Digital Commons Network^™

Biometric Face Skintone Data Augmentation Using A Generative Adversarial Network, Rosalin Dash

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers seek methods to increase the accuracy and efficiency in identifying an individual using facial biometric systems. Factors like skin color, which may affect the accuracy of facial recognition, need to be investigated further. To analyze the impact of race with respect to skin color of face on biometric systems, we focused on generating a dataset with uniformly distributed images of different skin tones while preserving identities. Deep learning neural network architectures like the generative adversarial network (GAN) focus on modifying only certain features of the face like the color of the skin. In our experimental approach, we implemented a …

End Matter, Vol. 12

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Vol. 12

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Vol. 12

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Checklist Of The Vascular Flora Of The Kaibab Plateau, Coconino County, Arizona, Glenn R. Rink, Wendy Hodgson, Barbara Goodrich Phillips

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

Seven hundred and ninety-two vascular plant taxa were documented for the Kaibab Plateau through a review of herbarium records (primarily online) and targeted fieldwork focusing on springs, natural ponds, cattle tanks, and sinkholes. Taxa not previously published or currently recorded on SEINet for the Kaibab Plateau include 7 taxa for Grand Canyon National Park, 4 taxa for the Kaibab National Forest, 51 taxa for the Kaibab Plateau, 6 taxa for Coconino County, and 5 taxa for the state of Arizona. Two hundred and thirty previously published records or records on SEINet were eliminated from the flora area by reviewing specimens …

A Narrative Review Of Targeted Therapy In Meningioma, Pituitary Adenoma, And Craniopharyngioma Of The Skull Base., Nina L. Martinez, Omaditya Khanna, Christopher J. Farrell

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Management of solid tumors involving the skull base are primarily managed with surgery and radiation, though proximity to important vascular and neuroanatomic structures often limit the extent of resection and permissible radiation dose. Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumor in adults, and although the majority of skull base meningiomas are low-grade, their location in proximity to critical anatomical structures precludes aggressive surgical resection, and larger tumors are often resistant to radiation treatment. In patients with clinically aggressive, unresectable meningiomas, several molecular biomarkers of angiogenesis, as well as genetic mutations (SMO, AKT1, PIK3CA, KLF4, POLR2, SMARCE1, and TRAF7), have …

Variational Bayesian Inference For Crowdsourcing Predictions, Desmond Cai, Duc Thien Nguyen, Shiau Hong Lim, Laura Wynter

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Crowdsourcing has emerged as an effective means for performing a number of machine learning tasks such as annotation and labelling of images and other data sets. In most early settings of crowdsourcing, the task involved classification, that is assigning one of a discrete set of labels to each task. Recently, however, more complex tasks have been attempted including asking crowdsource workers to assign continuous labels, or predictions. In essence, this involves the use of crowdsourcing for function estimation. We are motivated by this problem to drive applications such as collaborative prediction, that is, harnessing the wisdom of the crowd to …

Using Structural Equation Modeling To Model Compliance With Covid-19 Related Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions Amongst University Students In The United States, Spencer G. Shumway, Jonas D. Hopper, Ethan R. Tolman, Daniel G. Ferguson, Gabriella Hubble, David Patterson, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

There are two data files. The "General Data" comes from a nationwide poll using Qualtrics polling software. The "Utah Data" comes from undergraduate biology students at UVU and BYU. The survey gathered demographic data and attitudes toward the COVID pandemic.

The Dynamic Spectroscopic Ellipsometry(Se) Data For Aluminum Thin Films Oxidations, David D. Allred, Tahereh G. Avval

ScholarsArchive Data

The dynamic spectroscopic ellipsometry(SE) data captured on oxidation of ultra thin evaporated aluminum film over starting a few minutes after evaporation and continued for four hours. The Aluminum layer was ca. 15 nm thick. This data needs to be interpreted with J.A. Woollam CompleteEase software. The Aluminum was modeled with Lorentz model and the Alumina was modeled using Cody-Lorentz.

Learning Before And During The Covid-19 Outbreak: A Comparative Analysis Of Crisis Learning In South Korea And The Us, Seulki Lee, Jungwon Yeo, Chongmin Na

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Learning is imperative in government responses to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the South Korean and United States governments’ responses to COVID-19 from a comparative perspective. The analysis focuses on crisis learning conducted before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, using the conceptual categories of intercrisis/intracrisis learning and single-/double-loop learning. The findings suggest that double-loop, intercrisis learning allows for more effective crisis management by (re)developing a common operating framework. The efficacy of learning is enhanced when double-loop learning is followed by single-loop learning that embeds new structures and operational procedures. The findings also suggest that intercrisis learning facilitates …

The Resilience Of Female Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence In Southwest Nigeria: An Interdisciplinary Analysis, Tobi F. Oloyede

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Nigeria endure harsh and traumatic experiences that affect their rights as women and their well-being. As the phenomenon of IPV persists in Nigeria, it is not only a family problem but a critical social and psychological problem. This study examined Nigerian female survivors’ hidden strength, agency, and resilience, rather than their powerlessness and vulnerability. Analysis of survey questionnaires, interviews, and secondary scholarship reveals that some Nigerian female survivors of IPV are able to cope whilst navigating stressful and traumatic experiences. The results also show that survivors’ ability to thrive and cope under …

The Lived Experience Of Obesity, Spirituality, And Health Behaviors In African American Women, Andrea S. Poynter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is one of the fastest-growing health concerns impacting all racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups in the United States of America. More than one-third of the U.S. adult population is classified as being obese (Obesity Society, 2014). Novak and Brownell (2012) identified that “obesity rates are consistently rising higher each year than in previous years” (p. 2345). Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in all races and genders within the US with African American women comprising a majority of those impacted by this chronic health condition. Obesity rates are well documented within the literature but what is lacking is the …

Effect Of A Mobile Phone Intervention For Female Sex Workers On Unintended Pregnancy In Kenya (Whisper Or Shout): A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial, Frances H. Ampt, Megan S. C. Lim, Paul A. Agius, Kelly L'Engle, Griffins Manguro, Caroline Gichuki, Peter Gichangi, Walter Jaoko, Marleen Temmerman, Stanley Luchters

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Female sex workers in low-income and middle-income countries face high risks of unintended pregnancy. We developed a 12-month, multifaceted short messaging service intervention (WHISPER) for female sex workers in Kenya who had the potential to become pregnant, to improve their contraceptive knowledge and behaviours. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the intervention to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy among sex workers in Kenya compared with an equal-attention control group receiving nutrition-focused messages (SHOUT).

Methods: Our two-arm, cluster-randomised controlled trial was done in sex-work venues in two subcounties of Mombasa, Kenya (Kisauni and Changamwe). …

A Phase Ii Study Of The Insulin-Like Growth Factor Type I Receptor Inhibitor Imc-A12 In Patients With Metastatic Uveal Melanoma., Jane Mattei, Alexej Ballhausen, Roland Bassett, Michael Shephard, Chandrani Chattopadhyay, Courtney Hudgens, Michael Tetzlaff, Scott Woodman, Takami Sato, Sapna P Patel

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Uveal melanoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy and up to half of all patients will develop metastatic disease despite the effective treatment of the primary tumor. Insulin-like growth factors I/II play a fundamental role in the cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. IMC-A12, a mAb specifically targets insulin-like growth factor type I receptor, has shown promise in preclinical studies. We performed a multicenter phase II study for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma administered IMC-A12 10 mg/kg IV every two weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response (proportion of patients with complete or partial response), …

Influence Of Burning And Grazing Management Practices On Subirrigated Sandhill Meadow Hay Production, Tara M. Harms

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Subirrigated meadows are a valuable forage resource to Sandhills ranching operations being used for hay production, grazing, or a combination of both. Practices that sustain meadow productivity should be encouraged to ensure a consistent feed supply for cattle. The potential influence of prescribed burning or pre-freeze and post-freeze grazing on forage production and quality are not well understood on these meadows. In grasslands, including meadows, excess dead plant material can accumulate, causing a potential reduction in forage yield and quality. Results of our three-year field study suggest that burning meadows in the spring is a suitable management option to remove …

Watching Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep: Immersive Technology, Biometric Psychography, And The Law, Brittan Heller

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Virtual reality and augmented reality present exceedingly complex privacy issues because of the enhanced user experience and reality-based models. Unlike the issues presented by traditional gaming and social media, immersive technology poses inherent risks, which our legal understanding of biometrics and online harassment is simply not prepared to address. This Article offers five important contributions to this emerging space. It begins by introducing a new area of legal and policy inquiry raised by immersive technology called “biometric psychography.” Second, it explains how immersive technology works to a legal audience and defines concepts that are essential to understanding the risks that …

Fungicide Resistance: Surveillance, Risk Assessment And Evolution In Two Soil-Borne Pathogens, Nikita Gambhir

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Fungicide-resistant pathogens are an increasing threat to fungicide efficacy and plant health. The goal of this dissertation was to advance the foundational knowledge required to prevent and detect fungicide resistance development in the seedling disease pathogen, Rhizoctonia zeae and the white-mold pathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Corn and soybean fields in 12 states (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) were surveyed for R. zeae. In vitro fungicide sensitivity was determined for 91 isolates to fludioxonil, sedaxane, and/or prothioconazole. Rhizoctonia zeae was sensitive to all fungicides (EC₅₀ < 3 µg/ml) except azoxystrobin (EC₅₀ > 100 µg/ml). In …

Understanding The Microbial Population Of Lactococcus Lactis. Subsp. Strains During Cheese Making And Initial Storage, Rhitika Poudel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Cheddar cheese is manufactured by fermenting milk with lactic acid bacteria added as Lactococcus lactis. The two major subspecies used are lactis and cremoris. Starter culture for this study was prepared and donated by Vivolac Cultures Corporation, Greenfield, Indiana. Cheddar cheese was made in duplicate using two strains of lactis and cremoris. Milled curd was salted with 2.0, 2.4, 2.8, 3.2 and 3.6% salt, pressed for 3 h and stored at 6¬∞C. The curd was sampled during cheese making and after 6d storage. Two different methods of enumeration were employed. One method involved plate counting which only …

Prevention Of Chronic Inflammation By Targeting Macrophage Integrin Adb2, Cady Forgey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Macrophage integrin a_Db₂ promotes macrophage retention and accumulation within inflamed tissue, a key event in development of chronic inflammation. Recently, the P5 peptide was identified as a specific inhibitor for integrin a_Db₂ interaction with 2-(ω-carboxyethyl) pyrole (CEP), a ligand at inflammatory sites. This thesis aims to identify integrin a_D I-domain amino acids involved in binding P5 peptide and likewise to CEP. We propose that non-conserved, basic amino acids of the integrin a_Db₂ I-domain are responsible for binding to P5 peptide and likewise to CEP. Eight amino acids were analyzed by …

Otolith Age Validation And Microchemical Investigation Of The Northern Stock F Atlantic Black Sea Bass (Centropristis Striata), Elise R. Koob

Graduate Masters Theses

Black sea bass (Centropristis striata) is a demersal marine species that supports extensive commercial and recreational fisheries along the Atlantic coast. A recent expansion into the Gulf of Maine raises questions about this species’ movement and population dynamics in the region. Additionally, the 2016 catch-at-age stock assessment model for the northern stock incorporated a population split at the Hudson Canyon. Though this model better accounts for differences in populations, several issues remain. First, validation of the otolith ageing technique for this stock is incomplete; and, second, the origin of fish that moved into the northern ranges of the Gulf of …

Selective Electrocatalytic Reduction Of Co2 To Co With Iron Nheterocyclic Carbene Complexes And Near-Infrared Absorbance Of Ruthenium(Ii) Photosensitizers Containing A Merocyanine Π-Acceptor, Peter Andrew Catsoulis

Graduate Masters Theses

The catalytic proton-coupled reduction of carbon dioxide into C-1 or “common engine” liquid fuels is currently a highly desirable and green approach to removing anthropogenic CO2 from the atmosphere. The most common approach to this is through electrocatalytic homogeneous reductions utilizing inorganic complexes as catalysts. Current research has moved towards the use of first-row transition metals in catalysts due to their high natural abundances and cheap cost. Iron porphyrin complexes have been vastly studied due to their high product selectivity and turnover frequencies. However, these complexes exhibit short lived activity because of competing reactions in their catalytic cycles, rendering them …

Effects Of Urbanization On Buff-Bellied Hummingbirds In Subtropical South Texas Subtropical South Texas, John S. Brush, Timothy Brush, Alexis Racelis

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Urbanization and its associated processes affect wildlife in a variety of ways. Understanding how this increasing land use type affects biological communities is important for conservation efforts. Hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) are one taxon that has showed positive responses to varying intensities of urban development. We surveyed for Buff-bellied Hummingbird ( Amazilia yucatanensis), a species on its northern range-limits, in urban woodlands, residential, natural, and revegetated habitats. We examined how urbanization is affecting Buff-bellied Hummingbird populations in South Texas with point- count surveys and GIS analysis. We found that Buff-bellied Hummingbirds had greater relative abundances in urban settings when compared with …

Aku Research 2020, Office Of Research And Graduate Studies

Office of Research and Graduate Studies Archives

Content

- Messages

- Preface

- Research projects

- Research on COVID-19

- University updates

Identifying Depressive Symptoms From Tweets: Figurative Language Enabled Multitask Learning Framework, Shweta Yadav, Jainish Chauhan, Joy Prakash Sain, Krishnaprasad Thirunarayan, Amit P. Sheth, Jeremiah Schumm

Publications

Existing studies on using social media for deriving mental health status of users focus on the depression detection task. However, for case management and referral to psychiatrists, healthcare workers require practical and scalable depressive disorder screening and triage system. This study aims to design and evaluate a decision support system (DSS) to reliably determine the depressive triage level by capturing fine-grained depressive symptoms expressed in user tweets through the emulation of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) that is routinely used in clinical practice. The reliable detection of depressive symptoms from tweets is challenging because the 280-character limit on tweets incentivizes the …

Characterization Of Genetic Sources Associated With Restorability And Seed Dimension In Arkansas Restorer Rice Lines, Ozgur Azapoglu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding offers a significant opportunity to enhance rice production, and the cultivation of a male sterile line is the most important factor in the success of cross-breeding. One of the key elements of hybrid rice production is to develop a restorer line that is assigned as the male parent. The restorer lines provide viable pollen for fertilization of the male sterile plant due to the presence of a restorer gene (Rf) in their genomes. Any superior restorer line applied to hybrid rice production must contain genes/quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the desirable agronomic traits …

Military Life Narratives And Identity Development Among Black Post-9/11 Veterans, Deon Marcell Hall

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the phenomenological experience of veteran identity development in post-9/11 veterans who identify within the Black diaspora. Given that current research suggests that behavioral health providers lack the sufficient training necessary to meet the unique clinical needs of post-9/11 veterans, this study aimed to examine military culture and experience in the context of intersecting cultural identities so as to more effectively frame the services offered by counseling psychologists working with Black military veterans and service members. More specifically, this study strengthens the existing empirical framework for addressing the behavioral health needs of post-9/11 …

Effect Of Climate Change On Lyme Disease Cases In 4 New Jersey Counties, Meredith Olson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Since its discovery more than 40 years ago, there has been an increasing occurrence of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness found predominantly in the Northeastern region of the United States. Studies have shown that environmental factors play an important role on the life cycle of ticks. Due to the complexity of environmental changes as well as the life cycle of different tick species, the variety of factors that could influence the increase in Lyme disease can be different depending on tick species and region. This study compared different regions of New Jersey, a highly Lyme disease endemic …

Effects Of Climate Change On The Epidemiology Of Flood-Related Waterborne Disease: A Systematic Literature Review, Sarah M. Cadarette

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Natural disasters, such as flooding related to extreme precipitation, can lead to many adverse health effects (i.e. waterborne disease). Several outbreaks of waterborne disease have been linked to extreme precipitation, and gastrointestinal infection has been shown to increase after floods. Climate change is likely to lead to a higher frequency of waterborne disease through increases in extreme precipitation and associated flooding affecting water and sanitation infrastructure. This review sought to answer 2 research questions: 1. Has the epidemiology of waterborne disease related to floods changed over time? 2. Can this difference be related to climate change? A literature search was …

Development Of A Web-Based Agriculture Health Risk Assessment Tool For Military Veteran Farmers And Ranchers, Alyssa Damke

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

In the U.S., significant health disparities exist among rural populations compared to their urban counterparts. These disparities can be compounded in agricultural workers due to the dangerous and unpredictable nature of their work. Agricultural producers who are also military Veterans may experience additional health pressures that are often overlooked in the healthcare setting. Over 2.5 million Veteran Health Administration (VHA) patients reside in rural areas and the healthcare infrastructure to care for these Veterans may not include an agricultural occupational approach. To address healthcare disparities in Veteran farmers and ranchers, this study, in collaboration with AgriSafe Network, will be used …

Perceptions Of Voice Health, Voice Health Care, And Voice Health Education In The Performance Community, Katelyn Nelson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

There is a medical consensus that proper voice health precautions can protect the voice and decrease the occurrence and severity of voice disorders in vocal performers. Similarly, seeking medical treatment for voice disorders can speed recovery time and preserve the voice. Voice disorders are common in performance students and professionals because of demanding curricula and frequent voice use, but little is known about their voice care needs, preferred voice care resources, and clinical care. The purpose of this study was to add to the research on voice health by interviewing faculty members in the College of Communication, Fine Arts, and …