Digital Commons Network^™

2016: "Maximizing Customer Convenience With Hill Climbing", Ankit Agarwal '17, William Tong '17, Robert Lou '17, George Moe '17

Distinguished Student Work

As technology advances and the pace of life quickens, companies are expected to continually provide better services, be more accessible, and respond to requests faster. While such expectations have led to the rapid growth of retail stores and service locations throughout the United States, delivery services have arguably been the most influenced by these rising demands.

Amazon.com is an online storefront that has seen tremendous growth throughout its lifetime, and it only continues to grow. Founded in 1994 as an online bookstore, the digital retailer eventually expanded its services to include technology, home goods, and even eBooks. Amazon’s response to …

The Statesman, V. 60, I. 11, Stony Brook University

Stony Brook Statesman-Sucolian

v. 60;i. 11

Current, November 14, 2016, University Of Missouri-St. Louis

Current (2010s)

No abstract provided.

Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids Regulate Adipocyte Differentiation Of Mouse 3t3 Cells, Via Pgc-1Α Activation, Which Is Required For Ho-1 Expression And Increased Mitochondrial Function, Maayan Waldman, Lars Bellner, Luca Vanella, Joseph Schragenheim, Komal Sodhi, Shailendra P. Singh, Daohong Lin, Anand Lakhkar, Jiangwei Li, Edith Hochhauser, Michael Arad, Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz, Attallah Kappas, Nader G. Abraham

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) contributes to browning of white adipose stem cells to ameliorate obesity/diabetes and insulin resistance. In the current study, we show that EET altered preadipocyte function, enhanced peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor γ coactivator α (PGC-1α) expression, and increased mitochondrial function in the 3T3-L1 preadipocyte subjected to adipogenesis. Cells treated with EET resulted in an increase, P < 0.05, in PGC-1α and a decrease in mitochondria-derived ROS (MitoSox), P < 0.05. The EET increase in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels is dependent on activation of PGC-1α as cells deficient in PGC-1α (PGC-1α knockout adipocyte cell) have an impaired ability to express HO-1, P < 0.02. Additionally, adipocytes treated with EET exhibited an increase in mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a PGC-1α-dependent manner, P < 0.05. The increase in PGC-1α was associated with an increase in β-catenin, P < 0.05, adiponectin expression, P < 0.05, and lipid accumulation, P < 0.02. EET decreased heme levels and mitochondria-derived ROS (MitoSox), P < 0.05, compared to adipocytes that were untreated. EET also decreased mesoderm-specific transcript (MEST) mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.05). Adipocyte secretion of EET act in an autocrine/paracrine manner to increase PGC-1α is required for activation of HO-1 expression. This is the first study to dissect the mechanism by which the antiadipogenic and anti-inflammatory lipid, EET, induces the PGC-1α signaling cascade and reprograms the adipocyte phenotype by regulating mitochondrial function and HO-1 expression, leading to an increase in healthy, that is, small, adipocytes and a decrease in adipocyte enlargement and terminal differentiation. This is manifested by an increase in mitochondrial function and an increase in the canonical Wnt signaling cascade during adipocyte proliferation and terminal differentiation.

Careerquest 11-14-2016, Career Center

CareerQuest

No abstract provided.

Engineering Small Molecule Based Dimerization To Induce Translation And Provide Optogenetic Control, Catherine Wright

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

We wanted to develop a system that combines the spatial control of photoactivation and control of translation to build a tool to spatially control translation in neurons. This kind of tool could be used to investigate the role of spatially controlled translation of any protein in neural behavior. In this way the development and growth of neural processes could be studied to elucidate the mechanisms for spatially sensitive events such as pathfinding, repair, or long-term potentiation.

Chemically induced dimerization was used to install a switch into the activation of translation for specific genes. An abscisic acid (ABA) dependent dimerization of …

Rotunda - Vol 95, No. 13 - Nov. 14, 2016, Longwood University

Rotunda

No abstract provided.

Towards Deeper Understanding In Neuroimaging, Rex Devon Hjelm

Computer Science ETDs

Neuroimaging is a growing domain of research, with advances in machine learning having tremendous potential to expand understanding in neuroscience and improve public health. Deep neural networks have recently and rapidly achieved historic success in numerous domains, and as a consequence have completely redefined the landscape of automated learners, giving promise of significant advances in numerous domains of research. Despite recent advances and advantages over traditional machine learning methods, deep neural networks have yet to have permeated significantly into neuroscience studies, particularly as a tool for discovery. This dissertation presents well-established and novel tools for unsupervised learning which aid in …

How Internal Circadian Clocks In Neurons Encode External Daily Rhythms Of Excitability, Jeff Hansen

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

How Internal Circadian Clocks In Neurons Encode External Daily Rhythms Of Excitability, Jeff Hansen

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Selective Growth Of Epitaxial Sr2Iro4 By Controlling Plume Dimensions In Pulsed Laser Deposition, Sung S. Ambrose Seo, J. Nichols, J. Hwang, Jsaminka Terzic, John H. Gruenewald, Maryam Souri, Justin K. Thompson, John G. Connell, Gang Cao

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report that epitaxial Sr₂IrO₄ thin-films can be selectively grown using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Due to the competition between the Ruddlesden-Popper phases of strontium iridates (Sr_n+1Ir_nO_3n+1), conventional PLD methods often result in mixed phases of Sr₂IrO₄ (n = 1), Sr₃Ir₂O₇ (n = 2), and SrIrO₃ (n = ∞). We have discovered that reduced PLD plume dimensions and slow deposition rates are the key for stabilizing pure Sr₂IrO₄ phase thin-films, identified by real-time in-situ monitoring of their optical spectra. …

Using Timing-Based Side Channels For Anomaly Detection In Industrial Control Systems, Stephen Dunlap, Jonathan W. Butts, Juan L. Lopez Jr., Mason J. Rice, Barry E. Mullins

Faculty Publications

The critical infrastructure, which includes the electric power grid, railroads and water treatment facilities, is dependent on the proper operation of industrial control systems. However, malware such as Stuxnet has demonstrated the ability to alter industrial control system parameters to create physical effects. Of particular concern is malware that targets embedded devices that monitor and control system functionality, while masking the actions from plant operators and security analysts. Indeed, system security relies on guarantees that the assurance of these devices can be maintained throughout their lifetimes. This paper presents a novel approach that uses timing-based side channel analysis to establish …

2016-11-14 Excellence In Teaching Committee Meeting Minutes, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Faculty Senate Records

Meeting minutes of the Excellence in Teaching Committee for November 11, 2016.

Evaluating Undergraduate Research Conferences As Vehicles For Novice Researcher Development, P Kneale, A Edwards-Jones, H Walkington, J Hill

Professional Services

Purpose This paper aims to focus on the undergraduate research conference as its sphere of study and investigate the impact of significance of participation and socialisation in such activities on student attitudes and professional development. Using situated learning to theoretically position the undergraduate research conference as an authentic learning context, connection is also made with the concept of graduate attributes. Design/methodology/approach The Vitae (2014) Researcher Development Framework (RDF) is used to provide a template for charting the experiences and development of undergraduate students as researchers. This can be applied to short-term activities and programmes and to long-term career plans. The …

The Quenching Timescale And Quenching Rate Of Galaxies, Jianhui Lian, Renbin Yan, Kai Zhang, Xu Kong

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The average star formation rate (SFR) in galaxies has been declining since the redshift of 2. A fraction of galaxies quench and become quiescent. We constrain two key properties of the quenching process: the quenching timescale and the quenching rate among galaxies. We achieve this by analyzing the galaxy number density profile in NUV−u color space and the distribution in NUV−u versus u − i color–color diagram with a simple toy-model framework. We focus on galaxies in three mass bins between 10¹⁰ and 10^10.6 M _⊙. In the NUV−u versus u − i color–color …

The Amulet Wearable Platform: Demo Abstract, Josiah Hester, Travis Peters, Tianlong Yun, Ronald Peterson, Joseph Skinner, Bhargav Golla, Kevin Storer, Steven Hearndon, Sarah Lord, Ryan Halter, David Kotz, Jacob Sorber

Dartmouth Scholarship

In this demonstration we present the Amulet Platform; a hardware and software platform for developing energy- and resource-efficient applications on multi-application wearable devices. This platform, which includes the Amulet Firmware Toolchain, the Amulet Runtime, the ARP-View graphical tool, and open reference hardware, efficiently protects applications from each other without MMU support, allows developers to interactively explore how their implementation decisions impact battery life without the need for hardware modeling and additional software development, and represents a new approach to developing long-lived wearable applications. We envision the Amulet Platform enabling long-duration experiments on human subjects in a wide variety of studies.

Mesh Addition Based On The Depth Image (Mabdi), Lucas E. Chavez

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Many robotic applications utilize a detailed map of the world and the algorithm used to produce such a map must take into consideration real-world constraints such as computational and memory costs. Traditional mesh-based environmental mapping algorithms receive data from the sensor, create a mesh surface from the data, and then append the surface to a growing global mesh. These algorithms do not provide a computationally efficient mechanism for reducing redundancies in the global mesh. MABDI is able to leverage the knowledge contained in the global mesh to find the difference between what we expect our sensor to see and what …

Mond Prediction For The Velocity Dispersion Of The "Feeble Giant" Crater Ii, Stacy S. Mcgaugh

Faculty Scholarship

Crater II is an unusual object among the dwarf satellite galaxies of the Local Group in that it has a very large size for its small luminosity. This provides a strong test of MOND, as Crater II should be in the deep MOND regime (g in ≈ 34 km2 s-2 kpc-1 ≪ a 0 = 3700 km2 s-2 kpc-1). Despite its great distance (≈120 kpc) from the Milky Way, the external field of the host (g ex ≈ 282 km2 s-2 kpc-1) comfortably exceeds the internal field. Consequently, Crater II should be subject to the external field effect, a feature …

Self-Study Of A Supervisor Making Connections In An Integrated Instructional Third Space In Elementary Mathematics And Field Experience, Katie Arndt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Too often teachers see mathematics as a culturally neutral subject. Teacher educators need to be aware of their own practice and how it impacts the facilitation of preservice teacher learning, in particular in relation to elementary mathematics and culturally responsive teaching. This qualitative self-study focused on understanding a teacher educator’s enactment of an espoused platform in an integrated instructional third space of an elementary field experience and an elementary mathematics methods course in relation to culturally responsive teaching and mathematics. The research questions guiding this self-study were: (1) In the context of the selfstudy, to what extent do I enact …

Expansion Of The Performance Capabilities Of The Usf Inhalation Challenge Chamber, Laura Riley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the capability and performance of the University of South Florida’s (USF) Human Exposure Chamber (HEC) using aerosols in the thoracic range. The goals of this research were two-fold: to obtain an average particle size of 10 µm (thoracic-size range) inside the chamber during dust production and to test for evenness of dust concentration within the chamber. The USF HEC can be used for studies using gases and/or particulates. The chamber measurements are 4.16 ft x 2.67 ft x 6.75 ft, for a total volume of 75 ft³ or 2.13 m^{3 …}

Tai Chi Can Improve Postural Stability As Measured By Resistance To Perturbation Related To Upper Limb Movement Among Healthy Older Adults, Jiahao Pan, Cuixian Liu, Shuqi Zhang, Li Li

Health Sciences & Kinesiology: Faculty Publications

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of Tai Chi (TC) training on postural control when upright standing was perturbed by upper limb movement.

Methods: Three groups, TC, Brisk walk (BW), and sedentary (SE), of thirty-six participants aged from 65 to 75 years were recruited from local community centers. Participants performed static balance task (quiet standing for 30 s with eyes open and closed) and fitting task (two different reaching distances X three different opening sizes to fit objects through). During tasks, the COP data was recorded while standing on the force plate. Criteria measures calculated …

Experimental Investigation Of Plasma Dynamics In Jets And Bubbles Using A Compact Coaxial Plasma Gun In A Background Magnetized Plasma, Yue Zhang

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Numerous solar and astrophysical observations of jet- and bubble-like plasma structures exhibit morphological similarities, suggesting that there may be common plasma physics at work in the formation and evolution processes of these structures at different system scales. The ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) provide the necessary theoretical basis for employing laboratory experiments to investigate key physical processes in nonlinear astrophysical and solar systems, especially when magnetic fields are present.

A coaxial magnetized plasma gun has been designed, installed, and operated in the HelCat linear device at the University of New Mexico. In Region I, a current-driven plasma jet is formed. The plasma …

Rural Women Artists: A Visual Analysis Of The Mural Art Forms Of Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand, India, Pallavi Rani, D. Udaya Kumar, Saheb Ram Tudu, Shilpi Bora

Journal of International Women's Studies

Women are the pioneers of traditional mural art practices in rural India. Warli art, Gond art, and Madhubani paintings are examples of their artworks. The women belonging to the Santhal region in eastern India, are highly skilled in rich rural vernacular art. Murals are generally created by them during local festivals and marriage ceremonies. The women of six districts that comprise the Santhal Pargana (Dumka, Godda, Deoghar, Jamtara, Pakur and Sahibganj), decorate their mud houses during these occasions with visual borders and motifs.

A pilot study was carried out with the women artists to research these murals. The framework for …

2016: Himcm International Mathematics Modeling Contest: National Outstanding Paper, Suchet Kumar '19, Tommy Vadakumchery '19, Nathan Kim '19, Bert Cao '19

Distinguished Student Work

In the modern business world, maximizing profits is the highest priority. Businesses, especially small ones, should try to save money whenever possible. Along with cutting wages, removing competition, and increasing advertising and production, efficiency of company sites can save money. For example, a cheap 50 ft. by 100 ft. warehouse costs $35,000, but when coupled with the costs of maintenance and wages, increasing the number of warehouses significantly increases costs.

Clearly, warehouses are expensive, making it necessary to place them in optimal locations. In this problem, we attempt to reduce the number of warehouses while shipping to the entirety of …

Miocene Contourite Deposition (Along-Slope) Near Desoto Canyon, Gulf Of Mexico: A Product Of An Enhanced Paleo-Loop Current, Shane Christopher Dunn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A Neogene contourite depositional system was identified and mapped along the DeSoto Slope in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, U.S.A. A series of drift deposits comprising the larger contourite depositional system were interpreted from a 2-D industry seismic data set. The now subsurface drift deposits are adjacent to the anomalous seabed feature, the DeSoto Canyon, and these data suggest contourite deposition and ocean currents are in integral part of the canyon’s depositional history. The contourite depositional system is underlain by an extensive, middle Miocene aged, erosional unconformity formed by ocean currents. The timing of this erosional surface is in alignment …

Continuing The Career: An Oral History Of An Emeritus Professor, Kimberly Read

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe and explain the perspectives of a professor emeritus regarding his life experiences in the discipline of chemistry and in a career dedicated to research, service and teaching. Another purpose, interwoven within the perspective of this one individual, was to explore the potential influence a professor emeritus can have on his institution, and the impact the institution, its changing culture, and its shifting priorities may have on a member of the professoriate dedicated to this chosen career path. The research guiding questions for this study were: (a) What elements of this professor emeritus’ …

New Approaches For Estimating Hemispheric Lateralization From Resting State Fmri Data With Relationship To Age, Gender And Mental Disorders, Oktay Agcaoglu

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Lateralization is specialization of the brain hemispheres in certain tasks, such as language, mathematics, cognition and motor skills. It is one of the most queried topics related to the human brain. After the invention of modern medical imaging techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), scientific research about the human brain, including lateralization, gained huge momentum. There have been a remarkable numbers of studies about lateralization and most of these studies focused on investigating which part of the brain dominates in which tasks. However, there have been very few lateralization studies on brain intrinsic activity, i.e., resting state activity where …

What Kind Of Teacher For Our Citizens? A Book Review Of What Kind Of Citizen? Educating Our Children For The Common Good, Tony Decesare

Democracy & Education

Westheimer’s central argument in What Kind of Citizen? Educating our Children for the Common Good is that the current climate around public education—marked, in general, by standardization in our schools—is not conducive to the development of thoughtful and critically engaged public citizens. Westheimer demonstrated convincingly that schools—in response to recent education reform and, in some cases, pressure from parents and other education stakeholders—have increasingly emphasized individual goals at the expense of educating children for the common good. Furthermore and related, in this age of standardized testing, school curricula have become more narrowly focused on achievement in math and literacy at …

Democratic Rehearsals. A Book Review Of Educating For Insurgency: The Roles Of Young People In Schools Of Poverty, James Johnson

Democracy & Education

This is a review of the book Educating for Insurgency: The Roles of Young People in Schools of Poverty, by Jay Gillen.

Media Literacy As Mindful Practice For Democratic Education. A Response To “Transaction Circles With Digital Texts As A Foundation For Democratic Practices”, Theresa Redmond

Democracy & Education

This essay is a response to Brown’s (2015) article describing her strategy of transaction circles as a student-centered, culturally responsive, and democratic literacy practice. In my response, I provide further evidence from the field of media literacy education (MLE) that serves to enhance Brown’s argument for using transaction circles in order to promote democratic discourse, specifically augmenting her ideas by connecting the purposes and processes of transaction circles with key implications of media literacy pedagogy. I invite Brown to consider how her concept of transaction circles may be extended in three ways: (a) through acknowledging the indispensable role of the …