Digital Commons Network^™

Post Processing Of Confocal Microscopy Images To Quantify Collagen Remodeling By Fibroblasts, Zhang Liu

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

The ways that fibroblast cells remodel their local microenvironment is critical to a number of pathologies. To quantify this in a 3D environment, I an existing MATLAB script was modified to process the qualitative, visual information from confocal microscopy images and generate quantitative graphs representing the density of collagen around a fibroblast as a function of distance from the cell. While the earlier script used each 2D image from a confocal image stack and dilated the shape of the recognized cell to extract to find the coordinates of the surrounding collagen. The work in this study builds on the analysis …

A Life-Cycle Benefit/Cost Analysis Framework For Its Deployments, Xifan Chen

Dissertations - ALL

The primary objective of Transportation Systems Management and Operation (TSM&O) strategies, or Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is to optimize the capacity of existing transportation infrastructure by reducing congestion. Over past decades, agencies and researchers investigated the use of various strategies such as deployment of adaptive traffic control systems (ATCS), ramp metering systems (RMS), surveillance through closed circuit TV (CCTV) cameras, and information sharing systems to achieve this objective. Life Cycle Agency Cost Agency Analysis (LCCA) of various alternative intelligent transportation strategies has received particular attention to identify the strategy with the lowest cost. However, increasing concerns over the impacts of …

Accelerated Construction Of Roadways: Life Cycle Assessment And Environmental Impacts, Sudipta Ghorai

Dissertations - ALL

Sustainability refers to a long-term perspective of economic, social, and environmental progress, which not only addresses the present conditions but also includes the needs of future generations. The massive network of roadways in United States has the potential to contribute considerably towards achieving sustainability in the infrastructure sector. The “triple bottom line” of sustainability, if incorporated in roadway development projects, can address issues like climate change, environmental protection, funds optimization, and social equity. This study focuses on the life cycle assessment (LCA) of arterial improvement projects. Preservation treatments help in extending the remaining service life of roads; but at the …

Investigation Of Conical Spinneret In Generating More Dense And Compact Electrospun Nanofibers, Aya Hamed, Nader Shehata, Mohammad Elosairy

Biology Faculty Publications

Electrospinning is an important, widely used process to generate nanofibers. However, there is still an open window for different designs of both spinneret and collector electrodes to be investigated. This paper introduces the impact of new design of conical spinneret electrode on the generated electrospun nanofibers. In this work, the conical feeder is used to generate electrospun Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers, and being compared to the traditional needle feeder at the same processing conditions. The jet’s mechanism is simulated using discrete bead model along with estimated calculations of both deposition area and fiber radius. The electric field distribution that is …

Enacting “Technology” And Everything Else: Gendered Practices And The System Of Crop Intensification, Natasha Susan Koshy

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation is a qualitative examination of the functioning of a rural

development project in a Himalayan region of India, with a special focus on a

particular project activity centred around an agro-ecological method of crop

production, the System of Crop Intensification (SCI). Environmental changes and

disasters along with rapid transformations in the rural economy in Uttarakhand has

engendered a renewed interest in non-mainstream farming practices. However, the

success and/or failure rates of adoption of new agricultural methods and technologies

remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Studies of adoption rates tend to focus on

the aspects of the technology itself, rather …

Online Learning With Bandits For Coverage, Mahmuda Rahman

Dissertations - ALL

With the rapid growth in velocity and volume, streaming data compels decision support systems to predict a small number of unique data points in due time that can represent a massive amount of correlated data without much loss of precision. In this work, we formulate this problem as the {\it online set coverage problem} and propose its solution for recommendation systems and the patrol assignment problem.

We propose a novel online reinforcement learning algorithm inspired by the Multi-Armed Bandit problem to solve the online recommendation system problem. We introduce a graph-based mechanism to improve the user coverage by recommended items …

Semi-Open Space And Micro-Environmental Control For Improving Thermal Comfort, Indoor Air Quality, And Building Energy Efficiency, Meng Kong

Dissertations - ALL

Local air delivery, heating, and cooling combined with local space partition and confinement (called semi-open space or SOS) have the potential to provide micro-environment that is tailored to the individual preference of the occupants, and hence increase the percentage of satisfied occupancy from currently 80% to near 100%. This research investigates the use of a micro-environmental control system (µX) and semi-open space (SOS) to efficiently provide the desired thermal comfort and air quality conditions for individual occupants while the ambient air temperature set-points were relaxed for reducing the overall energy consumption of the building. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model …

Associative Pattern Recognition For Biological Regulation Data, Yiou Xiao

Dissertations - ALL

In the last decade, bioinformatics data has been accumulated at an unprecedented rate, thanks to the advancement in sequencing technologies. Such rapid development poses both challenges and promising research topics. In this dissertation, we propose a series of associative pattern recognition algorithms in biological regulation studies. In particular, we emphasize efficiently recognizing associative patterns between genes, transcription factors, histone modifications and functional labels using heterogeneous data sources (numeric, sequences, time series data and textual labels).

In protein-DNA associative pattern recognition, we introduce an efficient algorithm for affinity test by searching for over-represented DNA sequences using a hash function and modulo …

Adhesion Characterization Of Portland Cement Concrete And Alkali-Activated Binders Under Different Types Of Calcium Promoters, Long Yuan Li

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

The Core Of Professional Growth In Work-Related Teacher Education, Leena Aarto-Pesonen, Päivi Tynjälä

The Qualitative Report

This paper presents a Glaserian grounded theory study of adult students’ holistic professional growth in a two-year tailored, work-related, teacher qualification program in physical education. The data consisted of reflective learning diaries, interviews and the written texts of 20 adult students. The data analysis followed the stages of Glaserian grounded theory analysis with substantive and theoretical coding processes carried out using the constant comparative method. The article presents the emotional core and its properties (criticality, ethicality and empowerment) of physical education teacher students’ professional growth. In addition, the article introduces a substantive theory of a process of adult students’ multifaceted …

Fossils, Heritage And Conservation: Managing Demands On A Precious Resource, Kn Page

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This book is an essential resource for geoscientists, park and geopark managers, tourism and regional planning managers, as well as university students interested in geoheritage, geosites, geomorphosites, geoconservation, and geotourism.

The Application And Usefulness Of Economic Analyses For Water Quality Management In Coastal Areas, Sheri L. Jewhurst, Kate K. Mulvaney, Marisa J. Mazzotta

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

Economic studies are increasingly sought as tools to contribute to water quality management in estuaries and coastal communities, yet little is known about how the results from existing studies have been received and utilized by the organizations who solicited them. We interviewed managers from eight organizations who solicited economic studies over the past 15 years to understand how useful the studies were to their organizations and what economic research would be most helpful for their management needs. In terms of utility for coastal managers, there are a number of limitations in the studies. These include lack of site-specific data, the …

Natural Enemies Of Cranberry Fruitworm, Acrobasis Vaccinii, (Lepidoptera: Pyraudae) In Michigan Highbush Blueberries, Dogulas A. Murray, Robert D. Kriegel, James W. Johnson, Angus J. Howitt

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A two-year study was conducted in Michigan highbush blueberries to determine the complex of parasitoids attacking cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii. Eight parasitoid species and one fungal pathogen were collected. Parasitism of collected hosts ranged from 6.6% to 28.1%. The more common larval parasitoid encountered was Campoletis patsuiketorum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). The more common parasitoid recovered from fruitworm hibernacula was Villa lateralis (Diptera: Bombyliidae). This study documented six unreported natural enemies of cranberry fruitworm, including C. patsuiketorum; V. lateralis; Diadegma compressum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae); Compsilura concinnata (Diptera: Tachinidae); Memorilla pyste (Diptera: Tachinidae); an undescribed Microtypus species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae); and a fungal pathogen, …

Laboratory Rearing Of Lycaeides Melissa Samuelis (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), An Endangered Butterfly In Michigan, Catherine Papp Herms, Deborah G. Mccullough, Deborah L. Miller, Leah S. Bauer, Robert A. Haack

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) is listed as a federally endangered species in the United States. It occurs in oak savanna and pine barren habitats from eastern Minnesota to New Hampshire. In 1994, we successfully reared Karner blue larvae under controlled laboratory conditions for experimental purposes, and report on those rearing methods here. We collected 20 female Karner blue adults of the spring generation from two areas in Michigan, and housed them in cages in an environmental chamber at 240 -26°C for 5 days. The female butterflies produced 154 eggs, of which 72 hatched in an average of …

A Proposal To Reduce Flooding By Planting Rain Gardens At The University Of Miami Coral Gables Campus, Sabrina Ullman

2017 All Essays

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness Of Nurse-Driven Early Mobility Protocol, Viktoriya Fridman

Seton Hall University DNP Final Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this quality initiative is to introduce the nurse driven evidence-based practice change related to patient mobility in the hospital setting with the aim to improve nurse knowledge, attitude, and behavior on a medical-surgical unit.

Significance of Project: The proposed DNP quality project is devised from the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) Choosing Wisely campaign unique to the elements of “don’t let older adults lay in bed or only get up to a chair during their hospital stay” to achieve a practice change. A significant aspect of patient care in a hospital setting is patient …

Ahoy Aggies! | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

In landlocked Utah, freshmen engineering students at Utah State University got a hands-on lesson in sailing the open seas.

Chemical Desulphurisation Of Sub-Bituminous High Sulphur Indonesian Coal Via Peroxyacetic Acid Treatment, Ishak M.A.M., Ismail K., Nawi M.A.M., Ismail A.F.

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The chemical desulphurisation from an Indonesian high sulphur sub-bituminous Banjarmasin Haji Ali-Aliansar coal was investigated using the peroxyacetic acid (PAA), a mild oxidising agent. A mixture of hydrogen peroxide:acetic acid (i.e. 30:70 by volume ratio with 6% of hydrogen peroxide concentration) at 50°C of reaction temperature is capable of reducing the total sulphur content in the coal from 3.46% to 1.29% by weight, corresponding to the removal of up to ca. 72% of the total sulphur; both the inorganic (mainly pyrite) and organic sulphur forms, and approximately 10 to 44% of ashes in the coal. The simultaneous removal of both …

Removal Of Sulfur Dioxide From Flue Gas Using Absorbent Prepared By Water And Steam Hydration, Teong Lee Keat, Mohamed Abdul Rahman, Bhatia Subhash

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Active absorbent for flue gas desulfurization was prepared from coal fly ash, calcium oxide (CaO) and calcium sulfate (CaSO4 ) by hydro-thermal process; steam and water hydration. The absorbents were examined and compared for its micro-structural properties. The experiments were conducted based on Design of Experiments (DOE) according to 24 factorial design. The effect of various absorbent preparation variables such as hydration period (Factor A), ratio of CaO to fly ash (Factor B), amount of calcium sulfate used (Factor C) and drying temperature (Factor D) towards the BET surface area of the absorbent were studied. The BET surface area of …

Silver Photodiffusion Into Ge-Rich Amorphous Germanium Sulfide—Neutron Reflectivity Study, Y. Sakaguchi, H. Asaoka, M. Mitkova

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Silver diffuses into chalcogenide films upon light exposure, and the kinetics of photodiffusion has been a subject of various investigations because of the difficulties in the in situ determination of the time-dependent Ag reaction and diffusion development in the chalcogenide layers. In this paper, we report the results of time-resolved neutron reflectivity measurement of Ag/Ge₄₀S₆₀/Si substrates under light exposure to clarify the kinetics of Ag photodiffusion into Ge-rich Ge chalcogenides. It reveals that Ag ions diffuse all over the Ge chalcogenide host layer once Ag dissolves into the layer without forming a metastable reaction layer unlike …

Does Government Contracting Have A Remedies Problem? A Response To Eric M. Singer, Competitive Public Contracts, Steven W. Feldman

Nevada Law Journal Forum

In his provocative article, Competitive Public Contracts, Eric M. Singer claims that deficient contractor performance is inherent in government contracting. Singer asserts that, “fundamentally,” public purchasing has a “contract-remedies problem”—the absence of both any “credible threat” and any “effective contract remedy to deter or correct [contractor] misbehavior.” Unlike private buyers, who have plausible threats to motivate contractors to perform properly, governments are said to “often” labor under intrinsic and extrinsic limitations that undermine remedial alternatives. Consequently, Singer argues that governments (especially state and local agencies) have no “effective contract remedy” to induce improved contractor performance. Among these “ineffective” remedies, according …

A Grounded Theory Study Of Nurses Who Care For Patients Who Are Victims Of Sexual Violence, Dara M. Whalen

Dissertations

Sexual violence is a widespread traumatic event that has physical, psychological, financial, and spiritual implications for victims, their friends and family, and the community. The negative and long-term effects include poor health outcomes, depression, substance abuse disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many nurses who treat these patients are inadequately trained.

The treatment of nurses towards patients who are victims of sexual violence can mitigate or contribute to perceived revictimization of patients. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the processes and uncover the attitudes and behaviors of nurses without specialized training who care for patients who are victims …

The Effect Of Time, Roasting Temperature, And Grind Size On Caffeine And Chlorogenic Acid Concentrations In Cold Brew Coffee, Niny Z. Rao, Megan Fuller

College of Humanities and Sciences Faculty Papers

The extraction kinetics and equilibrium concentrations of caffeine and 3-chlorogenic acid (3-CGA) in cold brew coffee were investigated by brewing four coffee samples (dark roast/medium grind, dark roast/coarse grind, medium roast/medium grind, medium roast/coarse grind) using cold and hot methods. 3-CGA and caffeine were found at higher concentrations in cold brew coffee made with medium roast coffees, rather than dark roast. The grind size did not impact 3-CGA and caffeine concentrations of cold brew samples significantly, indicating that the rate determining step in extraction for these compounds did not depend on surface area. Caffeine concentrations in cold brew coarse grind …

The Gender Wage Gap: Causes, Consequences, And Remedies, Yaveline Aly

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Women are almost half of the workforce, yet they are still getting pay less than men. They receive more college degree than men. Hispanic women and African American women get pay even less than men. For every 40 hours that Americans women work, they only get pay 80 cents for every dollar paid to men. Wage discrimination is a reality. Society needs to take a stand and fight for wages equality (NWLC.org). Although the equal pay act was implemented 50 years ago, women of every race and education level are still getting pay less than men. It only gets worse …

Application Of Back Propagation Neural Network In Predicting Palm Oil Mill Emission, Azid I.A., Yusoff A.R., Seetharamu K.N., Ahmad A.L.

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The paper presents an approach to investigate and monitor the air pollution caused by the palm oil mill. A concept of dealing with the problem from its causes is used where the sources of pollution from the stack gases were examined. The main causes were from the combustion of shell fibre and of the palm oil. However, in the boiler itself, several parameters like steam load and pressure, fuel capacity and temperature also contribute to the pollution. The study uses Neural Network (NN) to simulate the process of combustion and stack gases. This neural network was trained by using the …

The Weekly Challenger, December 21, 2017, The Weekly Challenger, Et Al

Weekly Challenger Newspaper Collection

The December 21, 2017, issue of The Weekly Challenger.

Visual Odometry Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Alec Graves, Steffen Lim, Thomas Fagan, Kevin Mcfall Phd.

The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research

Visual odometry is the process of tracking an agent's motion over time using a visual sensor. The visual odometry problem has only been recently solved using traditional, non-machine learning techniques. Despite the success of neural networks at many related problems such as object recognition, feature detection, and optical flow, visual odometry still has not been solved with a deep learning technique. This paper attempts to implement several Convolutional Neural Networks to solve the visual odometry problem and compare slight variations in data preprocessing. The work presented is a step toward reaching a legitimate neural network solution.

Um Honors College Welcomes 15 Scholarship Recipients This Fall, Shea Stewart

University of Mississippi News

Freshmen awarded some of the university's most prestigious scholarships

Lacosamide And Levetiracetam Have No Effect On Sharp-Wave Ripple Rate, Jan Kudlacek, Jan Chvojka, Antonin Posusta, Lubica Kovacova, Seung Bong Hong, Shennan A. Weiss, Md, Phd, Kamila Volna, Petr Marusic, Jakub Otahal, Premysl Jiruska

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Pathological high-frequency oscillations are a novel marker used to improve the delineation of epileptogenic tissue and, hence, the outcome of epilepsy surgery. Their practical clinical utilization is curtailed by the inability to discriminate them from physiological oscillations due to frequency overlap. Although it is well documented that pathological HFOs are suppressed by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), the effect of AEDs on normal HFOs is not well known. In this experimental study, we have explored whether physiological HFOs (sharp-wave ripples) of hippocampal origin respond to AED treatment. The results show that application of a single dose of levetiracetam or lacosamide does not …

Reducing Computation Time Of Vortex Position For Helicopter Flight Simulations, Matthew Tibbetts, David Peters

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

The purpose of this investigation was to reduce the computational cost of vortex mapping for helicopter flight simulators, with the particular case of landing a helicopter on a moving ship. We pursued this goal by modeling the velocity using a series of Fourier transforms, linear fits, and Legendre polynomial fits. The end result was a matrix of 9 coefficient values which could be used to recreate the vortex behavior of the original data set with some accuracy. This technique will allow flight simulators to generate vortex data quickly to improve their effectiveness in training pilots.