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2020

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The Presence Of Food Likely Has No Influence On Substrate Use Of Tokay Geckos (Gekkonidae: Gekko Gecko), Timothy Zatkos Jan 2020

The Presence Of Food Likely Has No Influence On Substrate Use Of Tokay Geckos (Gekkonidae: Gekko Gecko), Timothy Zatkos

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Geckos and their adhesive capabilities have been thoroughly examined for the past two decades, especially in terms of adhesion and its mechanics. However, few studies have focused on how the adhesive performance of geckos influences ecologically relevant behaviors (e.g., habitat/substrate use). The limited work on the topic in the laboratory suggests that geckos spend more time on substrates in which their adhesive capabilities are superior, such as glass. In their natural habitat, however, multiple factors besides adhesive performance alone is likely to collectively impact the substrate use of geckos. The presence of food is one such factor. Here I examined …

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Creature Care, Alexander Weber Jan 2020

Creature Care, Alexander Weber

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Caring for a pet is a formidable responsibility that requires intense care and monitoring in order to protect and prolong the life of the animal. Traditionally, caring for a reptile presents a unique challenge for pet owners, who not only need to care for the animal but for the environment as well. Individual species distinctly require precise monitoring and control of environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and air quality; and deviation from the nominal values often leads to serious health problems for the reptile. To simplify reptile ownership, a system was designed that measures the critical parameters of a …

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Examining Traumatic Bone Fracture Healing Versus Surgical Osteotomies In Canines And Resulting Rates Of Infection, Grace Gsellman Jan 2020

Examining Traumatic Bone Fracture Healing Versus Surgical Osteotomies In Canines And Resulting Rates Of Infection, Grace Gsellman

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The development of osteomyelitis after surgical osteotomies and fracture repair in canines can propose serious health risks, ultimately leading to additional intervention from veterinarians that can become costly for pet owners and effect prognosis for the patient. Preventive measures are currently implemented during surgery and postoperatively. However, infection rates still range from 3.0% to 7.9% (Clark et al., 2018). By examining traumatic bone fracture healing versus surgical osteotomies in canines through the collection of both clinical and radiographic medical records, our primary objective was to further understand the physiological mechanism by which osteomyelitis develops. Limitations related to the collection of …

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Prosthetic Foot/Ankle Inversion & Eversion Enhancement, Jason Wiebrecht, Maddison Grimes Jan 2020

Prosthetic Foot/Ankle Inversion & Eversion Enhancement, Jason Wiebrecht, Maddison Grimes

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Modify a prosthetic foot/ankle, that currently has power at the ankle joint, for dorsiflexion/flexion so that it supplies power across a simulated subtalar joint, making the joint capable of inversion/eversion.

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Brown Booby Family Units: Comparing Mothers, Fathers, And Chicks Through Stable Isotopes, Erin Taylor Jan 2020

Brown Booby Family Units: Comparing Mothers, Fathers, And Chicks Through Stable Isotopes, Erin Taylor

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Seabird behavior and diet is important to study in order to determine where to focus conservation efforts in a rapidly changing climate. A primary aim of my project is to understand how brown booby family members from a breeding colony on Islas Marietas, Mexico relate to each other isotopically and in terms of their diet. Comparing the family units (mother, father, and chick from the same nest) of these seabirds and sex trends overall will help develop the big picture to determine the best conservation efforts for this species. I also aim to improve our ability to compare seabird plasma …

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Using Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones) With A Thermal Sensor To Map And Count Deer Population, Maxwell C. Ott Jan 2020

Using Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones) With A Thermal Sensor To Map And Count Deer Population, Maxwell C. Ott

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The number of deer in an area is an important statistic for land managers to know, as overabundance has many negative effects. There are many methods that have been used to count deer in the past, such as using manned helicopters and airplanes, walking on foot, and conducting controlled hunts. UAS (unmanned aerial systems) is a growing field that provides many benefits over traditional methods of counting deer, such as lower cost and missions being less time consuming. Using a thermal sensor attached to a UAS makes it simple to spot any deer during a flight. Two main methods of …

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Smart Collar, Gretchen T. Woodling, Sean Moran, Justen Bischoff, Jacob Sindelar Jan 2020

Smart Collar, Gretchen T. Woodling, Sean Moran, Justen Bischoff, Jacob Sindelar

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Smart Collar is a universal pet tracker, designed to be small and exceedingly comfortable for any pet to wear. GPS technology is used to locate the device, allowing the user to track their pet, via a smart phone application. This application can be used to program the device, view maps of their pet’s location and history of travel. Operating primarily on Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) for data transfer, the device consumes very little power, allowing for several days of run-time per charge of the battery. Boasting no monthly service fees, The Smart Collar provides pet owner’s an …

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Non-Invasive Method For Leptin Supplementation In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Regan Mcnamara Jan 2020

Non-Invasive Method For Leptin Supplementation In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Regan Mcnamara

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

I tested the hypothesis that recombinant leptin protein can be introduced to zebrafish in vivo through non-invasive soaking in a solution containing the protein. One way to study various molecules’ effects in vivo is through intraperitoneal or intracerebroventricular injections during the embryonic or larval stage, which is invasive, difficult to administer, and can have a high mortality rate. 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) zebrafish were soaked in a His-tagged recombinant leptin protein solution at 10 nM and 100 nM concentrations (produced by Genscript). After soaking, zebrafish larvae were washed extensively to remove all recombinant protein on their exterior before homogenization. …

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Assessing Morphology Of Iprgcs After Traumatic Brain Injury, Brian Foresi, Matt Smith Jan 2020

Assessing Morphology Of Iprgcs After Traumatic Brain Injury, Brian Foresi, Matt Smith

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

ipRGCs are retinal ganglion cells that project to visual processing centers of the brain for nonimage forming visual functions. The relation of ipRGCs to tramatic brain injury (TBI) is emerging as data has been published describing ipRGC functional changes in TBI affected military veterans. Major symptomologies of concussions, a mild form of TBI, also overlap with the function governed by sites in the brain with major ipRGC projection percentages. Assesing if a morphological change is occuring in the ipRGCs after a TBI could support the idea of a pathological mechanism of the injury. This study could also indicate further relevance …

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Optimization And Validation Of The Neurolux Wireless Optoelectronics System For Optogenetics, Karis Courey, Su Hyun Lee Ph.D., Adam Smith Ph.D., Nicholas Cilz Ph.D., Sarah K. Williams Avram Ph.D., Adi Cymerblit-Sabba Ph.D., June Song, Nicholas Leipzig Ph.D., W. Scott Young M.D., Ph.D. Jan 2020

Optimization And Validation Of The Neurolux Wireless Optoelectronics System For Optogenetics, Karis Courey, Su Hyun Lee Ph.D., Adam Smith Ph.D., Nicholas Cilz Ph.D., Sarah K. Williams Avram Ph.D., Adi Cymerblit-Sabba Ph.D., June Song, Nicholas Leipzig Ph.D., W. Scott Young M.D., Ph.D.

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Utilizing light and genetic engineering, optogenetics permits the manipulation of events within cells via light using the light-sensitive properties of single-component microbial opsins. Microbial opsins are activated by a light source, such as lasers, light-emitting diodes, and incandescent sources that deliver light to the region of interest either directly or indirectly, such as through fiberoptics. In classical in vivo optogenetics, the wiring of optic fibers necessitates tethering of animals by the optic fiber to the light source. The novel NeuroLux wireless optoelectronic system for optogenetics circumvents issues pertaining to classical optogenetics by utilizing near-field power transfer via magnetic coil antennae …

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Bitbilliards, Grant Reinbolt Jan 2020

Bitbilliards, Grant Reinbolt

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of the project is to create a billiards table capable of keeping track of the score while simultaneously racking the sunk balls under the table. To achieve this, image processing will be utilized to detect and determine which balls are above and below the table. Upon leaving the table, the balls will be held by gates to prevent the cue ball from entering the re-racking track. The balls will then enter the track and form a queue to be placed back into the triangle underneath the table. A gantry system consisting of an x and y axis will …

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Enhancement Of The Syncardia Total Artificial Heart For Pediatric Use, Margaret Clark, Madison Marks Jan 2020

Enhancement Of The Syncardia Total Artificial Heart For Pediatric Use, Margaret Clark, Madison Marks

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Pediatric patients with disorders and diseases of the heart have limited options with regards to implantable devices. Many of these implants are ventricular assist devices, which is not always suitable for a patient. Total artificial hearts (TAHs) have supported many adult patients until transplantation, and we believe that they could do the same for pediatric patients. SynCardia has the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved TAH devices. Since SynCardia is the only company with FDA approved TAHs, we decided to modify the design of the SynCardia TAH for use in pediatric patients without compromising the function of the current …

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St. Augustine And St. Thomas Aquinas On The Mind, Body, And Life After Death, Christopher Choma Jan 2020

St. Augustine And St. Thomas Aquinas On The Mind, Body, And Life After Death, Christopher Choma

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Historical and philosophical investigation of the thoughts of two of philosophy's most innovative Christian thinkers. The thesis primarily deals with the relationship between the mind and the body through the lenses of St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Thomas Aquinas. Thesis also includes theological discussions of life after death, and how one can be certain that the soul survives the corruption of the body.

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Enforcing Socioeconomic Rights In Neoliberal India, Rehan Abeyratne Jan 2020

Enforcing Socioeconomic Rights In Neoliberal India, Rehan Abeyratne

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

This Article challenges the conventional narrative on fundamental rights adjudication in India. The narrative goes like this: The Indian judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, produced several transformational decisions in the 1980s. These decisions, among other things, loosened procedural rules to permit fundamental rights petitions on behalf of poor and marginalized groups and also recognized an array of socioeconomic rights, such as rights to work and shelter. In the 1990s, however, the Court retrenched its fundamental rights jurisdiction. It has since been limited to ensuring good governance and adjudicating within neoliberal economic constraints. The Article calls this narrative into question …

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Development And Field Testing Of A Mall For Filipino With A Reusable Framework For Mobile-Based Drills, Jenilyn Agapito, Dominique Marie Antoinette Manahan, Ma. Monica L. Moreno, Jose Isidro Beraquit, Ingrid Yvonne Herras, Kevin Arnel C. Mora, Johanna Marion R. Torres, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo Jan 2020

Development And Field Testing Of A Mall For Filipino With A Reusable Framework For Mobile-Based Drills, Jenilyn Agapito, Dominique Marie Antoinette Manahan, Ma. Monica L. Moreno, Jose Isidro Beraquit, Ingrid Yvonne Herras, Kevin Arnel C. Mora, Johanna Marion R. Torres, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

This paper describes the development and field testing of Ibigkas! Filipino, a mobile game that exercises learners’ fluency in identifying synonyms (kasingkahulugan) and antonyms (kasalungat) in the Filipino language. Twenty-four students from Grades 4, 5, and 6 were invited to play and answer comprehension tests to determine whether the game helped them improve their understanding of the content. Self-report questionnaires assessed the extent to which they enjoyed it. Additionally, three teachers were invited to a focus group discussion (FGD) to gather their insights about the game and how they may use it in their classes. Self-report feedback from students showed …

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Troika Generative Adversarial Network (T-Gan): A Synthetic Image Generator That Improves Neural Network Training For Handwriting Classification, Joe Anthony M. Milan, Proceso L. Fernandez Jr Jan 2020

Troika Generative Adversarial Network (T-Gan): A Synthetic Image Generator That Improves Neural Network Training For Handwriting Classification, Joe Anthony M. Milan, Proceso L. Fernandez Jr

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

Training an artificial neural network for handwriting classification requires a sufficiently sized annotated dataset in order to avoid overfitting. In the absence of sufficient instances, data augmentation techniques are normally considered. In this paper, we propose the troika generative adversarial network (T-GAN) for data augmentation to address the scarcity of publicly labeled handwriting datasets. T-GAN has three generator subnetworks architectured to have some weight-sharing in order to learn the joint distribution from three specific domains. We used T-GAN to augment the data from a subset of the IAM Handwriting Database. We then compared this with other data augmentation techniques by …

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Alchemy In Eastern Literature, Hamlet Isakhanli Jan 2020

Alchemy In Eastern Literature, Hamlet Isakhanli

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Alchemy, developing in Ancient Egypt and its environs, was formed during the Islamic age as the branch of science and technology. The transmutation of base metals into noble metals and attempts to achieve immortality or rejuvenation by elixir or philosopher`s stone have been expansively reflected in Eastern literature and folklore. This research discusses the endeavors of great rulers of the ancient East, alchemists of the pre-Islamic and, especially, Islamic periods, and prominent writers of the Islamic Golden Age and contemporary period who wrote various treatises devoted or related to alchemy and alchemists. Discussions here include the great Sumerian epic “Gilgamesh” …

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The History Of Intellectual Property As The History Of Capitalism, Oren Bracha Jan 2020

The History Of Intellectual Property As The History Of Capitalism, Oren Bracha

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

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Department Of Education: Fy2020 Annual Report, Lehigh Valley Health Network Jan 2020

Department Of Education: Fy2020 Annual Report, Lehigh Valley Health Network

Department of Education

No abstract provided.

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In Re: Paterntability Of The Pelizer Inventions, Brian L. Frye Jan 2020

In Re: Paterntability Of The Pelizer Inventions, Brian L. Frye

Journal of Law, Technology, & the Internet

No abstract provided.

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Confronting Racist Prosecutorial Rhetoric At Trial, Mary Nicol Bowman Jan 2020

Confronting Racist Prosecutorial Rhetoric At Trial, Mary Nicol Bowman

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

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Wisdom As Loving Justice: An Interfaith Perspective, Deborah Zawislan Jan 2020

Wisdom As Loving Justice: An Interfaith Perspective, Deborah Zawislan

Masters Essays

No abstract provided.

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Pi – Not Just An Ordinary Number, Rodica Nan Jan 2020

Pi – Not Just An Ordinary Number, Rodica Nan

Masters Essays

No abstract provided.

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The Impact Of Globalization As An Economic Theory On The Mass Migration Of Vulnerable Populations, Amalia Luxardo Jan 2020

The Impact Of Globalization As An Economic Theory On The Mass Migration Of Vulnerable Populations, Amalia Luxardo

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

As the world becomes increasingly globalized, the question of economy, of who hinders it or allows it to blossom, has become a point of contention that has led to many acts of violence. This research utilizes globalization as an economic theory as the underlying factor that causes these violent conflicts and imminent mass movements of migration. In using this lens, I emphasize that economically fueled violent conflict leads to the migration of populations and their ultimate elimination. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate and draw data from major violent conflicts in different nation-states and perform a quantitative …

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A Brand New Narrative: Social Attitudes Toward Conflict Resolution And Inefficiency In Marketing And Branding, Emily Skinner Jan 2020

A Brand New Narrative: Social Attitudes Toward Conflict Resolution And Inefficiency In Marketing And Branding, Emily Skinner

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to bring to light infield internal assumptions, expectations, and knowledge that may influence limitations on fostering an environment that can increase a social demand for conflict resolution services, knowledge, and practices. The research explored if the field’s marketing is influenced by the macro social norms, assumptions, and expectations of conflict and if they influence how the field communicates with its market. The study’s goal was to investigate if the marketing and the branding of conflict resolution are influenced by the social fact of conflict as negative. This study explored conscious and unconscious broad patterns of common-sense knowledge, …

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“The Skipping King”: Masculinity And Effeminacy In Early Modern Drama, Danielle Johanna Sanfilippo Jan 2020

“The Skipping King”: Masculinity And Effeminacy In Early Modern Drama, Danielle Johanna Sanfilippo

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes depictions of effeminacy and anxiety surrounding masculinity in early modern drama. Effeminacy is a frequently used term in the literature of the period, occurring seven times in Shakespeare alone. For my research, I combine literary analysis and performance criticism. I consulted the National Theatre Archives in London and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford to analyze performances of early modern plays. Effeminacy is a wide-reaching mode of being that makes several layers of meaning. For royals and men of rank, the presumption of effeminacy is a danger to the realm. In Roman historical drama, effeminacy stands in …

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Individual Differences Among Snapchat Users: Uses And Motivations, Nicole Baker Jan 2020

Individual Differences Among Snapchat Users: Uses And Motivations, Nicole Baker

Open Access Dissertations

Social media has become a routine part of daily life, changing the ways people interact with one another. Prior research on social media in the field of psychology and communications has focused on the use of Facebook and Instagram, but little has focused on Snapchat, despite its fast growth and increasing popularity (Grieve, 2017). Thus, the current study examined how and why individuals use Snapchat. Undergraduate students (N=210) at the University of Rhode Island were recruited and asked to complete online surveys. Surveys examined background information, Snapchat activities and motives for use, as well as psychological factors like body image, …

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“We Had Become Trailer People”: Stigma, Social Boundary Making, And The Story Of The American Mobile Home Park, Katie M. Founds Jan 2020

“We Had Become Trailer People”: Stigma, Social Boundary Making, And The Story Of The American Mobile Home Park, Katie M. Founds

Theses and Dissertations--Sociology

Mobile homes and mobile home parks—still most often called trailer parks in common vernacular—occupy a particularly stigmatized position in American culture. A symbolic stand-in for a host of social ills, from bad hygiene and broken families to drug use and loose morals, mobile homes offer affordable housing at a social cost, branding their residents as likewise deficient. This piece of material culture did not come into being with such negative meanings attached. The process of becoming a symbol of stigma is an historical one, a story of meaning making in the midst of cultural shifts and changing norms. Since appearing …

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Chemical Investigation Of Bacterial Interactions Involving Pathogens, Hilary Joan Grant Ranson Jan 2020

Chemical Investigation Of Bacterial Interactions Involving Pathogens, Hilary Joan Grant Ranson

Open Access Dissertations

Chemical communication mediates the vast majority of collective bacterial behaviors, orchestrating gene expression and community functions. A fundamental understanding of how pathogens are able to do this underlies the philosophy of natural product chemistry, providing insights into novel mechanisms for controlling pathogenic bacterial infections. To increase the effectiveness of antibiotics, alternative therapeutic approaches can be used that target bacterial phenotypes associated with infections, including swarming motility and quiescence. This dissertation explores molecules that interfere with such phenotypes in two different pathogens: uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Increased understanding of how bacterial behaviors can be modulated in pathogens …

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Pneumovirus Infections: Understanding Rsv And Hmpv Entry, Replication, And Spread, Jonathan T. Kinder Jan 2020

Pneumovirus Infections: Understanding Rsv And Hmpv Entry, Replication, And Spread, Jonathan T. Kinder

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Pneumoviruses including human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are significant causes of respiratory tract infections globally. Children, elderly, and immunocompromised patients are at the greatest risk for developing severe infections, which can have devastating outcomes. Although these viruses are ubiquitous with significant impacts on human health, there are no antivirals or vaccines available. The only FDA approved therapy is a monoclonal antibody for RSV, given prophylactically during the infectious season, and this treatment is only available for high risk infants. The work presented in this thesis aims to increase our understanding of how these viruses enter, replicate, and …

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