Digital Commons Network^™

Whence The Next Pandemic? The Intersecting Global Geography Of The Animal-Human Interface, Poor Health Systems And Air Transit Centrality Reveals Conduits For High-Impact Spillover, Michael G. Walsh, Shailendra Sawleshwarkar, Shah Hossain, Siobhan M. Mor

Open Access archive

The health and economic impacts of infectious disease pandemics are catastrophic as most recently manifested by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The emerging infections that lead to substantive epidemics or pandemics are typically zoonoses that cross species boundaries at vulnerable points of animal-human interface. The sharing of space between wildlife and humans, and their domesticated animals, has dramatically increased in recent decades and is a key driver of pathogen spillover. Increasing animal-human interface has also occurred in concert with both increasing globalisation and failing health systems, resulting in a trifecta with dire implications for human and animal health. Nevertheless, to date …

Automatic Pain Assessment Through Facial Expressions, Ilham Seladji

Theses

Pain is a strong symptom of diseases. Being an involuntary unpleasant feeling, it can be considered as a reliable indicator of health issues. Pain has always been expressed verbally, but in some cases, traditional patient self-reporting is not efficient. On one side, there are patients who have neurological disorders and cannot express themselves accurately, as well as patients who suddenly lose consciousness due to an abrupt faintness. On another side, medical staff working in crowded hospitals need to focus on emergencies and would opt for the automation of the task of looking after hospitalized patients during their entire stay, in …

Malware Classification With Gaussian Mixture Model-Hidden Markov Models, Jing Zhao

Master's Projects

Discrete hidden Markov models (HMM) are often applied to the malware detection and classification problems. However, the continuous analog of discrete HMMs, that is, Gaussian mixture model-HMMs (GMM-HMM), are rarely considered in the field of cybersecurity. In this study, we apply GMM-HMMs to the malware classification problem and we compare our results to those obtained using discrete HMMs. As features, we consider opcode sequences and entropy-based sequences. For our opcode features, GMM-HMMs produce results that are comparable to those obtained using discrete HMMs, whereas for our entropy-based features, GMM-HMMs generally improve on the classification results that we can attain with …

Effect Of Surfactant Addition On The Dispersion And Antioxidant Performance Of Pyrogallol In Biodiesel, Silvya Yusri, Mohammad Nasikin, Hery Sutanto

Makara Journal of Science

Biodiesel is one of the most feasible energy sources that can be used as a replacement for fossil fuel. Biodiesel has several advantages over conventional fuels because of its availability, renewability, and high combustion efficiency. However, biodiesel that contains unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters is prone to oxidation during the blending process and storage period. The complete oxidation reaction of biodiesel produces insoluble gums that could potentially plug the fuel engines. This reaction has become the main barrier for biodiesel to compete with other biofuels. Among several methods, the addition of antioxidants is the most cost-effective method to prevent the …

Figurations Of Timely Extraction, H Pritchard, J Rocha, F Snelting

School of Art, Design and Architecture

During recent years, geocomputation has become increasingly entangled with so-called 4D visualization. The contemporary infrastructure of fossil fuel extraction depends on these software tools for geological data handling, interpretation and modelling of subterranea. This paper makes use of the contaminated and contaminating practice of figuration to plot stories that highlight some of the milestones of deadly collaboration, of optimised acceleration, and of sedimented damage. It engages with three figurations of timely extraction (Consortium, Borehole and Amalgam), to tell stories that provide a way to make present the time-space complexities that emerge from the connections between extractivism, computation and semiotic-material values. …

The Evolutionary Global Vision Of Chinese Political Philosophy; China's Socio-Economic Transformation In The 21st Century, Meryem Gurel

Master's Projects and Capstones

Evolving relations of East Asia due to trade liberalization raised the search for financial stability for institutional development. It also increased the importance of China integrating the global economy into renewing its political philosophy in the new century. This capstone project aims to examine why China has transformed its socio-economic structure by generating outward investments and how it has affected international political relations in terms of the role of the economic institution Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Quantitative methodology aims to examine the impact of China’s export trade on income distribution and economic growth through linear regression analysis for the …

The Importance Of Nutrition Education As A Recovery Component For Individuals With Severe Mental Illnesses, Emily Martinez

Master's Projects and Capstones

In efforts to challenge the Western medicine’s determination of nutrition as a holistic approach, this paper represents the intent for mental health facilities in California to improve or implement nutrition education curriculum by enhancing interprofessional teams with dietitians as an important component of recovery for severe mental illness patients. There is concrete evidence proving that individuals who are in facilities recovering from mental illnesses have benefited from optimal nutrition consumption. Nutrition education has become a component among the toolbox of recovery options, but unfortunately it is not encouraged enough. Pharmaceutical companies advertise drug therapy as the most effective way to …

Analysis And Review On Gene Editing, Song Xiufang, Wei Xuemei, Zheng Lili, Zhao Yajuan, Zhang Kexin, Liu Chunguang, Xu Weihua

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Gene editing technology is a very important bioengineering technology, which is widely used in biomedicine, biological environmental protection, and agricultural production. Based on the analysis of patents and articles related to gene editing, this study reveals the development status and trend of gene editing technology from the following aspects: Patent application and publication of major global institutions, overview of CRISPR technology patents, cooperation among patent inventors in various countries, analysis of technology flow direction, technology composition, and status of main innovation subjects. Countermeasures and suggestions on the original technology innovation, industrialization process, and international collaboration are put forward for researchers …

Evaluation Of The Intake Of Fresh Mulberry In Crossbred Large White Pigs: Morphometric, Histological And Hematological Study, Yuvan Contino, F. Ojeda, R. Herrera, Nancy Altunaga, Guadalupe Pérez, J. L. Moliner

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

The Utilization Of Stored Soil Moistures For Forage Legumes Supply In The Dry Season In West Timor, Indonesia, Esnawan Budisantoso, Neal Dalgliesh, P. Th. Fernandez, T. Basuki, E. Hosang, D. Kana Hau, Jacob Nulik

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Organic Production Of Livestock And Livestock Products In Nebraska, Elliott James Dennis

Extension Farm and Ranch Management News

First paragraph:

USDA “Certified Organic” is a form of production that has received considerable public attention in the last 10 years, particularly among small, beginning and/or minority farmers. Spiking retail prices for red meat and poultry have seemingly accelerated consumer’s interest in organic locally produced products. Consumers demonstrate their desire for these products by paying premiums when purchasing meat products. Producers receive premiums by either directly marketing live animals to consumers that are custom harvested or marketing animals to meat wholesalers. The primary difference is the way premiums are captured. Producers doing custom harvesting capture the full premium whereas producers …

The Effect Of Surface Air Entrapment On Oscillating Fin Flow At Intermediate Reynolds Number, Nicholas Davis

Mechanical Engineering Research Theses and Dissertations

Oscillating fin flow has been a subject of study due to its simplicity and similarity to aquatic propulsion methods found in nature. At intermediate Reynolds numbers, in the range of 10 to 1000, drag tends to have a larger impact than at higher Reynolds numbers and the boundary layer thickness on the fin surface tends to be larger, which can alter the vortices shed during oscillation. To attempt to reduce these effects, an apparent slip condition may be placed on the surface of the fin. In this investigation, entrapment of pneumatically supplied air at a perforated fin surface was used …

Imaging The Tumor Microenvironment Using 1,2-Dioxetane Chemiluminescence Agents, Lucas Ryan

Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

As complex organisms, animals and humans rely on a delicate interplay between many connected systems to maintain proper cellular and whole-body function. Oxygen regulation and homeostasis are vital for proper function in healthy cells, as are core components of aerobic metabolism and efficient ATP generation to supply our energy needs. Maintaining pH homeostasis is also of primary importance; cells maintain pH homeostasis through a host of active and passive transporters to maintain pH balance both inside and outside of the cell.

Events of uncontrolled cellular proliferation, also known as cancer, survive and thrive under conditions that perturb the delicate balance …

Examining Multiple Imputation For Measurement Error Correction In Count Data With Excess Zeros, Shalima Zalsha

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

Measurement error and missing data are two common problems in wildlife population surveys. These data are collected from the environment and may be missing or measured with error when the observer’s ability to see the animal is obscured. Methods such as video transects for estimating red snapper abundance and aerial surveys for estimating moose population sizes are highly affected by these problems since total abundance will be underestimated if missing/mismeasured counts are ignored. We shall refer to this problem as visibility bias; it occurs when the true counts are observed when visibility is high, partially observed when visibility is low …

Urban Growth, Low Impact Development, And Seattle's Stormwater Management System, Katherine Baals

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

No abstract provided.

Modelling Optimal Control Of Heavy Alcohol Consumption On The Transmission Dynamics Of Hiv/Aids, Emmanuel Ongodia, Gasper G. Mwanga

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Unhealthy consumption of alcohol continues to be found everywhere in our communities leading to behavioural and physiological effects on neuro-cognitive function. This results into high-risk sexual behaviour mainly due to impaired decision- making capacity and impulsivity, a catalyst of HIV infection and ultimately AIDS. This paper investigates the best control combination for HIV/AIDS pandemic in a community with alcohol abuse problem. It proposes a compartmental deterministic model for the transmission dynamics of HIV/AIDS in a community plagued with alcohol abuse. The paper determines the implementation of optimal control strategies involving reduction of new HIV cases through the ABC (abstinence, being …

Benefits Of Equine-Based Therapy For Individuals With Dementia, Lauren Fearn

Student Capstone Papers

Individuals living with dementia typically experience progressive, cognitive, and functional decline which limits their ability to communicate and fully perform activities (Pimouguet el al., 2019). Horses have been shown to benefit individuals with dementia by improving well-being, physical health, functional capacity, and social relationships (Fields et. al., 2019).

A 6-week OT-based virtual equine-assisted activities program was conducted to determine if participation in equine-assisted activities could improve the quality of life of individuals with dementia. Outcomes of the program resulted in improvements in mood, energy level, engagement, communication, memory, socialization, and overall quality of life.

Postdigital Ecopedagogies: Genealogies, Contradictions, And Possible Futures, Derek Ford, Petar Jandrić

Education Studies Faculty publications

This paper charts some genealogies, challenges, and directions for experimenting with the utopic postdigital ecopedagogies demanded by our present (post)pandemic reality. These are messianic—rather than prophetic—utopias that exist not as proclamations or programmes for a distant future but as potentialities immanent in the irreducible excess of the present. While their roots most clearly emanate from the Freirean-inspired ecopedagogy movement, we conceptualize ecopedagogies instead as educational forms that emerge from, negotiate, debate, produce, resist, and/or overcome the shifting and expansive postdigital ecosystems from and to which we write and think. These are expansive ecosystems of humans, postdigital machines, nonhuman animals, minerals, …

Opioid Free Anesthesia, Sarah Medina

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Patients undergoing surgery are often given opioids intraoperatively. Administration of opioids is associated with untoward side effects that include nausea, respiratory depression, constipation, ileus, hyperalgesia, prolonged length of stay, and the potential for dependence (Garimella & Cellini, 2013). Emerging research on the topic of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) is available and indicates several benefits of OFA, including reduction in postoperative pain, reduction in postoperative nausea and vomiting, reduction in postoperative shivering, and improved oxygen saturation levels (Mulier et al., 2018). This quality improvement project aimed to advance anesthesia providers' understanding of OFA by creating an OFA guideline and providing a learning …

Efficient End-To-End Autonomous Driving, Hesham Eraqi

Theses and Dissertations

Steering a car through traffic is a complex task that is difficult to cast into algorithms. Therefore, researchers turn to train artificial neural networks from front-facing camera data stream along with the associated steering angles. Nevertheless, most existing solutions consider only the visual camera frames as input, thus ignoring the temporal relationship between frames. In this work, we propose a Convolution Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Network (C-LSTM), which is end-to-end trainable, to learn both visual and dynamic temporal dependencies of driving. Additionally, We introduce posing the steering angle regression problem as classification while imposing a spatial relationship between the …

Influence Of Testosterone On Male-Male Competition In The Red-Sided Garter Snake, Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis, Isabella M. G. Bukovich

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Female mimicry in the red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, is described in several well-studied evolutionary advantages, but an aspect that remains elusive is how reproductive traits are linked to the 3-fold higher circulating androgens in males with this phenotype. In this study, we implanted male garter snakes (n=15 per group) with either a blank implant (SHAM; control) or a T implant, the latter simulating the female mimic phenotype. Following simulated low-temperature dormancy, males were scored for courtship intensity over three days of behavioral trials with females housed in the same facility. Males were sacrificed, and sperm were collected …

The Impact Of Cultural Heritage On Japanese Towns And Villages, Yuichiro Tsuji Dr.

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

In 1954, when historically significant clays and clay pots were found in the Iba district of Shizuoka prefecture, the city applied to the prefectural education committee for a historic site designation. The committee granted this designation to the city..

However, in 1973 the education committee lifted its permission to promote development around the location. Historians have sought revocation of this decision under the Administrative Case Litigation Act (ACLA), but the Supreme Court has denied standing. By denying standing, the Japanese Supreme Court allows the prefecture to destroy a historical site.

First, this paper seeks to discuss the doctrine of standing …

The Use Of Life-Like Robotic Animals In The Acute Care Setting To Assist In The Care Of Patients With Dementia, Abby Denby

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

The purpose of this pilot project was to describe the effect of life-like robotic animals on the nurses’ ability to provide care, patients’ level of agitation, use of antipsychotic medications, restraint and sitter use for patients with dementia in an acute care setting. Nurses report challenges and feelings of helplessness while caring for patients with dementia. Dementia may cause depression, agitation, aggression (physical or verbal) and a decrease quality of life. Animal Assisted Therapy (ATT) is a growing therapy in many healthcare settings but there is a lack of literature specifically related to the use of AAT in the acute …

The Well-Stocked Bookshelf, Ed Spicer, Marguerite Foshee

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Of Cabbages And Kings: Reviews Of Books For Children, Lynette Autrey, Katie Rener, Leah Van Belle, Maggie Wunderlich

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Biographies From The 2013 Great Lakes Great, Lyneytte Suckow

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Developing And Implementing Family Literacy Bags In The Classroom, Kathleen Plond

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Fluency In Handwriting: A Key Factor For Text Generation And Written Expression, Angela Pontarelli

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Guide To Aurora Health Care Libraries, 2003, Advocate Aurora Health

Aurora Health Care Books, Documents, and Pamphlets

Aurora Health Care Libraries, Wisconsin: The brochure from Aurora Libraries (part of Aurora Health Care) contains information on resources, services, locations, and staff for 2003.

Guide To Aurora Health Care Libraries, 2002, Advocate Aurora Health

Aurora Health Care Books, Documents, and Pamphlets

Aurora Health Care Libraries, Wisconsin: The brochure from Aurora Libraries (part of Aurora Health Care) contains information on resources, services, locations, and staff for 2002.