Digital Commons Network^™

Towards Sensorimotor Coupling Of A Spiking Neural Network And Deep Reinforcement Learning For Robotics Application, Kashu Yamazaki

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Deep reinforcement learning augments the reinforcement learning framework and utilizes the powerful representation of deep neural networks. Recent works have demonstrated the great achievements of deep reinforcement learning in various domains including finance,medicine, healthcare, video games, robotics and computer vision.Deep neural network was started with multi-layer perceptron (1stgeneration) and developed to deep neural networks (2ndgeneration)and it is moving forward to spiking neural networks which are knownas3rdgeneration of neural networks. Spiking neural networks aim to bridge the gap between neuroscience and machine learning, using biologically-realistic models of neurons to carry out computation. In this thesis, we first provide a comprehensive review …

Molecular Genetic Analysis Of Drought Resistance And Productivity Traits Of Rice Genotypes, Yheni Dwiningsih

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food for a majority of the world’s population, and uses 30% of the global fresh water during its life cycle. Drought at the reproductive stage is the most important abiotic stress factor limiting grain yield. The United States is the third largest exporter of rice, and Arkansas is the top rice-producing state. The Arkansas rice-growing region in the Lower Mississippi belt is among the 10 areas with the highest risk of water scarcity. Adapted U.S. rice cultivars were screened for drought resistant (DR) traits to find sources for breeding U.S. rice cultivars for …

Optimization Framework For Reconstructing Biomedical Images By Efficient Sample-Based Parameterization, Paul Richard Arbic Ii

Theses and Dissertations

An efficient computational approach for optimal reconstruction of binary-type images suitable for models in various biomedical applications is developed and validated. The methodology includes derivative-free optimization supported by a set of sample solutions with customized geometry generated synthetically. The entire framework has an easy to follow design due to a nominal number of tuning parameters which makes the approach simple for practical implementation in various settings, adjusting it to new models, and enhancing the performance. High efficiency in computational time is achieved through applying the coordinate descent method to work with individual controls in the predefined custom order. This technique …

Shelf Life Extension Of Fresh Strawberries Packaged In Clamshells With Chlorine Dioxide Generating Sachets, Samuel J. Kessler

All Dissertations

Strawberry waste occurs at all lifecycle stages from production, distribution, retail, and household handling; this is an estimated 640 million pounds of strawberries lost valuing at $1.4 billion dollars. Active packaging strategies based on the generation of gaseous chlorine dioxide in the primary package have potential to provide to preserve strawberries in storage extending the shelf life. Benchtop studies have shown significant bactericidal activity of chlorine dioxide and quality preserving effects. As chlorine dioxide travels from the source through the package the concentration decreases as it acts at the surface of the food product. As a result, dose is uneven …

Assessment Of The Potential Anti-Tumour Effect Of Salvia Triloba And The Combination Of Salvia Triloba And Paclitaxel On Ovarian Cancer: Skov3 Cell Line, Naela Adel Mohammed

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Eating A High Fat Diet On Sensitivity Of Rats To Methamphetamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference, Kayla Galindo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Eating a high fat diet causes several negative health consequences, including dysfunction to dopamine systems. For example, eating a high fat diet enhances sensitivity of rats to methamphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization. However, it is not known if sensitivity to other (i.e., the rewarding) effects of methamphetamine are similarly enhanced in rats eating a high fat diet. Females are more sensitive than males to the behavioral effects of stimulants in general, and therefore might also be particularly vulnerable to the effects of diet on the rewarding effects of stimulant drugs. To test the hypoThesis that eating high fat chow enhances sensitivity of …

Structural Characterization Of Two Large Icosahedral Dna Viruses And Their Capsid Assembly Mechanisms, Yuejiao Xian

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the last three decades, many large DNA viruses were discovered and grouped into a loosely defined clade of Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses (NCLDVs). NCLDVs infect a wide range of hosts from single cellular protists to large animals. Recently, these viruses were classified as a new phylum of Nucleocytoviricota under the kingdom of Bamfordvirae. The genomes of these Nucleocytoviricota viruses (NCVs) are remarkedly large and complicated, containing many cellular genes from all three domains of life, which raised intensive debates on their evolutionary origins. Despite being classified in the same phylum, their physical structures vary and can be roughly classified …

Fundamental Studies Of Nanomaterial-Mediated Photothermal Effects And Novel Applications In Visual Quantitative Disease Diagnoses, Wan Zhou

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Infectious diseases and cancers frequently cause public health concerns and high burdens on health care globally. Early diagnosis of these diseases can provide an important guide on prevention, treatment, and prognosis in clinical practice. However, current laboratory diagnostic methods, such as nucleic acid- and protein-based detection methods, require sophisticated infrastructure, expensive and bulky instrumentation, well-trained personnel, and time-consuming processes, which significantly leads to high cost of detection assays and limit their wide accessibility, especially in low-resource settings. To address these issues, we have developed multiple simple, low-cost, and visual quantitative diagnostic methods based on nanomaterial-mediated photothermal effects for the detection …

A Lake Divided: Regional Shifts In Trophic Niche Structure Of Lake Powell Fishes Corresponding To The Invasion Of Quagga Mussels, Nathan Richard St Andre

Theses and Dissertations

Introduced species can become invasive and cause catastrophic alterations to the system they invade. Both zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) have caused significant ecosystem alterations wherever they have invaded. These Dreissena species have caused changes in water quality and biodiversity and have disrupted energy pathways which can have cascading effects on other trophic levels. Recently quagga mussels invaded Lake Powell, a reservoir located in the southwestern USA, creating the possibility of a trophic cascade that could alter energy flow in the reservoir and change the trophic niche structure of the fishes in the lake. However, due …

Assessing Nurse Practitioners' Knowledge And Clinical Practice With Regard To The Oral-Systemic Link, Angela Haynes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) comprise a significant portion of the U.S. primary care workforce and play an essential role in patients' health awareness, prevention strategies, disease management, and in providing appropriate provider referrals. Nurse Practitioners receive education on the oral-systemic connection, yet there have been limited studies on the clinical practice of NPs assessing the oral cavity to evaluate the condition of the teeth and the oral tissues. The purpose of this study was to explore the nurse practitioners’ knowledge and practice habits of assessing the oral cavity for diseases or abnormalities in the mouth that can, in turn, affect overall …

Understanding Wellbeing And Caregiver Commitment After Adoption Or Guardianship From Foster Care, Nancy Rolock

Faculty Scholarship

This study explored data obtained from surveys of caregivers who had previously adopted or assumed guardianship of a child from foster care in two U.S. states (N= 937). Descriptive analyses summarized the demographic and wellbeing characteristics of children and families, and multivariate regression models estimated the association between these variables and caregiver commitment. Consistent with previous research, most caregivers (> 80%) reported positive adjustment across measures, but some caregivers indicated family struggles, such as caregiver strain, child behavior difficulties, and lack of access to adoption-competent services. Higher caregiver commitment was associated with higher family nurturing and attachment, lower caregiver strain, …

It’S The Experience Not The Format: Successful Techniques To Transition Social Justice Coursework To A Distance Delivery Format, Peter L. Kranz, Paul Sale, John Lowdermilk

Counseling Faculty Publications

“Research on multicultural learning has focused on formal and local settings, such as schools, but young people are interacting with, and therefore learning from, informal settings and nonlocal contexts, including online platforms.” (Kim, 2016, p. 1). The instructor must be vigilant in selecting online teaching pedagogy when offering sensitive topics of courses because face-to-face intimacy is usually a component of more traditional courses in diversity (Matloob Haghanikar, 2019). The purpose of this current paper is to align critical parts of an experiential race relations curriculum (Clarke, 2019; Kranz & Lund, 2004) in a face-to-face setting with digital technologies available for …

Calendula Mother Tincture Vs Normal Saline For Ulcer Dressing As An Add-On To Individualized Homoeopathic Intervention In The Management Of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study, Hima Ponnam, Chetna Lamba, Praveen Oberai, Syed Masood, Suryanarayana Yandamuri, M Rao, Raj Manchanda

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Despite standard management, healing rate of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) remains low, posing risk of lower extremity amputation. Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate if Calendula Q has added benefit over individualized homoeopathic intervention (IHI). The primary objective was to achieve complete epithelialisation within 20 weeks and secondary objective was to assess the changes in quality of life using DFU Scale-short form (DFU-SF) questionnaire. Materials and Methods: A randomised controlled pilot study with a 20-week intervention was conducted from 2014-2017. 277 cases were screened and 60 cases were enrolled and randomised to Group I: IHI + Calendula Q …

Understanding The Role Of Homoeopathic Preparation Of Berberis Vulgaris In Mitigation Of Sodium Oxalate- Induced Hyperoxaluria: An Experimental Approach, Bhavani Tamilarasan, Porkodi Karthikeyan, Pugazhendhi Kannan, Kalaiselvi Periandavan, Raj Manchanda, Anil Khurana, Debadatta Nayak, Shanthi Palainivelu

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Hyperoxaluria and calcium oxalate crystal deposition in the kidneys lead to overproduction of reactive oxygen species, resulting in the development of oxidative stress and renal injury. At the cellular levels, mitochondria and NADPH oxidase involved in reactive oxygen species production play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of hyperoxaluria-induced renal injury. Objective: The objective was to investigate the therapeutical effect of homoeopathic drug Berberis vulgaris, a potent antioxidant, upon regulation of NADPH oxidase against acute high-grade sodium oxalate-induced hyperoxaluria in rats. Materials and Methods: Hyperoxaluria was induced in male Wistar rats by administering a single dose of sodium oxalate …

Pharmacognostical Studies Of Smilax Aspera Linn. – A Herbal Drug, Satish Patel, B Biswas, K Rambabu, E Sundaram, Renu Arya

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Smilax aspera L. (sarsaparilla or prickly ivy) is a perennial climber from the family Smilacaceae. Its root and rhizome are used as alterative, demulcent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, stimulant and tonic. Objective: To perform standardization of root and rhizome of S. aspera for authentication and identification of raw drug by pharmacognostical, physiochemical, powder and finish product evaluation. Materials and Methods: Air-dried rhizome and roots were boiled, sectioned and stained for macroscopical and microscopical analysis. For physicochemical studies, rhizome and roots were coarsely powdered and subjected for determination of extractive values, ash values, chemical constituents, weight per millilitre, alcohol content, total …

Research Highlights, Surbhi Jain

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

No abstract provided.

Polyrad -- Protection Against Free Radical Damage, Hannah Kim, Yin Tse, Andrew Webb, Ethan Mudd, Muhammad Raisul Abedin, Melanie R. Mormile, Subhadeep Dutta, Kaushal Rege, Sutapa Barua

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

The effects of elevated levels of radiation contribute to the instability of pharmaceutical formulations in space compared to those on earth. Existing technologies are ineffective at maintaining the therapeutic efficacies of drugs in space. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel space-hardy formulations for preserving the stability and efficacy of drug formulations. This work aims to develop a novel approach for the protection of space pharmaceutical drug molecules from the radiation-induced damage to help extend or at least preserve their structural integrity and potency. To achieve this, free radical scavenging antioxidant, Trolox was conjugated on the surface of …

Safety, Crisis, And Criminal Law, Jenny E. Carroll

Faculty Scholarship

Concepts of safety and prevention of danger pervade the criminal law canon. Arizona is no exception. The state’s criminal systems pivot around central and entwined goals of protecting public safety and preventing danger. The state constitution permits pretrial detention both for the most serious offenses and when no other condition of release will adequately protect the community from the danger the accused’s freedom might pose. The rules of criminal procedure and the criminal code designate some offenses and actors “dangerous” and urge judges to weigh not only the accused’s risk of flight, but also his future dangerousness in making decisions …

Evaluating Appearance Differences Of Color 3d Printed Objects, Matt Ronnenberg

Theses

Color 3D printing is a relatively young technology with several exciting applications and challenges yet to be explored. One of those challenges is the effect that three dimensional surface geometries have on appearance. The appearance of 3D objects is complex and can be affected by the interaction between several visual appearance parameters such as color, gloss and surface texture. Since traditional printing is only 2D, several of these challenges have either been solved or never needed to be addressed. Complicating matters further, different color 3D printing technologies and materials come with their own inherent material appearance properties, necessitating the study …

Application Of Machine Learning Models: Stock Price Forecasting Of The Philippines' Top Six Conglomerates, Anthony Rey Llanos

Theses

The advent of digital age dramatically changed the way all aspects of commerce is conducted. From the largest multi-national conglomerates to the least small-and-medium enterprises and to the unassuming business-savvy individuals have adapted to take advantage of the benefits afforded by the resulting digital technology. Investing in, and profiting from, shares of stocks of companies listed in an organized stock exchange is one such instance. Gone are the days wherein stock investors and brokers are inseparable from their telephones to handle trades. Online platforms, powered by machine learning algorithms, have made investing in stocks not only accessible and convenient but …

Fine-Tuning Sign Language Translation Systems Through Deep Reinforcement Learning, Joseph Panaro

Theses

Sign language is an important communication tool for a vast majority of deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) people. Data collected by the World Health organization states that there are 466 million people currently with hearing loss and that number could rise to 630 million by 2030 and over 930 million by 2050 \cite{DHH1}. Currently there are millions of sign language speakers around the world who utilize this skill on a daily basis. Bridging the gap between those who communicate solely with a spoken language and the DHH community is an ever-growing and omnipresent need. Unfortunately, in the field of natural language …

Biomaterials In Valvular Heart Diseases, Bita Taghizadeh, Laleh Ghavami, Hossein Derakhshankhah, Ehsan Zangene, Mahdieh Razmi, Mehdi Jaymand, Payam Zarrintaj, Nosratollah Zarghami, Mahmoud Reza Jaafari, Matin Moallem Shahri, Adrineh Moghaddasian, Lobat Tayebi, Zhila Izadi

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Valvular heart disease (VHD) occurs as the result of valvular malfunction, which can greatly reduce patient's quality of life and if left untreated may lead to death. Different treatment regiments are available for management of this defect, which can be helpful in reducing the symptoms. The global commitment to reduce VHD-related mortality rates has enhanced the need for new therapeutic approaches. During the past decade, development of innovative pharmacological and surgical approaches have dramatically improved the quality of life for VHD patients, yet the search for low cost, more effective, and less invasive approaches is ongoing. The gold standard approach …

Deaf Cultural Capital And Its Conflicts With Hearing Culture: Navigational Successes And Failures, Ashley Greene-Woods, Natalie J. Delgado, Beverly Buchanan, Misty Sides, Abbas Ali Behmanesh, Brian Cheslik, Caroline K. Koo, M. Diane Clark

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

Despite the creation and implementation of laws intended to support and protect Deaf individuals, stories of limited opportunities and oppression within the workplace still exist and are pervasive. Current research in regard to Deaf individuals’ upward mobility includes a discussion of cultural capital, Imposter Syndrome, and navigational capital. To further understand the experiences of Deaf individuals, the research team conducted a mixed-methods study utilizing surveys and interviews. The results provided insight regarding challenges experienced by the participants in either-or-both their education and employment. The data suggests that the use of navigational capital was the most significant predictor for upward mobility.

Holy Stitches Batman, Or, Performative Villainy In Gothic/Am, A. Luxx Mishou

English Theses & Dissertations

Holy Stitches, Batman, or, Performative Villainy in Gothic/am is an interdisciplinary examination of gothic affect and deviant fashion in the narrative construction of villainy. It asks not just what a villain looks like, but what it means to look like a villain. A villain is a character who consciously and purposefully deviates from standards of normativity in order to pursue their own, often criminal, interests. The signifier of “villain” articulates a different purpose – an adversarial relationship with normativity that guides personal identification. Not exceptional to a gendered cultural system, they are informed by the societies in which they operate, …

An Analysis Of The Effect Of Digital Badging On Workplace Self-Directed E-Learners' Achievement, Persistence, And Self-Regulation, Emma Awuor Agola

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Despite the advantages and increase in popularity of self-directed e-learning, this mode of learning is still reported to suffer from low voluntary enrollment rates, high learner dropout rates, as well as low retention of learning. Although there is a paucity of motivation research with regard to self-directed e-learning, a considerable number of studies identify shortfalls in factors related to learner motivation as the most prevalent factor contributing to these pitfalls.

The current study investigated the effect of digital badges, an extrinsic reward, on learning effectiveness, persistence and self-regulation in a corporate self-directed e-learning environment. The study employed an experimental between-subjects …

Wicked Ideas For Wicked Problems: Marine Debris And The Complexity Of Governance, Dawn Helene Driesbach

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Myriad challenges regarding earth's common spaces, those unregulated by sovereign state authorities, mount and intensify as resources diminish and competition for commercial, scientific and security advantages increases; the pollution and degradation of those spaces simultaneously expands. Threats to the global commons complicate efforts to achieve international consensus which impedes attempts to develop effective governance. As an example, marine debris is a growing problem and is an existential threat to the global commons.

This dissertation aims to characterize marine debris as a wicked problem and explores the complexity of governance in the global ocean commons by answering two fundamental questions. Under …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Kinetics Studies Of New Cobalt Complexes For The Production Of H2 In Acidic Media, Michael John Celestine

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

The kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of [Co(dmgBF₂)₂(OH₂)₂] (where dmgBF₂ = difluoroboryldimethylglyoximato) by sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), sodium bromate (NaBrO₃), and bromine (Br₂₎ was investigated by stopped-flow spectrophotometry at 450 nm over a wide temperature range. The pK_a1 value for [Co(dmgBF₂)₂(OH₂)₂] was calculated as 5.27 ± 0.14 at I = 0.60 (NaCl). From the variation in pH studies, the activation parameters were derived from the proposed mechanisms for NaOCl, ΔH_1*, ΔH_2*, ΔS_1*, and …

Life After Reunification Fails, Lucy Kim

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Monterey County pairs community volunteers with foster youth so the youth has someone who can advocate for them in their personal lives, while pursuing a safe and permanent home. The primary goal of foster care is to reunify youth with their biological families, but this does not always work out. Some of the reasons children come into foster care include the opioid crisis, current immigration policy issues, and general child abuse/neglect. Youth are often confused about what their options are after reunification fails. This confusion causes some youth to have mental health issues, gang involvement, …

Increasing College Students’ Awareness Of Imposter Syndrome, Gabriela Reyes

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many college students are unaware of how imposter syndrome may be affecting them. Imposter syndrome consists of an individual's internalized feelings of phoniness and fear that someone will discover that they are not as competent as they were regarded to be. Imposter syndrome can have detrimental effects on an individuals education and career aspirations. To support students overcoming imposter syndrome, I created a workshop for TRIO students at California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, California.

An Efficient 3-D Stochastic Hie-Fdtd Algorithm For Investigation Of Statistical Variation In Electromagnetic Field, Kaikun Niu, Zhixiang Huang, Xingang Ren, Ke Xu, Minquan Li, Xianliang Wu, Ping Li, Lijun Jiang, Hakan Bagci

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We propose a stochastic hybrid implicit-explicit finite-difference time-domain method (S-HIE-FDTD) to compute the mean and variance of the electromagnetic (EM) fields using a single simulation, given those of the conductivity and permittivity in the computation domain. The mean and variance field update equations underlying the proposed method are derived from the field update equations of the 'traditional' deterministic HIE-FDTD. The Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy condition of the S-HIE-FDTD depends on the spatial discretization sizes only in two dimensions; therefore, for computation domains with fine geometric features only in the remaining dimension, it uses a time step size that is larger than that of …