Identifying Offensive Videos On Youtube, Rajeshwari Kandakatla

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Harassment on social media has become a critical problem and social media content depicting harassment is becoming common place. Video-sharing websites such as YouTube contain content that may be offensive to certain community, insulting to certain religion, race etc., or make fun of disabilities. These videos can also provoke and promote altercations leading to online harassment of individuals and groups. In this thesis, we present a system that identifies offensive videos on YouTube. Our goal is to determine features that can be used to detect offensive videos efficiently and reliably. We conducted experiments using content and metadata available for each …

Computer Graphics And Visualization Based Analysis And Record System For Hand Surgery And Therapy Practice, Venkatamanikanta Subrahmanyakartheek Gokavarapu

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In this thesis, we have designed and developed a computer graphics and visualization based analysis and record system for hand surgery and therapy practice. In particular, we have designed and developed three novel technologies: (i) model-based data compression for hand motion records (ii) model-based surface area estimation of a human hand and (iii) an emulated study of hand wound area estimation. First, we have presented a new data compression technique to better address the needs of electronic health record systems, such as file storage and privacy. In our proposed approach, we will extract the patient's hand motion information and store …

Translocation And Phosphorylation Of Ampa Receptors Following Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation In Vivo, Justin Andrew Stafford

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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is the current technique used clinically to attenuate the effects of various neurological related deficits and augment functions such as memory and learning. The cellular and molecular mechanisms behind tDCS remain largely unknown and this study provides some of the first insights into the mechanisms behind tDCS. Direct current stimulation has been used to increase levels of long term potentiation (LTP) ex vivo suggesting that this stimulation has an effect on the LTP mechanisms of action. Subcellular protein extraction and fractionation methods were used to isolate synaptoneurosomes from various brain regions to assess the effects …

The Expression Of Dopamine-Related Genes And Behavioral Performance In Mice, Victoria Lynne Dershem

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While the neurotransmitter dopamine has been well-studied for its role in mood regulation and activation of the intrinsic reward pathway, several psychiatric disorders linked to dopamine are also known to cause memory impairment, a phenomenon which has attracted much less attention. In the current study, whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing was performed, and transcript levels of several dopamine-related genes were compared to results of behavioral assays designed to test spatial and emotional memory, as well as anxiety. The results suggest a positive relationship between expression level of Nurr1, a nuclear receptor known to initiate transcription of genes necessary for dopaminergic signaling, …

Golden Rice: Effectiveness And Safety, A Literature Review, Janel M. Albaugh

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This literature review begins by introducing GMOs, then moving on to golden rice and its background and development, including The Golden Rice Project. The literature review portion discusses the effectiveness and health and safety issues surrounding golden rice. Methodology for this paper includes agriculture and food science databases in addition to keyword searches.

Investigation Of Exoribonuclease-1 Function In Regulation Of Stem Cells During Planarian Regeneration, Steven Gobinsing Sayson

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Precise regulation of gene expression is crucial for the maintenance of pluripotency and proper differentiation of stem cells. Due to their exceptional capacity for stem cell-driven regeneration, planarians are ideal models to dissect mechanisms regulating gene expression that secure stem cell function in vivo. While mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of gene expression in stem cells have been extensively investigated, less is known about regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Exoribonuclease-1 (XRN-1) is a conserved enzyme in eukaryotes that catalyzes 5' to 3' exonucleolytic degradation of RNA. XRN-1 is known to be required for proper regeneration of Dugesia japonica. Here, I …

Development And Validation Of Virus And Ebola Misconceptions Assessment (Viremia): Ebola Virus Misconceptions In College Students, Michele Miller

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In this study an assessment (VirEMiA) on college students' knowledge and misconceptions of the Ebola virus was created and validated. VirEMiA was then used to determine what misconceptions college students have about Ebola, if there is a difference in misconceptions between students with and without a strong science background, and if Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) increases students' knowledge of Ebola and decreases their misconceptions. VirEMiA was shown to be a valid and reliable assessment whether confidence was integrated (seprel=0.97) or not (seprel=0.98), and for measuring misconceptions (seprel=0.97). If psychology and nursing majors were considered to have a strong background in science, …

The Timing Of Fluoxetine, Simvastatin And Ascorbic Acid Administration In A Post-Ischemic Stroke Environment Affects Infarct Volume And Hemorrhagic Transformation Frequency, Neal R. Verma

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Previous animal experiments have indicated that administration of fluoxetine and simvastatin at 20-26 hours post-stroke decreases the volume of ischemic infarcts. This experiment expanded on previous experiments by adding ascorbic acid to the post-stroke regimen, initiating simvastatin pre-stroke, and adding a third initiation time frame (48-54 hours). Male retired breeder Sprague-Dawley rats were on simvastatin for 7 days prior to stroke induction. Combined medications of 5 milligrams/kilogram of fluoxetine, 1 milligram/kilogram of simvastatin and 20 milligrams/kilogram of ascorbic acid were orally administered at 6-12 hours, 20-26 hours, or 48-54 hours, respectively, following stroke induction. Adult rats that were treated 20-26 …

Glacial Deposits, Vol. 41, 2016, Department Of Geography-Geology

Glacial Deposits

Newsletter of the Department of Geography-Geology

Emanata Presents: Kin (2016)

Emanata, 2014-

Started by illustrator and comics artist Chris Kindred in 2014 with Weird, Vol. 1, Emanata is VCU’s first-ever comics anthology.

De Novo Genome Assembly Of Geosmithia Morbida, The Causal Agent Of Thousand Cankers Disease, Taruna A. Schuelke, Anthony Westbrook, Kirk Broders, Keith E. Woeste, Matthew D. Macmanes

Department of Forestry & Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Geosmithia morbida is a filamentous ascomycete that causes thousand cankers disease in the eastern black walnut tree. This pathogen is commonly found in the western U.S.; however, recently the disease was also detected in several eastern states where the black walnut lumber industry is concentrated. G. morbida is one of two known phytopathogens within the genus Geosmithia, and it is vectored into the host tree via the walnut twig beetle. We present the first de novo draft genome of G. morbida. It is 26.5 Mbp in length and contains less than 1% repetitive elements. The genome possesses an …

Changes In The Proteome Of Langat-Infected Ixodes Scapularis Ise6 Cells: Metabolic Pathways Associated With Flavivirus Infection, Jeffrey M. Grabowski, Rushika Perera, Ali M. Roumani, Victoria E. Hedrick, Halina Dorota Inerowicz, Catherine A. Hill, Richard Kuhn

Department of Entomology Faculty Publications

Background: Ticks (Family Ixodidae) transmit a variety of disease causing agents to humans and animals. The tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFs; family Flaviviridae) are a complex of viruses, many of which cause encephalitis and hemorrhagic fever, and represent global threats to human health and biosecurity. Pathogenesis has been well studied in human and animal disease models. Equivalent analyses of tick-flavivirus interactions are limited and represent an area of study that could reveal novel approaches for TBF control. Methodology/Principal Findings: High resolution LC-MS/MS was used to analyze the proteome of Ixodes scapularis (Lyme disease tick) embryonic ISE6 cells following infection with Langat virus …

Regulation Of Brown And White Adipocyte Transcriptome By The Transcriptional Coactivator Nt-Pgc-1Α, Jihyun Kim, Vivian E. Fernand, Tara M. Henagan, Jeho Shin, Peter Huypens, Susan Newman, Thomas W. Gettys, Ji Suk Chang

Department of Nutrition Science Faculty Publications

The β3-adrenergic receptor (AR) signaling pathway is a major component of adaptive thermogenesis in brown and white adipose tissue during cold acclimation. The β3-AR signaling highly induces the expression of transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α and its splice variant N-terminal (NT)-PGC-1α, which in turn activate the transcription program of adaptive thermogenesis by co-activating a number of transcription factors. We previously reported that NT-PGC-1α is able to increase mitochondrial number and activity in cultured brown adipocytes by promoting the expression of mitochondrial and thermogenic genes. In the present study, we performed genome-wide profiling of NT-PGC-1α-responsive genes in brown adipocytes to identify genes potentially …

Gifted Education In Rural Schools, Paige E. Yeager

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report is a summary of the observations and data collected during twenty hours of field work and observation. This project focuses on one child, identified as gifted, in a rural school district with limited resources. The report discusses the student’s current level of performance, analysis of the developmental domains (cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor), accommodations and modifications used by the student’s teachers, guidelines determined by the State of Ohio and the W. Local School District, alignment to the state requirements, and suggestions for the improvement of the student’s educational experience. The report will explain how the student is …

The Psychological Effects Of Cochlear Implants: A Comparison Of One Adult With A Cochlear Implant And One Without., Sarah Schwartzer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study involved the development, implementation and analyzation of two qualitative case studies, with one involving a profoundly deaf individual who possesses a cochlear implant, the other with an individual who possesses normal hearing ranges. Participants were given two quantitative measures of observation, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire and the Thought Control Questionnaire, before participating in a semi-structured interview that was intended to gather information about the individuals, their life experiences, and the factors of psychological flexibility, adaptability and resiliency as applied to their lives. The semi-structured interview involved a set list of questions that were posed to the individuals; …

The Effects Of Left Vs Right Hemisphere Cerebrovascular Accident, And Treatment, Nellie M. Turner

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project takes an in depth look at the various methods of treatment for stroke patients, the results that are gained, and the possible benefits and detriments of each type of treatment when administered properly. It examines the definition of a Cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and the various symptoms that occur when the left versus the right hemisphere is affected. The different causes of strokes are taken into account, along with the wide range of ways the victims may be affected by it, physically and mentally. It is important to be familiar with the different methods of treatment for a patient …

Economical Retrofit System To Reduce Cooking Emissions In Third World Dwellings, Jonathan Vanzummeren, Tyler Sturgeon, Ben Dalessandro

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Abstract:

The purpose of this document is to propose and demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of substituting an open flame biomass cooking process with a closed system with the capabilities of sustaining an adequate fire. Clay ovens or “chulhas” are the traditional piece of cooking equipment used in poorer areas of the world. They are often built inside cramped one-room housing units with little or no ventilation. The emissions released from burning fuel sources such as wood, coal, or animal waste bring with them detrimental and often fatal health problems and results in approximately 1.3 million deaths per year.

The …

Vegetative And Adaptive Traits Predict Different Outcomes For Restoration Using Hybrids, Philip A. Crystal, Nathanael I. Lichti, Keith E. Woeste, Douglass F. Jacobs

Department of Forestry & Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Hybridization has been implicated as a driver of speciation, extinction, and invasiveness, but can also provide resistant breeding stock following epidemics. However, evaluating the appropriateness of hybrids for use in restoration programs is difficult. Past the F1 generation, the proportion of a progenitor’s genome can vary widely, as can the combinations of parental genomes. Detailed genetic analysis can reveal this information, but cannot expose phenotypic alterations due to heterosis, transgressive traits, or changes in metabolism or development. In addition, because evolution is often driven by extreme individuals, decisions based on phenotypic averages of hybrid classes may have unintended results. We …

Metatranscriptome Analysis Reveals Bacterial Symbiont Contributions To Lower Termite Physiology And Potential Immune Functions., Brittany F. Peterson, Michael E. Scharf

Department of Entomology Faculty Publications

Background: Symbioses throughout the animal kingdom are known to extend physiological and ecological capabilities to hosts. Insect-microbe associations are extremely common and are often related to novel niche exploitation, fitness advantages, and even speciation events. These phenomena include expansions in host diet, detoxification of insecticides and toxins, and increased defense against pathogens. However, dissecting the contributions of individual groups of symbionts at the molecular level is often underexplored due to methodological and analytical limitations. Termites are one of the best studied systems for physiological collaborations between host and symbiota however, most work in lower termites (those with bacterial and protist …

High Resolution Genomic Scans Reveal Genetic Architecture Controlling Alcohol Preference In Bidirectionally Selected Rat Model, Chiao-Ling Lo, Amy C. Lossie, Tiebing Liang, Yunlong Liu, Xiaoling Xuei, Lawrence Lumeng, Feng C. Zhou, William M. Muir

Department of Animal Sciences Faculty Publications

Investigations on the influence of nature vs. nurture on Alcoholism (Alcohol Use Disorder) in human have yet to provide a clear view on potential genomic etiologies. To address this issue, we sequenced a replicated animal model system bidirectionally-selected for alcohol preference (AP). This model is uniquely suited to map genetic effects with high reproducibility, and resolution. The origin of the rat lines (an 8-way cross) resulted in small haplotype blocks (HB) with a corresponding high level of resolution. We sequenced DNAs from 40 samples (10 per line of each replicate) to determine allele frequencies and HB. We achieved ~46X coverage …

Case Study Of Uber Data In The Central London Area, Kaylene Widdoes

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research project examines multi-faceted Uber data taken over a 5 week period of time (5/19/16-6/22/16) in the central London area, including wait times, exact GPS locations, days of the week analyses, and time analyses. Adapted from a 6-month work project at my company, Vertical Knowledge, this analysis explores multiple levels of depth through different visualizations of the data, from charts and graphs to an extensive Tableau analysis. Through this analysis, we were able to provide multiple explanations for anomalies in the data and provide reasoning for increased traffic and justified surge pricing during certain times and days.

Identification And Quantification Of Zooplankton In Ne Ohio Drinking Water Reservoirs, Michael Vigorito

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are present in most freshwater ecosystems and are usually harmless. When these algae swell in numbers, they release harmful toxins that can be detrimental to animal and human health, and can destroy ecosystems. For this reason, many scientists and engineers have studied these harmful algal blooms in an attempt to predict, prevent, or control them to keep people and ecosystems safe. One of the variables in this investigation is the presence and quantity of zooplankton. These animals could play an important role in the prevalence of cyanobacteria, but more information is needed to determine what that …

Pollinator Sharing Between Mimulus Ringens And Coflowering Plant Species In Northeastern Ohio, Andrew M. Wuellner

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Competition between plants for pollinators can have serious impacts on plant reproduction; these impacts depend on many factors, such as plant abundance, plant diversity, floral abundance, pollinator abundance, and pollinator preference. The way pollinators move among and between coflowering species can tell us more about how these factors affect competition. In this study, we examine the movement patterns of flower visitors to Mimulus ringens and coflowering species in Northeastern Ohio through several types of observations. In addition, we measured the density and diversity of floral units with 20-30 meter transects across each study site. There were six total study sites, …

Review Of Fractal Heat Exchangers, Zhiwei Huang, Yunho Hwang, Vikrant Aute, Reinhard Radermacher

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

Nature has inspired many scientists and engineers to solve problems through observation and mimicry. One such example is heat transfer enhancement. The enormous natural heat and mass transfer phenomena have led engineers to seek solutions to heat transfer enhancement problems from nature. Fractal geometries are found in respiratory and vascular systems of plants and animals, such as blood vessels, human lungs, leaves, coastlines, etc. Inspired by this, fractal heat exchangers have been developed and were found to have intrinsic advantage of minimized flow resistance and strong heat transfer capability. In current study, a comprehensive literature review was carried out to …

Stimulus Statistics Change Sounds From Near-Indiscriminable To Hyperdiscriminable, Keith Kluender R., Christian E. Stilp

Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Faculty Publications

Objects and events in the sensory environment are generally predictable, making most of the energy impinging upon sensory transducers redundant. Given this fact, efficient sensory systems should detect, extract, and exploit predictability in order to optimize sensitivity to less predictable inputs that are, by definition, more informative. Not only are perceptual systems sensitive to changes in physical stimulus properties, but growing evidence reveals sensitivity both to relative predictability of stimuli and to co-occurrence of stimulus attributes within stimuli. Recent results revealed that auditory perception rapidly reorganizes to efficiently capture covariance among stimulus attributes. Acoustic properties per se were perceptually abandoned, …

The Importance Of Passive Sustainable Design, Caitlin Raymond

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Sustainability is a topic regularly discussed within today’s culture. Many people are worried about society’s future due to pollution, excessive use of nonrenewable resources, and more. Even with all of the growing awareness and promotion, the historical context and more specifically the passive design techniques used in buildings have received little attention. It is imperative to increase this awareness, as well as increase the application of passive sustainable techniques to ensure that sustainable building is efficient and effective. This project has two portions, a literature review and a design project. The literature review assembles research and techniques collected on passive …

Stress Corrosion Cracking Evaluation Of Carbon Steel In Biodiesel And The Effect Of Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification (Unsm) On 304 Stainless Steel, Josh Geyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The project that was performed was stress corrosion cracking (SSC) of carbon steel in biodiesel, petroleum diesel and a mixture. The project also included the effect of Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification (UNSM) on 304 stainless steel. It included the assembly of a slow strain rate (SSR) machine and carrying out testing using the SSR machine. The assembly of the machine will require purchasing and building a stand to house the electrical equipment which includes the computer, actuator control panel and the actuator power supply. The assembly will also include designing and purchasing the connections to connect the actuator to the …

Unique Behavioral And Neurochemical Effects Induced By Repeated Adolescent Consumption Of Caffeine-Mixed Alcohol In C57bl/6 Mice., Meridith T. Robins, Julie Lu, Richard M. Van Rijn

Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Faculty Publications

The number of highly caffeinated products has increased dramatically in the past few years. Among these products, highly caffeinated energy drinks are the most heavily advertised and purchased, which has resulted in increased incidences of co-consumption of energy drinks with alcohol. Despite the growing number of adolescents and young adults reporting caffeine-mixed alcohol use, knowledge of the potential consequences associated with co-consumption has been limited to survey-based results and in-laboratory human behavioral testing. Here, we investigate the effect of repeated adolescent (post-natal days P35-61) exposure to caffeine-mixed alcohol in C57BL/6 mice on common drug-related behaviors such as locomotor sensitivity, drug …

Session 5: The Jonah Complex, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

A Tomographic-Piv Investigation Of Vapor-Induced Flow Structures In Confined Jet Impingement Boiling, M. J. Rau, P. P. Vlachos, S V. Garimella

CTRC Research Publications

Tomographic particle image velocimetry (PIV) is used to study the effect of confinement gap height on the liquid flow characteristics in jet impingement boiling. This first application of tomographic PIV to flow boiling is significant given the complexity of confined two-phase jet impingement. A jet of subcooled wa- ter at a Reynolds number of 5,0 0 0 impinges onto a circular heat source undergoing boiling heat transfer at a constant heat input. Confinement gap heights of 8, 4, and 2 jet diameters are investigated. A visual hull method is used to reconstruct the time-varying regions of the vapor in the …