSM-5 with high aluminum content and the adsorption sites were mainly controlled by aluminum adsorption sites. Four adsorption sites were observed from these adsorption envelopes. The data were described using an ion-exchange model with four reaction sites. The adsorption cations had a selectivity sequence of Cs⁺ > K⁺ > Na⁺ for inner-sphere complexes. The adsorption strength of each cation had …

A Soil Additive To Reduce Runoff And Pollutants From Dairy Heavy Use Areas, Alexander J. Pivarnik

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Electronic Structure Of The Pyranopterin Dithiolene Cofactor And Radical Reporters Of Excited State Interactions, Benjamin William Stein

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Crystal structures of multiple molybdenum enzymes clearly demonstrate interesting structural distortions involving the pyranopterin dithiolene. These distortions can be correlated with pyranopterin oxidation state through the use of DFT geometry optimized structures of the possible oxidation states, and these are correlated with enzyme family. The potential role of the pyranopterin dithiolene in electron transfer in the varied enzyme familes has been explored through the use of non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) electron transport calculations. These calculations demonstrate clear differences in electron transport behavior as a function of pyranopterin oxidation state. The Jahn-Teller effect can strongly impact the geometric and electronic structures …

Isolating And Testing Antibiotic-Producing Bacteria From Marine And Terrestrial Samples From St. Petersburg, Fl, Arianna M. Reybitz

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

Many current antibacterial agents on the market are derived from compounds naturally produced by bacteria. This experiment was conducted to isolate and assess possible antibacterial strains, namely Actinomycetes, from 50 mL of marine and terrestrial samples collected from nine locations around the St. Petersburg area. The agar plates were prepared with Jensen’s AMM agar and inoculated with bacterial samples which had been diluted by factor 1:100 and heated. Three plates were initially assigned to a sample to test against three laboratory bacteria by the overlay method. Then isolates were selected and inoculated onto TSA and BHI agar plates to test …

Calcium Signaling Dynamics In Rbl Cells Under Pulsed Ligand Exposure, Mario Paz

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Understanding cellular signaling is important to learning about life at a fundamental level. As an extension of this, understanding the dysregulation of cell signaling is the key to identifying and treating disease. At present, there are multitudes of ways to investigate the cell signaling process, from immunofluorescence to single particle tracking. These techniques are advantageous in their own right, but having the ability to interrogate suspension and adherent cells with reagents at high temporal resolution and image them simultaneously is a process that could uncover many unseen signaling events. In Aim 1, we describe a microfluidic device for live cell …

Pulsed Laser Induced Breakdown In Solid State Materials And Air, Zhanliang Sun

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Laser induced breakdown is important in applications ranging from laser machining to laser induced breakdown spectroscopy to laser induced damage. Laser induced breakdown in dielectric materials results from a combination of multiphoton absorption (MPA), tunneling and avalanche ionization. Aspects of these processes have been studied through measurements of the laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) and its dependence on pulse duration, polarization and wavelength. At long pulse durations (> 1ns), relaxation of conduction band electrons during the pulse is responsible for the increased LIDT compared to scaling derived from sub-picosecond pulses. Linear polarization produces lower LIDT than circular polarization for MPA …

The Effects Of Movie Time Social Learning On Emotion Recognition, Perspective Taking And Empathy In Children With Autism, James Fletcher Scott

Special Education ETDs

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the world, with the latest estimates showing that 1 in 68 children will be diagnosed with the condition. One of the core deficits associated with autism is social communication. Theory of mind (Baron-Cohen, 1985) posits that children with autism do not have the ability to understand that others have thoughts different from their own. This has been suggested as one of the main reasons that social communication deficits exist in children with autism. Motivation is likely the main component in effectively teaching many children with autism. Interventions that incorporate movies would seem …

Modeling And Optimizing Ipmc Microgrippers, Justin Simpson

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

A FEA (Finite Element Analysis) model was used to determine the change in performance that results from varying the size and shape of IPMC (Ionic Polymer Metal Composite) fingers. Using Comsol Multiphysics and modeFRONTIER, these fingers were modeled and optimized for both force exerted and deflection. Using the Comsol model, we were able to determine the tip deflection and force output of many different IPMC fingers which were verified experimentally. Then, using modeFRONTIER we were able to optimize the fingers to determine the best shape and area depending on whether a high force or deflection was desired.

Repurposing Ebselen For Treatment Of Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcal Infections, Shankar Thangamani, Waleed Younis, Mohamed N. Seleem

Department of Comparative Pathobiology Faculty Publications

Novel antimicrobials and new approaches to developing them are urgently needed. Repurposing already-approved drugs with well-characterized toxicology and pharmacology is a novel way to reduce the time, cost, and risk associated with antibiotic innovation. Ebselen, an organoselenium compound, is known to be clinically safe and has a well-known pharmacology profile. It has shown potent bactericidal activity against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA and VRSA). We demonstrated that ebselen acts through inhibition of protein synthesis and subsequently inhibited toxin production in MRSA. Additionally, ebselen was remarkably active and significantly reduced established staphylococcal …

Reformed Approach To The Interactions Of Science And Religion (Cont'd), Tony N. Jelsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"The relationship between faith and science is not just a scientific or theological topic."

Posting about conflicts between science and religion from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/a-reformed-approach-to-the-interactions-of-science-and-religion-contd/

Risk-Based Decision Making Model For The Selection Of Flood Mitigation Alternatives, Natalia M. Sanabria Andino

Civil Engineering ETDs

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the frequency of natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes and flooding, resulting in big economic, environmental, and social impacts. In the case of flood events, impacts such as community anxiety, loss of life, water pollution, and contamination of agricultural land have been found to be equally, if not more important, than the economic impacts of such events. Nevertheless, the literature shows that flood risk assessment studies incorporating economic, environmental, and societal impacts are limited. In addition, flood mitigation measures are typically compared focusing on economic criteria and not considering stakeholders …

Inferring Pathway Dysregulation In Cancers From Multiple Types Of Omic Data, Shelley M. Macneil, William E. Johnson, Dean Y. Li, Stephen R. Piccolo, Andrea H. Bild

Faculty Publications

Although in some cases individual genomic aberrations may drive disease development in isolation, a complex interplay among multiple aberrations is common. Accordingly, we developed Gene Set Omic Analysis (GSOA), a bioinformatics tool that can evaluate multiple types and combinations of omic data at the pathway level. GSOA uses machine learning to identify dysregulated pathways and improves upon other methods because of its ability to decipher complex, multigene patterns. We compare GSOA to alternative methods and demonstrate its ability to identify pathways known to play a role in various cancer phenotypes. Software implementing the GSOA method is freely available from https://bitbucket.org/srp33/gsoa …

Characterization Of Urban Storm Runoff By Monitoring Sediments And Riparian Vegetation, Adrienne Martinez

Civil Engineering ETDs

Difficulties associated with monitoring urban stormwater quality present considerable challenges to stormwater managers in the arid southwest. Complexities arise from the infrequent occurrence of storm events, their highly localized extent, and the short duration of storm hydrographs. The presence of sediment in high amount can make both sample collection challenging and the interpretation of the resulting data difficult. This study explored an alternative strategy in which sediments and plant matter from within the channels in an urban watershed in the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque, New Mexico, were collected for analysis of metals from possible sources within the watershed. The upper …

Integrating K12 Outreach With Undergraduate & Graduate Student Research Through Balloonsat: High Altitude Balloons, J Tillman Kennon, Bryant Fong

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

The Arkansas BalloonSAT team has successfully launched and recovered 37 BalloonSAT’s dating back to the first flight on December 16, 2006. Numerous instruments measuring such things as atmospheric temperature, humidity, radiation, and light intensity have recorded data from different locations over the State of Arkansas. The initial focus of this project was outreach with the k-12 schools, and still involves outreach; however atmospheric research has become a significant component for this endeavor. This ongoing collaborative projection has involved a number of faculty and students from different academic backgrounds, including physics, chemistry, biology, and astronomy among different ASGC schools who have …

Application Of A Solar Balloon Activity In A Course For Pre-Service Elementary Education Teachers, Kaye Smith, Natasha Yates, Mary Hedenstrom

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

Elementary education students seeking licensure at St. Catherine University must complete three hands-on, inquiry based science courses including “Engineering in Your World”, an applied physics course which emphasizes use of the Engineering Design process. During the Spring 2014 Semester, high altitude ballooning was introduced into the course. Student teams built payload boxes to collect experimental data and participated in a weekend launch that included chase and recovery. Although students enjoyed the activity, the equipment and knowledge thresh-hold is too high for these students to use HAB activities in their own future elementary education classrooms. In an effort to provide our …

Keynote Presentation: The Emerging Unmanned Aerial Systems (Uas) Industry, Andrew Shepherd

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

The rapid development of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and continuing establishment of regulatory structures allowing their commercial employment signals a change in the way industry, academia, and government will leverage the technology. There are many potential synergies between various applications, aircraft models, and sensor types as the transition from research and development to common operations progresses. This presentation highlights the current state of airspace integration and potential cross-over between various unmanned applications, technologies, and training and education best-practices.

Western News, June 25, 2015, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Cancer claims former President Elson Floyd; Participation needed for WMU transformation; Foster youths to benefit from partnership; University launches new online application process; On Campus with Eleonora Philopoulos.

What You Gotta Know To Play Good In The Iterated Prisoner’S Dilemma, Ethan Akin

Publications and Research

For the iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma there exist good strategies which solve the problem when we restrict attention to the long term average payoff. When used by both players, these assure the cooperative payoff for each of them. Neither player can benefit by moving unilaterally to any other strategy, i.e., these provide Nash equilibria. In addition, if a player uses instead an alternative which decreases the opponent’s payoff below the cooperative level, then his own payoff is decreased as well. Thus, if we limit attention to the long term payoff, these strategies effectively stabilize cooperative behavior. The existence of such strategies …

Uno Academic Assessment Cycle 2015, Uno Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

Student Learning

UNO Academic Assessment Cycle 2015: Updated June 25, 2015.

Nasa Buying More Super Space Freezers From Uab For International Space Station, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Holy Cross Magazine, Vol. 49, No. 3, Summer 2015, College Of The Holy Cross

Holy Cross Magazine

Syllabus: From Opera to Broadway
with Carol Lieberman, Associate Professor of Music
By Pamela Reponen

Serving with Grace
At 93, Holy Cross alum George Merritt ’43 comforts the terminally ill, after being comforted himself.
By Paul Catala

The Artist’s Path
A mile from the world’s largest mill clock, at her family home on Durso Ave., Bang Luu ’14, a modern-day newcomer to this city of immigrants, uses 21st- century machinery to pursue her own American dream—as an artist.
By Mark Sullivan

With a Smile
For the past 25 years, Barry Loffredo, D.D.S., ’68 has performed dental missionary work around the …

A Longitudinal Study Of Truant Youths ’ Involvement In Sexual Risk Behavior, Richard Dembo, Rhissa B. Robinson, Rocío Ungaro, Ken C. Winters, Lora Karas

Criminology Faculty Publications

Truant youths are likely to engage in a number of problem behaviors, including sexual risky behaviors. As part of a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded, prospective intervention project, a sample of truant youths' sexual risk behavior was tracked over five time points. Analyses of the data was informed by four objectives: (a) determine if a growth model parameterization was consistent with the youths' sexual risk behavior, (b) assess the impact of a brief intervention (BI) targeting substance use on their sexual risk behavior over time, (c) identify any sexual risk behavior subgroups, and (d) identify any differential, longitudinal effects …