Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Myriad And Mayo On Molecular-Test Development In The United States And Europe: Interviews From The Frontline, Johnathon Liddicoat, Kathleen Liddell, Mateo Aboy

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

US Supreme Court decisions in Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories and Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics Inc. caused US and European law on what is patentable subject matter to diverge significantly. Both cases related to molecular tests and changed decades of patent practice. Whether the decisions adversely affect the development of molecular tests in the United States and Europe has been a matter of much speculation but limited empirical investigation. This interview-based study has three main findings. First, Myriad and Mayo have negatively affected the development of some molecular tests. Notably, half of the US university technology-transfer …

People V. Robots: A Roadmap For Enforcing California's New Online Bot Disclosure Act, Barry Stricke

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Bots are software applications that complete tasks automatically. A bot's communication is disembodied, so humans can mistake it for a real person, and their misbelief can be exploited by the bot owner to deploy malware or phish personal data. Bots also pose as consumers posting online product reviews or spread (often fake) news, and a bot owner can coordinate multiple social-network accounts to trick a network's "trending" algorithms, boosting the visibility of specific content, sowing and exacerbating controversy, or fabricating an impression of mass individual consensus. California's 2019 Bolstering Online Transparency Act (the "CA Bot Act') imposes conspicuous disclosure requirements …

Continuous Viral Vaccine Manufacturing And Viral Detection Strategies, Dylan G. Turpeinen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Viruses are responsible for many human diseases that lead to suffering and death. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), influenza, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have claimed the lives of millions of people. Two methods have been created to reduce the suffering caused by these diseases. The first is the manufacturing of vaccines that prevent disease and the second is the development of virus detection tests that lead to treatment. The work summarized in this dissertation discusses the development of a continuous virus purification process using an aqueous two-phase system for use in vaccine manufacturing. Additionally, two novel virus detection methods were …

Higher Accuracy Methods For Fluid Flows In Various Applications: Theory And Implementation, Dilek Erkmen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation contains research on several topics related to Defect-deferred correction (DDC) method applying to CFD problems. First, we want to improve the error due to temporal discretization for the problem of two convection dominated convection-diffusion problems, coupled across a joint interface. This serves as a step towards investigating an atmosphere-ocean coupling problem with the interface condition that allows for the exchange of energies between the domains.

The main diffuculty is to decouple the problem in an unconditionally stable way for using legacy code for subdomains. To overcome the issue, we apply the Deferred Correction (DC) method. The DC method …

The Interactive Effects Of Microtopography And Hydrology On Ground Layer Vegetation And Soil Gas Flux Responses To A Simulated Emerald Ash Borer Infestation In Black Ash Wetlands, Elisabeth Stimmel

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Black ash (Fraxinus nigra Marshall) wetlands are at risk of significant ecological and functional changes due to the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)), which kills trees in the Fraxinus (ash) genus. Simulated EAB infestations consisting of girdle treatments and ash cut treatments have been implemented in black ash wetlands to study the impacts of black ash canopy dieoff in these systems. Initial findings include ground layer vegetation shifts and impacts to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) release from soils, but these factors and their interactions with microtopography in …

Vehicle Dynamics Modeling For Autonomous Drifting And Clothoid Based Waypoint Interpolation, Shubham Vatsa

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The advent of autonomous vehicles necessitates a redefinition of road safety regulations, considering a controller can possess better driving skills than an average person. The work presented here partly focuses on a vehicle dynamics model development to help imitate and control vehicle drifting maneuvers. As we see, a professional driver drifting through the traffic while keeping the car safe, it can be utilized to avoid accidents at high speeds, if required. Although drifting can produce higher yaw rates than the regular driving regime, these control capabilities have not yet been exploited in the current automotive control systems. Therefore, this report …

Linking Energy Efficiency And Public Health: A Case Study Of Illinois, Azat Turegeldin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A growing body of research has established the connection between emissions from fossil fuels and severe impacts on human health, such as asthma attacks in children and adults and chronic cardiovascular problems. This work evaluates in monetary terms the implementation of two energy-saving scenarios. Illinois, as a state with high coal electricity generating content, has been chosen as a case study to quantify the impacts brought up by air pollution on public health. The potential benefits of improved air quality and health are the considered results of implemented energy efficiency technologies. This report is a culmination of a summer internship …

Plasticless: A Comparative Life-Cycle, Socio-Economic, And Policy Analysis Of Alternatives To Plastic Straws, Karuna Rana

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Around 500 million plastic straws per day are being consumed in the U.S. (U.S. National Park Service, 2019), and nearly 7.5 million straws are reported to lie around U.S. shorelines (Borenstein, 2018). The estimated cost of plastic pollution is reported to be $13 billion in economic damage to marine ecosystems each year (Avio et al., 2017). The ongoing action against the use of single-use plastic straws has created a surging demand for sustainable alternatives to plastic straws, with nearly ten types of single-use and reusable drinking straws now on the market. Given that no one study quantifies and compares the …

Thermodynamic Investigations Of Pure And Blended Cement Mixtures, Jonathan Lapeyre

Doctoral Dissertations

” This research is made up of several studies. The first study focused on understanding the reaction kinetics of Ca₃SiO₅ and metakaolin (MK) mixtures compared to Ca₃SiO₅ and silica fume (SF) mixtures. It was shown that MK was a more effective additive than SF at small replacement levels (i.e. ≥ 10% by mass) while higher replacement levels of MK became a detriment due to excess (Al(OH)₄¯) ions preventing the nucleation and growth of C-S-H. In a follow-up study where the MK particle size distribution (PSD) was modified, similar effects were observed but …

An Investigation Of The Impact Of A Stem Program On Students’ Knowledge On Interest In Stem, Danielle Dean

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The objective of the study was to investigate middle school students’ attitudes towards Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), as well as their knowledge about engineering practices. A quantitative design was employed with a total of 51 participants randomly assigned to two conditions. 24 students took a STEM elective course and the other 27 an equivalent course with a career focus on forensics as a career.

Over nine weeks participants took a pre and post survey on attitudes and completed a project that was assessed using a common rubric. The results on gains in student attitude were mixed. On the …

Dissolved Organic Matter Movement Across Lake Superior’S Terrestrial-Stream-Coastal Interface, Karl M. Meingast

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) represents a carbon pool that can be easily translocated between ecosystems with the movement of water. This study examines the controls on DOM quantity and character delivered to Lake Superior primarily during the snowmelt period. We employed long-term stream dissolved organic carbon (DOC) data to determine quantity as well as absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy to analyze DOM structure. Our results indicate that an increasing trend in DOC concentrations, likely driven by decreases in acidity of precipitation, combined with slightly less annual runoff have resulted in relatively constant fluxes of DOM to Lake Superior. Additionally, our study …

Joint Simulation Of Continuous And Categorical Variables For Mineral Resource Modeling And Recoverable Reserves Calculation, Sentle Augustinus Hlajoane

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Spatial variability and uncertainty of continuous variables (grade) and categorical variables (rock-types) in mineral evaluation significantly impact the economics of mining projects. The conventional approach of simulating grades using deterministic rock- types is problematic since spatial variability, and uncertainty of grades at rock-type contacts are not well captured in deposits where the grade changes gradually between rock-types. Therefore, jointly simulating these variables can improve confidence (reduce uncertainty) in a resource model. Also, resource classification and recoverable reserve calculation can significantly improve the understanding of the deposit and its economic viability. This research utilized the Plural-Gaussian geostatistical simulation to jointly simulate …

Uniform Three-Class Regular Partial Steiner Triple Systems With Uniform Degrees, Prangya Rani Parida

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A Partial Steiner Triple system (X, T) is a finite set of points C and a collection T of 3-element subsets of C that every pair of points intersect in at most 1 triple. A 3-class regular PSTS (3-PSTS) is a PSTS where the points can be partitioned into 3 classes (each class having size m, n and p respectively) such that no triple belongs to any class and any two points from the same class occur in the same number of triples (a, b and c respectively). The 3-PSTS is said to be uniform if m = n = …

Development Of A Software-Defined Underwater Acoustic Communication System, Zijian Zhu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This report started with a brief history and recent development of underwater acoustic communication systems as well as software-defined radio technologies. Then, some challenges from underwater acoustic channels and available underwater acoustic communication modems are discussed. After finished introducing the basics of SDR and GNU Radio, a detailed description of implementing a software-defined acoustic communication system in GNU Radio are presented, along with some key concepts of the system.

Then, some hardware specifications are presented, following by detailed documentation on a software-defined acoustic communication system experiment with a host computer, a USRP, an acoustic hydrophone, and a hydrophone. At the …

Electrospun Nanofiber Scaffolds As A Platform For Breast Cancer Research, Carolynn Que

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Tumorigenesis is a complex process involving numerous cellular signaling cascades and environmental factors. Here, we report the fabrication of 3D scaffolds with different morphologies obtained by to study cancer cell proliferation and migration. Using an FDA approved, biocompatible and biodegradable polymer Polycaprolactone (PCL), we electrospun nanofiber scaffolds having mesh, aligned, and honeycomb morphologies. The role of the morphology and cellular preferences to nutrition in cell adhesion and proliferation was assessed using scaffolds obtained by electrospinning PCL with fluorescent fructose-like molecular probes. Cell viability, cell morphology, localized cellular growth as related to scaffold morphology and availability of the fructose-like molecular probes …

Increasing Access To Pv Technology Through Sustainable Racking: A Review Of Existing Literature And Ground Mounted Fixed Tilt Designs, And What Can Be Done Next, Parijata Prabhakara

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

There is a lack of literature on the structural balance of systems (BOS), also called racking, for ground mount, fixed-tilt solar PV systems. Literature that exists discusses mostly rooftop racking and installations, additional wind loading, and weight considerations imposed on roofs, and little guidance is provided in building codes. The lack of peer-reviewed guidance on design requirements for domestic and large-scale application solar PV racking systems leaves most consumers relying on expensive, patented, off-the-shelf hardware. As PV cell technology and module costs have improved, we can start to focus on PV BOS improvements (particularly racking) and move towards sustainable designs …

Generative Design In Energy Efficient Buildings, Johanna Thill

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This is an investigative report on the use of generative design and genetic algorithms in the design of energy-efficient buildings. It focuses on a workflow using Project Refinery© and Dynamo© in Revit® for multi-objective optimization and visualization, and Honeybee© for daylighting analysis. The workflow was not about to run completely due to instability in Dynamo, however daylighting analysis and visualizations were produced separately from demonstrations of Refinery. It concludes that while genetic algorithms have potential to be useful in energy-efficient building design, these programs are not yet fully developed and difficult to use without extensive background knowledge and fluency in …

Towards Efficient Water Treatment: Mechanism Of Colloidal Fouling Of Ultrafiltration Membranes, Ikenna Henry Ozofor

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This research study first reviewed challenges of conventional and membrane separation systems for water treatment. Though membrane separation systems appeared superior to the conventional counterparts for water and wastewater treatment, wider applications of membrane systems have been limited by some factors, most notably is membrane fouling. Experimental studies were therefore conducted to achieve the goal of this research, which is to investigate how feed properties affect fouling of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes by colloids.

Feed salinity, pH, and nanoparticle concentration were the variables studied to unravel how different UF membranes are fouled by model silica colloids (with average diameter of 25nm). …

Quantifying Water Recharge And Water Use In Hand Dug Wells: A Case Study Of Thiawor, Senegal, West Africa, Celine Carus

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

For many rural communities in Senegal, water is an essential life-giving need received only through a network of hand dug wells. Increasing rainfall variability in the Sahel has driven greater water insecurity for those communities that rely on rain-irrigated systems for agriculture. This study investigates the retrieval, purposes, and quantities of seasonal water usage on a small domestic scale, as well as an analysis of perceived water availability in the wells during the rainy season. Additionally, using a combination of interview data and pumping test data obtained from the village wells, water usage and estimated daily needs are calculated and …

Rosegate Projectile Points In The Fremont Region, James R. Allison, Robert J. Bischoff

Faculty Publications

The Fremont projectile point typology was developed in the 1980s. An early revision combined the Rose Spring Corner-notched and Eastgate Expanding-stem types into a combined Rosegate type with an end date of AD 900-1000. Some archaeologists recognize that these projectile points persist to approximately AD 1300 but others use the earlier date range, and much of the relevant information is confined to gray literature. Furthermore, there is a varied approach to these types. Some use the original two types, while others use Rosegate or a combination of Rosegate, Rose Spring, and Eastgate. We used projectile point typology data, illustrations, and …

Sanctification Or Inhibition? Religious Dualities And Sexual Satisfaction, Nathan D. Leonhardt, Dean M. Busby, Veronica R. Hanna-Walker, Chelom E. Leavitt

Faculty Publications

Religiosity can influence sexual satisfaction both positively and negatively. To test positive and negative mechanisms, we assessed how religiosity is indirectly associated with sexual satisfaction through sexual sanctification and inhibited sexual passion. We sampled individuals from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (N 1,695, Study 1) and mixed-sex dyads from Bovitz Inc. (N 481 dyads, Study 2). Religiosity consistently had a positive indirect association with sexual satisfaction through sexual sanctification; little evidence suggested religiosity had an indirect association with sexual satisfaction through inhibited sexual passion. When accounting for these mechanisms simultaneously, however, religiosity consistently had a negative direct association with sexual satisfaction, supporting …

Joseph Smith, Gethsemane, And The Crucifixion Of Jesus Christ, John Hilton Iii

Faculty Publications

The Savior’s Atonement is central to the theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote, “We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”1 On another occasion, he revealed that those inheriting the celestial kingdom are “made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:69).

Untimely, Patrick Madden, Joey Franklin

Faculty Publications

As we put the fi nishing touches on this forty-fourth issue of our venerable journal, the fi rst issue for which we, the new editorial team, are primarily responsible, the world is plagued by coronavirus and the death and social isolation that come with it; economies are reeling, millions are out of work, and cities around the United States burn with rage at racial injustice. Each day it seems we must respond to some new aff ront to humanity—some of us by demonstrating and protesting, some by donating blood or money o r time, others by reaching out to loved …

Experimental Study Of Effects Of Leading-Edge Structures On The Dynamic Stall Of A Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Airfoil, Jiaming Zhao

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Vertical axis wind turbine, developed as one of the main methods to utilize the wind energy, has a promising future; however, the major issue to limit its performance is the uneven loading on the blade during operation. Flow control mechanisms have been employed in the aerodynamic field to improve the performance of airfoils. In this study, two types of leading-edge structures, including flexible leading-edge and leading-edge roughness, are experimentally investigated to analyze their effects on altering the aerodynamic characteristics of NACA 0018 airfoil under steady flow condition and dynamic pitching condition. Current experimental results indicate that 1) during the steady …

Textiles And Jewelry At Fag El-Gamous, Joyce Smith, Kerry Muhlestein, Brian Christensen

Faculty Publications

Elsewhere in this volume we discuss extensively the burial practices of the common man as represented in the Fag el-Gamous sand cemetery. While these burials must represent the common, or poorer, people of the area due to their large numbers, they are remarkable in regards to the amount of resources used for a common burial.1 The two most frequently used types of goods associated with these burials, and probably the most expensive, are textiles and jewelry. In order to better understand these burials and the requisite resources marshaled by the deceased during their life and their loved ones after their …

They’Ll Never Be Royals: The “Purple” Textiles Of Fag El-Gamous, Bethany Jenson, R. Paul Evans, Kerry Muhlestein

Faculty Publications

Excavations at the Fag el-Gamous necropolis have unearthed a unique collection of textile fragments, among which are some beautifully dyed pieces, including several featuring purple threads. The purple threads used in the textiles come in a variety of hues, suggesting different dye sources for the threads. In the ancient world, the source for true, enduring purple dye came from the sea snail, Murex. This dye was highly prized, very expensive, and was frequently used for royal garments. Because of its desirable nature, purple dye was frequently imitated with mixtures of blue and red dyes, such as indigo (plant genus Indigofera) …

The Isaiah Map: An Approach To Teaching Isaiah, John Hilton Iii

Faculty Publications

I saiah is an extremely important prophet—his words were endorsed by the Savior himself (see 3 Nephi 23:1). Because Isaiah’s words can be difficult to comprehend, religious educators have a significant responsibility to help their students understand them. Perhaps the best opportunity to teach Isaiah in a Sunday School, seminary, or institute setting is during a course in the Old Testament. The next best opportunity is when teaching the Book of Mormon. “Nineteen of Isaiah’s sixty-six chapters are quoted in their entirety in the Book of Mormon and, except for two verses, two other chapters are completely quoted. Of the …

Human Capital In Strategy 2008-2018, David Kryscynski, Shad Morris

Faculty Publications

As strategic human capital scholars we have been deeply influenced by the work of Russ Coff (1997, 1999) and other notable scholars (Barney, 1991; Castanias & Helfat, 1991, 2001, Lepak & Snell, 1999, 2002; Lippman & Rumelt, 1982) who have pushed us to think about human assets differently from other inanimate assets in strategy theory. For this virtual special issue we simply asked a question of recently published research on human capital in strategy: what are the dominant human capital themes in our premier strategy journal? This question guided a few assumptions, which then determined which articles we included in …

The Teachings Of Church Leaders Regarding The Crucifixion Of Jesus Christ: 1852–2018, John Hilton Iii, Emily K. Hyde, Mckenna Grace Trussel

Faculty Publications

From the beginnings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (herein referred to as “the Church”), the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ has been at the heart of its theology. In numerous revelations received by Joseph Smith, the Savior is identified as having been “crucified for the sins of the world” (D&C 53:2; see also 21:9, 35:2, 46:13, 54:1, 76:41). President Brigham Young taught that salvation was only “through the name and ministry of Jesus Christ, and the atonement he made on Mount Calvary.”1 President John Taylor said that Christ “was crucified and put to death to atone for …

Religious Belief And Culture: The Curious Case Of The Intuitive Soul, Karl G. D. Bailey, Duane C. Mcbride

Faculty Publications

While Adventists recognize some of the straightforward and concrete ideas that are part of doctrinal training on human nature and the state of the dead, the core intuitive belief in mind-body dualism likely continues to influence how Adventists understand human nature.