Digital Commons Network^™

Prioritized Motion–Force Control Of Constrained Fully-Actuated Robots: “Task Space Inverse Dynamics”, A Del Prete, F Nori, G Metta, L Natale

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

We present a new framework for prioritized multi-task motion/force control of fully-actuated robots. This work is established on a careful review and comparison of the state of the art. Some control frameworks are not optimal, that is they do not find the optimal solution for the secondary tasks. Other frameworks are optimal, but they tackle the control problem at kinematic level, hence they neglect the robot dynamics and they do not allow for force control. Still other frameworks are optimal and consider force control, but they are computationally less efficient than ours. Our final claim is that, for fully-actuated robots, …

Relationships Among Diet Quality, Bmi And Cooking Skills In A Group Of College Students, Jenna Bess Kourajian

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Students at a Midwest university (n=968) completed a survey regarding perceived confidence in cooking skills, food preparation frequencies, and average daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. A higher skills score was moderately correlated to higher vegetable intake (r=0.29, p<0.001). A higher cooking score was also associated with meeting the recommendations for vegetables (p<0.001), but was not associated with meeting recommendations for fruits (p= 0.22), whole grains (p=0.062), or low-fat dairy (p=0.24). More confidence in skills score was correlated with a higher BMI (r = 0.12, p= 0.001), though correlation was low. Cooking skills score was also positively associated with food preparation frequency score (p<0.001). Although higher skills score was not strongly associated with fruit, whole grains, and low-fat dairy intake, students who have higher cooking skills may be more likely to prepare more vegetables. Encouraging cooking classes for college students may aid in meeting dietary recommendations. Keywords: deskilling, diet quality, BMI, cooking skills, college students, food preparation frequency, self-efficacy

High-Intensity Interval Training Vs. Superset Training: A Comparison Of Energy Expenditure, Jacob Eisenreich Erickson

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

The purpose of this study was to compare energy expenditure between high intensity interval training (HIIT) and agonist-antagonist (SUPER) resistance training (RT) exercise protocols. Twelve males (23.91 ± 3.58 years) with at least six months of RT experience were recruited for the study. Each participant completed both exercise protocols while VO2, lactate, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. Significant differences were seen in RPE, RER, aerobic, anaerobic, and total overall energy expenditure when comparing protocols. There were no significant differences in VO2 or HR. Rest interval length and volume load can …

Wetted Ice Bags: Does The Temperature Of The Water Added To The Ice Bag Really Matter?, Kelly Ann Shaner

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Currently, no consensus exists on how many degrees to decrease tissue temperature for a beneficial cryotherapy treatment, 1, 2 so it is accepted that colder tissue temperatures achieve more beneficial treatments. 3 There is evidence supporting the superiority of wetted ice bags over non-wetted ice bags for decreasing tissue temperature. Wetted ice bags can be further altered through changing the water temperature inside the bag. Thus, the water inside the bag would cause a phase change inside the modality; in turn, more heat transferred from the body to the modality, resulting in cooler skin temperatures. The purpose of this study …

Flaxseed And Buckwheat Supplemented Diets Altered Enterobacteriaceae Prevalence In The Cecum And Feces Of Mice, Margaret Mary Pulkrabek

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Dietary intake may cause variable bacterial prevalence in the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae in the cecum and feces following flaxseed and buckwheat supplemented diets. Seventy-two C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned to a diet group and fed for eight weeks: high fat (45% Kcal fat); 10% whole flaxseed (45% Kcal fat); 6% defatted flaxseed (45% Kcal fat); 4% flaxseed oil (45% Kcal fat); 10% buckwheat (45% Kcal fat); and low fat (16% Kcal fat). Significant differences in the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae in the cecum (p < 0.0348) and feces post treatment (p < 0.0033) were observed. The groups with the highest prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae were whole flaxseed, buckwheat, and defatted flaxseed. The groups with the lowest prevalence were flaxseed oil and high fat. Our results indicated that a positive relationship exists between high fermentable fiber diets and Enterobacteriaceae proliferation.

Caffeine Intake In College Students, Michelle Gail Caldarone

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Caffeine is a widely consumed substance that is readily available through many sources that may influence consumption in the college setting. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between caffeine intake and sleep behavior and the effect of campus dining frequency on caffeine intake in college students. Three hundred and fifty students (212 males and 138 females) participated in a 72-hour dietary analysis that provided the students’ age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity level. The students were asked to record dining frequency as well. Ninety-six of the 350 students completed a 7-day sleep diary …

Relationship Between Personality Type And Fruit And Vegetable Preference In Third And Fourth Grade Students, Megan Denise Myrdal

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality type and fruit and vegetable preferences of third and fourth grade children. A cross-sectional, quantitative survey study was used to gather information from parents or caregivers (N = 345) about their child’s fruit and vegetable preference, healthful eating practices (produced by the Healthy Eating Index, HEI), and personality. Multiple regression analyses revealed the combined effect of openness to experience, agreeableness and neuroticism was significant for the fruit preference (p <0.05), vegetable preference (p < 0.001), combined fruit/vegetable preference (p < 0.01), and the HEI (p < 0.01). These results indicate that children who are more “agreeable” and “open” may prefer healthful foods, like fruits and vegetables, and children who are more “neurotic” may have lower preferences for healthful foods. These results support the consideration of personality as a factor that influences the development of food preference.

Literalized Metaphors In China Mieville’S Bas-Lag Novels, Kai Jerome Thorstad

English

In this paper, I will be discussing hybridity, Othering, and agency in China Miéville’s fantasy novels set in the world of Bas-Lag. I will be expanding upon Joan Gordon’s concept of “literalized metaphors” which suggests that fantasy fiction is able to comment on metaphorical concepts by literalizing those concepts into physical representations. Miéville’s novels offer commentary on the nature of the postcolonial concept of hybridity through the physical realities of the nonhuman xenians and the criminal Remade. I argue that, through these literalized metaphors, the Bas-Lag novels suggest that hybridity leads to Othering, but it also leads to greater agency …

A Robust Bearing Fault Detection And Diagnosis Technique For Brushless Dc Motors Under Non-Stationary Operating Conditions, Wathiq Abed, Sanjay Sharma, Robert Sutton, Amit Motwani

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

A Wavelet Neural Network Based Non-Linear Model Predictive Controller For A Multi-Variable Coupled Tank System, Kayode Owa, Sanjay Sharma, Robert Sutton

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

The "Fathead Minnow Factory": Exploring How A Changing Climate Has Influenced Fish And Salamander Communities In The Prairie Pothole Region, Kyle Ian Mclean

Environmental and Conservation Sciences

Global climate change has been linked to changing many ecosystem processes. Early literature on climate change and biological systems predominately focused on individual species responses to temperature gradients. However, altered precipitation patterns can impact the ionic concentrations of aquatic habitats and thus affect the structure of entire communities. Understanding indirect effects of climate change, will be important to predict how whole systems have and will continue to change. Prairie pothole wetlands are well suited to study these processes. Prairie pothole wetlands are typically closed systems with natural hydrological fluctuations that have molded plant and wildlife communities adapted to these changing …

Characterization Of Road Dust In Western North Dakota, Danijela Ljepoja

Environmental and Conservation Sciences

Samples were collected during summer 2014, at three locations: along 15th St. SW near agricultural test plots, along an access road leading to a newly built oil drilling pad, and adjacent to the pad. MiniVol™ TAS Samplers (Air metrics, Springfield, OR) were used for sampling. Total Suspended Particles (TSP), and particulates less than 10 or 5 microns (PM10 and PM2.5, respectively) were collected using quartz fiber filters. Samples were collected both pre and post access road and pad construction. The mass concentration of TSP at 15th St. ranged from 365 - 911 µg/m3 (mean 507 µg/m3). Concentrations at the access …

Impact Of Climate Variability On Streamflow And Water Quality In The North Central United States, Karen Renee Ryberg

Environmental and Conservation Sciences

Long-term precipitation, temperature, and streamflow records were used to compare changes in precipitation and potential evapotranspiration to changes in runoff within 25 stream basins. Historical changes in the region appear to be more consistent with complex transient shifts in seasonal climatic conditions than with gradual climate change. Annual peak streamflow data were divided into two populations, snowmelt/spring and summer/fall, to test the hypotheses that, because of changes in precipitation regimes, the odds of summer/fall peaks have increased and, because of temperature changes, snowmelt/spring peaks happen earlier. The odds of summer/fall peaks occurring have increased across the study area. In northern …

Northern Leopard Frogs In North Dakota: Assessing The Conservation Status Of A Widespread Amphibian Species, Justin David Lee Fisher

Environmental and Conservation Sciences

North Dakota’s midcontinent location within the Prairie Pothole Region is widely known for the dense wetlands. These highly productive wetlands are mixed within an agricultural mosaic which places increased pressure on water quality and overall wetland persistence. These threats to wetlands affects other, more common species which are presumed to have healthy populations but lack statewide information. Such is the case with the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens). I examined genetic variation for 41 populations across the state. Genetic diversity was not correlated with latitude, but was negatively correlated with longitude. Along this genetic diversity gradient, there was a distinctive …

Ecology Of Cryptosporidium Parasites In Wild Rodent Populations, Brianna Leigh Schneck Stenger

Environmental and Conservation Sciences

Cryptosporidium is a genus of ubiquitous parasites that have been detected worldwide in nearly 500 species of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles. Most research has focused on the Cryptosporidium species and genotypes infecting humans and livestock, because of the public health significance and economic importance of the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. Relatively little is known about Cryptosporidium-host dynamics in wildlife hosts, even though a wide range of wildlife species are susceptible to Cryptosporidium. Insights into ecology and host-parasite dynamics in wild populations are necessary to understand the biology and evolution of Cryptosporidium; to predict the emergence of human and livestock …

Detecting Radiation Reaction At Moderate Laser Intensities., Thomas Heinzl, Chris Harvey, Anton Ilderton, Mattias Marklund, Stepan S. Bulanov, Sergey Rykovanov, Carl B. Schroeder, Eric Esarey, Wim P. Leemans

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

We propose a new method of detecting radiation reaction effects in the motion of particles subjected to laser pulses of moderate intensity and long duration. The effect becomes sizable for particles that gain almost no energy through the interaction with the laser pulse. Hence, there are regions of parameter space in which radiation reaction is actually the dominant influence on charged particle motion.

Impact Of Artificial Aeration On Nutrients In A Small Eutrophic Lake, Anusha Rupika Balangoda

Environmental and Conservation Sciences

The Heinrich- Martin Dam Impoundment (HMDI), located in northcentral LaMoure County, North Dakota, is an important water body for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. To eliminate the thermal stratification and low dissolved oxygen (DO) zone near the bottom, an artificial aeration system was installed and operated by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDG&F). This study was conducted to investigate whether aeration improved water quality of HMDI and to evaluate aeration as a tool to effectively manage eutrophication in lakes of this type. Field monitoring and laboratory analyses were conducted during three consecutive summers, in 2010, 2011 and …

Life History And Interspecific Co-Persistence Of Native Imperiled Fishes In Single Species And Multi-Species Ex Situ Refuges, Shawn Christopher Goodchild

Environmental and Conservation Sciences

Like many imperiled fishes, the endangered Pahrump Poolfish (Empetrichthys latos latos) is managed in ex situ refuges. I investigated life history characteristics of females from two such populations at Lake Harriet and Shoshone Stock Pond. Lake Harriet is a relatively large lake with low fish densities located at relatively low elevation and low latitude, while Shoshone Stock is a small pond with high fish densities at a higher elevation and latitude. Females from the Lake Harriet population were larger, and had greater fat content, reproductive allocation, and ‘clutch’ size than females from the Shoshone Pond population. This divergence, which occurred …

Embodied Cognition And Circular Causality: On The Role Of Constitutive Autonomy In The Reciprocal Coupling Of Perception And Action., D Vernon, R Lowe, S Thill, T Ziemke

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The reciprocal coupling of perception and action in cognitive agents has been firmly established: perceptions guide action but so too do actions influence what is perceived. While much has been said on the implications of this for the agent's external behavior, less attention has been paid to what it means for the internal bodily mechanisms which underpin cognitive behavior. In this article, we wish to redress this by reasserting that the relationship between cognition, perception, and action involves a constitutive element as well as a behavioral element, emphasizing that the reciprocal link between perception and action in cognition merits a …

The Role Of Hydroxyl Channel In Defining Selected Physicochemical Peculiarities Exhibited By Hydroxyapatite, Vuk Uskoković

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Mysteries surrounding the most important mineral for the vertebrate biology, hydroxyapatite, are many. Perhaps the Greek root of its name, απαταo, meaning ‘to deceive’ and given to its mineral form by the early gem collectors who confused it with more precious stones, is still applicable today, though in a different connotation, descriptive of a number of physicochemical peculiarities exhibited by it. Comparable to water as the epitome of peculiarities in the realm of liquids, hydroxyapatite can serve as a paradigm for peculiarities in the world of solids. Ten of the peculiar properties of hydroxyapatite are sketched in this review piece, …

The Ethics Of Food, Fuel & Feed, Brian G. Henning

Philosophy Faculty Scholarship

As the collective impact of human activity approaches Earth's biophysical limits, the ethics of food become increasingly important. Hundreds of millions of people remain undernourished, yet only 60 percent of the global harvest is consumed by humans, while 35 percent is fed to livestock and 5 percent is used for biofuels and other industrial products. This essay considers the ethics of such use of edible nutrition for feedstock and biofuel. How humanity uses Earth's land is a reflection of its values. The current land-use arrangements, which divert 40 percent of all food to feed animals or create fuels, suggest that …

Creative Love: Eros And Agape In Whitehead And Pierce, Brian G. Henning

Philosophy Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Role Of 5'Tg3'-Interacting Factors (Tgifs) In Vorinostat (Hdac Inhibitor)-Mediated Corneal Fibrosis Inhibition, Ajay Sharma, Nishant R. Sinha, Saad Siddiqui, Rajiv R. Mohan

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose: We have previously reported that vorinostat, an FDA-approved, clinically used histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, attenuates corneal fibrosis in vivo in rabbits by blocking transforming growth factor β (TGFβ). The 5′TG3′-interacting factors (TGIFs) are transcriptional repressors of TGFβ1 signaling via the Smad pathway. The present study was designed to explore the expression of TGIFs in human corneal fibroblasts and to investigate their role in mediating the antifibrotic effect of vorinostat.

Methods: Human corneal fibroblast cultures were generated from donor corneas. RNA isolation, cDNA preparation, and PCR were performed to detect the presence of TGIF1 and TGIF2 transcripts. The cultures were …

Utilization Of Modified Starch As A Fat Replacement In Bread, Ratko Petro Balic

Cereal Science

Since industrial revolution, scientist started to develop new bread formulations in order to improve bread quality and shelf life. This research investigated the effectiveness of octenyl succinate anhydride (OSA) modified starches, from two sources (wheat and tapioca), as fat replacers in bread formulation. Samples for control were with different levels of shortening (0% and 2%), and for test samples 2% and 4% OSA modified starch and tapioca were used as fat replacers. Tests were performed on dough and baked product (bread). Results showed that samples with 4% OSA modified wheat and tapioca starch can be used as fat replacers in …

Coating Of Nzvi Particles With Modified Starch: Colloidal Stability And Nitrate Reduction Studies, Mary Francis Pate

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Nanoscale-zero valent iron (NZVI) is an effective groundwater remediation media because it can quickly reduce and absorb contaminants. However, NZVI quickly agglomerates in aqueous systems, reducing its remediation capacity. This work investigated coating NZVI with native and modified rice, wheat, maize, and tapioca starches to improve colloidal stability. Colloidal stability studies were conducted with native and commercially available starches; tapioca starch modified with 2-Octen-l-ylsuccinic anhydride (OSA) was the best. Four concentrations of OSA-tapioca starch were prepared (3, 15, 35, and 50% w/w). NZVI coated with 35% OSA-modified tapioca starch (concentration = 10 g L-1) kept 66% of the coated particles …

Characterization Of Activities Of Crumb Rubber In Interaction With Asphalt And Its Effect On Final Properties, Amir Ghavibazoo

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Recycling of millions of scrap tires produced everyday is crucial challenge encountered by waste management systems. Recycling tire rubbers in form of ground tire rubber, known as crumb rubber modifier (CRM), in asphalt industry was introduced in early 1960's and is proved as an effective recycling method. Interaction between CRM and asphalt is physical in nature which happens mainly due to exchange of components between CRM and asphalt and enhances the time temperature dependant properties of asphalt. In this work, the interaction between CRM and asphalt was evaluated through monitoring the evolutions of CRM in asphalt in macro and micro-level. …

Electrochemical Investigation Of Powder Coatings And Their Application To Magnesium-Rich Primers For Corrosion Protection, Casey Roy Orgon

Coatings and Polymeric Materials

Corrosion is the decomposition of metal and metal alloys which threatens the integrity of manmade structures. One of the more efficient methods of delaying the corrosion process in metals is by coatings. In this work, the durability of two polyester powder coatings were investigated for corrosion protection of AA-2024-T3. Polyester powder coatings crosslinked by either triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC) or β-hydroxyalkyl amide (HAA) compounds were prepared and investigated for barrier protection of metal substrates by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Polyester-TGIC coatings were found to provide better long-term protection, which can be attributed to the increased mechanical strength and higher concentration of …

The Application Of Electroanalytical Techniques To The Study Of Coating Systems, Kenneth James Croes

Coatings and Polymeric Materials

Electroanalytical techniques are often employed to augment standard practices utilized to study and characterize coating performance on metal substrates, yielding information that is not provided by standard coating analysis methods. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was utilized to study epoxy-amine coatings incorporating oligomers and monomers of phenylenediamine in the coating structure; these results were compared to unusual EIS results obtained in previous studies of organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel coatings attributed to the sol-gel structure. With a different coating structure, the unusual results were replicated in coatings containing phenylenediamine oligomers but not monomer. The results suggested the oligomers caused the coatings to act …

Rising Above Relational Aggression: A Research-Based Coaches Guide To Identifying And Coping With Relational Aggression, Pamela Joy Osterfeld

Communication

This paper served as a method to develop training materials for high school volleyball coaches pertaining to addressing and coping with relational aggression. The training materials were developed based upon research and personal experience to help convey the importance of increasing knowledge on the subject of relational aggression in high school volleyball. Based upon research and input from qualified peers, the paper defines relational aggression, provides suggestions on how to identify and cope with relational aggression should it occur within the framework of a volleyball team, and offers examples of relational aggression. Role play exercises to do with a team …

Gender, Faith, And Holistism As Prophetic Vision The Legacy Of Hildegard Von Bingen's Rhetoric Of 'Marriage Of God', Heidi Jo Mayer Kruse

Communication

Hildegard von Bingen, a 12th century German Catholic nun, became one of the most influential voices in a time when women, especially in the realm of religion, were suppressed. Yet, Hildegard overcame these suppressions through her writing and work subsequently legitimizing her status today as a saint and Doctor of the Church. Hildegard’s influential writings hold weight beyond the Catholic Church especially in feminist circles. This thesis applies rhetorical criticism as the scholarly lens from which to analyze a sample of Hildegard’s writings for the purposes of understanding her contemporary influence. Aided by Kenneth Burke’s interpretive method of logology, this …