Digital Commons Network^™

Brainless But Smart: Investigating Cognitive-Like Behaviors In The Acellular Slime Mold Physarum Polycephalum, Subash Kusum Ray

Dissertations

Evolutionary pressures to improve fitness, have enabled living systems to make adaptive decisions when faced with heterogeneous and changing environmental and physiological conditions. This dissertation investigated the mechanisms of how environmental and physiological factors affect the behaviors of non-neuronal organisms. The acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum was used as the model organism, which is a macroscopic, unicellular organism, that self-organizes into a network of intersecting tubules. Without using neurons, P. polycephalum can solve labyrinth mazes, build efficient tubule networks, and make adaptive decisions when faced with complicated trade-offs, such as between food quality and risk, speed and accuracy, and exploration …

Optimizing Incentives For Systems With Heterogeneous Agents, Chen Chen

Dissertations

This dissertation explores new models and applications based on the game theory of incentives. This exploration starts with controlling an invasive insect problem to address one of the most significant challenges facing our forests, the invasion of the Emerald ash borer (EAB), a non-native, wood-boring insect that threatens to kill most ash trees in North America, through designing two new cost-sharing programs between the landowners and local governments. Ash trees are one of North America’s most widely distributed tree genera and a vital part of the green infrastructure of cities, where they provide residents with numerous social, economic, and ecological …

Low-Reynolds-Number Locomotion Via Reinforcement Learning, Yuexin Liu

Dissertations

This dissertation summarizes computational results from applying reinforcement learning and deep neural network to the designs of artificial microswimmers in the inertialess regime, where the viscous dissipation in the surrounding fluid environment dominates and the swimmer’s inertia is completely negligible. In particular, works in this dissertation consist of four interrelated studies of the design of microswimmers for different tasks: (1) a one-dimensional microswimmer in free-space that moves towards the target via translation, (2) a one-dimensional microswimmer in a periodic domain that rotates to reach the target, (3) a two-dimensional microswimmer that switches gaits to navigate to the designated targets in …

Diagnostics Of Energy Release In Solar Flares With Radio Dynamic Imaging Spectroscopy, Yingjie Luo

Dissertations

Studies of the magnetic energy release and conversion process lie at the core of solar flare physics. Radio observations serve as a unique diagnostic method. In this dissertation, taking advantage of broadband radio dynamic imaging spectroscopy observations made by the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), studies are carried out on the flare energy release processes using different types of radio emissions.

The VLA is a general-purpose radio observatory located in New Mexico, which provides high-quality radio dynamic imaging spectroscopic observations with an ultra-fast time cadence. In the first study, stochastic decimetric radio spike bursts are observed by the …

Flexibility Vs Consistency: Quantifying Differences In Neuromodulatory Elicited Patterns Of Activity, Elizabeth M. Cronin

Dissertations

Central pattern generating circuits underly fundamental behaviors such as respiration or locomotion and are under the influence of neuromodulators. The presence of neuromodulators is thought to confer flexibility to these circuits to generate distinct patterns of activity to meet distinct behavioral needs. Network output flexibility can be achieved by distinct classes of neuromodulators, those which have convergent cellular actions but divergent circuit actions or by those which have divergent cellular actions but convergent circuit actions.

Both classes of neuromodulator exist in the stomatogastric nervous system of the crab Cancer borealis and influence the activity of a central pattern generating circuit …

Sensorimotor Content Of Multi-Unit Activity In The Paramedian Lobule Of The Cerebellum, Esma Cetinkaya

Dissertations

Based on Center for Disease Control and Prevention report 2016, around 39.5 million people in the United States suffer from motor disabilities. These disabilities are due to traumatic conditions like traumatic brain injury (TBI), neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or congenital conditions. One of the approaches for restoring the lost motor function is to extract the volitional information from the central nervous system (CNS) and control a mechanical device that can replace the function of a paralyzed limb through systems called Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI).

One of the major challenges being faced in BCIs and also in general …

The Parthenon, August 31, 2022, Tyler Spence, Evan Green, Connor Woodruff, Chayce Matheny, Victoria Ware, Shauntelle Thompson, Alaina Laster, Abby Hanlon, Rafael Alfonso

The Parthenon

No abstract provided.

Dress And Identity: Using Sartorial Artifacts To Explore Identity At Fort Vancouver, Dana Marie Sukau

Dissertations and Theses

How an individual dresses is an outward expression of their identity, which impacts how they are perceived by others and their daily interactions. By modifying their dress an individual can better adapt to changing social situations. The Pacific Northwest fur trade brought people of varied backgrounds together at frontier forts like the Hudson's Bay Company owned Fort Vancouver, located in modern day Vancouver, Washington. In these areas of culture contact social relations were frequently changing, and by adapting their dress an individual could put on various "social skins" differentially influencing their daily interactions (Loren 2001). Through the perspective of practice …

The Business Leader's Vocation To Social Purpose And Sustainability, Aliza D. Racelis

Journal of Management for Global Sustainability

The document “The Vocation of the Business Leader: A Reflection” (VBL) facilitates the understanding of the Christian leader’s role in these times characterized by serious economic disturbances and growing inequality. VBL points to new movements and programs that have emerged, such as economy of solidarity initiatives, which are examples of economic activity marked by gratuitousness and communion. We seek to integrate the leadership requirements of solidarity economy enterprises with those based on Catholic Social Thought (CST) and the VBL to come up with a more complete set of factors for a construct that can be called “Christian business leadership.” This …

Effects Of Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia Swingle) Peel Extract Addition To Periodontal Dressing On The Number Of Blood Vessels In The Gingival Wound Healing Process, Malianawati Fauzia, Savira Pratista Oktaviana

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Background: Periodontal dressings that are currently available can only protect wounds from mechanical trauma, but have no ability to accelerate wound healing. Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) peel extract added to periodontal dressing contains flavonoids which can stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, thus accelerating the healing process. Objective: To determine the effects of adding lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) peel extract to periodontal dressing on the number of blood vessels in the gingival wound healing process. Methods: 32 rabbits with 2 mm wound made on the gingiva were divided into 8 groups. For the control groups of …

Primary Oral Myiasis Of Anterior Maxilla In An Intellectually Disabled Female – A Case Report, Sridhar M, Shivayogi Charantimath, Anjana Bagewadi, Lokesh Kumar S, Arun Panwar, Jayapriya T, Vaishali Keluskar

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

“Myiasis” is a term used to represent invasion caused by fly larvae that affect organs and tissues of human beings and feeds on the host tissue. It is a rare and non-specific pathology that varies according to the species of fly larvae and the area of the body involved. Various factors like extraction wounds, uncontrolled diabetes, necrotic tissues, alcohol addiction, poor oral hygiene, immunocompromised conditions and people with special care needs like debilitated or mentally challenged individuals predispose to develop myiasis. We hereby report a case of oral myiasis of the maxillary anterior region of the palate and labial mucosa, …

Factors Influencing The Choice Of Toothpaste And Investigation Of Those Most Commercialized By Students In Settat, Morocco, Abdellatif Rahim, Wissal El Karfi, Lalla Asmaa Katir Masnaoui, Bouchra El Amiri, Abdel Khalid Essamadi

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to determine the factors influencing the choice of toothpaste by students in Settat (Morocco) and investigate the characteristics of those most commercialized in this region.

Methods: A close-ended questionnaire was developed and filled out. This was a cross-sectional study of 429 students who agreed to participate. Based on questionnaire data, the 15 most commercialized toothpaste by respondents were purchased, and their packaging was investigated.

Results: After analysis using Excel 2019, the results revealed that the major factors influencing the choice of toothpaste are brand 55%, family choice 48%, and media advertisements 40%. Moreover, …

(Mis)Recognition Of Customary Marriages: A Comparative Analysis Of Canadian And South African Family Law, Corbin W. Golding

Canadian Journal of Family Law

This paper explores the methods of recognizing customary marriages conducted between Indigenous participants within Canada and South Africa, respectively. It primarily focuses on the functional and philosophical consequences of these methods on the validity of the customary marriages. This paper begins by establishing the problem of misrecognition, which is an injustice that devalues and dehumanizes marital relationships that differ from the European norm. It then turns to an analysis of the forms of recognition in both Canada and South Africa. The former is examined through an investigation of historical case law and more recent constitutional issues, while the latter analysis …

A Gender-Based Approach To Historical Child Support: Comment On Colucci V Colucci, Jodi Lazare, Kelsey Warr

Canadian Journal of Family Law

In June 2021 the Supreme Court of Canada (the “Court”) released Colucci v Colucci, its second decision in twelve months dealing with the complex subject of historical (commonly referred to as retroactive) child support. The case worked a significant shift in the law, arguably the first major revision to the law since the Court’s initial consideration of historical child support in DBS, in 2006. This comment suggests that Colucci represents a new understanding of the way that claims for historical child support should be considered in Canadian family law. The comment argues that in changing the applicable framework, …

Cross-Sectional Study On Overweight And Obesity Associated With Fast-Food Consumption In Bangladesh, Farhana Sultana, Shafayet Ahmed Siddiqui, Md. Ashraful Islam, Mohammad Hamid Al Muktadir, Md. Shalahuddin Millat, Muhammed Mohibul Islam, Abu Montakim Tareq, Nahida Afroz, Mahabuba Rahman, Mohammad Nurul Amin, Talha Bin Emran

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and status of fast-food consumption among students in Bangladesh.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to November 2020. A total of 654 samples were collected from several schools, colleges, and universities during this study period.

Results: About 60.1% and 39.9% of the students were male and female, respectively. Of the students, 53.1% considered fast food as unhealthy (p < 0.001), but only 47.7% were leading a sedentary lifestyle. A significant outcome of overweight and pre-obesity was observed for student institutions, consumption frequency, daily fast-food consumption, and sedentary lifestyle (p < 0.001). In addition, positive association was observed for fast-food consumption more than three times and less than three times per week (OR and 95% CI: 11.13 [7.52–16.47], p < 0.001), higher social class and lower class (OR and 95% CI: 2.18 [1.31–3.62], p = 0.003), fast food preference and other foods (OR and 95% CI: 1.55 [1.11–2.15], p = 0.009), and sedentary and heavily active lifestyle (OR …

Determining Individuals’ Attitudes Toward Cancer Screening And Their Influential Factors, Emre Erkal

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Cancer screenings are of great importance for the early detection of cancer. The goal of this study is to determine the attitudes of individuals toward cancer screening and the factors affecting these attitudes.

Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study comprised 1059 participants who were living in Turkey. The participants were recruited through the snowball sampling method between December 6 and 24, 2021. The Individual Self-Assessment Form and Attitude Scale for Cancer Screening were used to collect data. The data were analyzed by using independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation analysis.

Results: The mean score of …

Use Of Audio Devices To Increase Preventive Health Behavior During Dental Visits, Normaliza Ab Malik, Azlan Jaafar, Aws Hashim Ali, Rusyda Helma Mohd, Nor Ba'yah Abdul Kadir

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Compliance with preventive health behavior is crucial during dental visits. This study investigated using an audio device to increase dental patients’ preventive health behavior.

Methods: A randomized control study was conducted in private dental practices. The test group listened to an audio device containing public health messages related to COVID-19 and preventive health behavior. The control group listened to relaxing instrumental music with no public health messages.

Results: A total of 65 participants (age 18–77 years) were allocated to each group. About 63% of the participants in the test group performed preventive health behaviors compared to …

Gabra5 Plays A Sexually Dimorphic Role In Pomc Neuron Activity And Glucose Balance, Zhou Pei, Yang He, Jonathan C. Bean, Yongjie Yang, Hailan Liu, Meng Yu, Kaifan Yu, Ilirjana Hyseni, Xing Cai, Hesong Liu, Na Qu, Longlong Tu, Kristine M. Conde, Mengjie Wang, Yongxiang Li, Na Yin, Nan Zhang, Junying Han, Camille H.S. Potts, Nikolas A. Scarcelli, Zili Yan, Pingwen Xu, Qi Wu, Yanlin He, Yong Xu, Chunmei Wang

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are important for the regulation of body weight and glucose balance. The inhibitory tone to POMC neurons is mediated primarily by the GABA receptors. However, the detailed mechanisms and functions of GABA receptors are not well understood. The α5 subunit of GABAA receptor, Gabra5, is reported to regulate feeding, and we found that Gabra5 is highly expressed in POMC neurons. To explore the function of Gabra5 in POMC neurons, we knocked down Gabra5 specifically from mature hypothalamic POMC neurons using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 strategy. This POMC-specific knock-down of Gabra5 did not affect …

Long-Term Changes In Avian Biomass And Functional Diversity Within Disturbed And Undisturbed Amazonian Rainforest, David A. Luther, W. Justin Cooper, Vitek Jirinec, Jared D. Wolfe, Cameron L. Rutt, Richard O. Bierregaard, Thomas E. Lovejoy, Philip C. Stouffer

Faculty Publications

Recent long-term studies in protected areas have revealed the loss of biodiversity, yet the ramifications for ecosystem health and resilience remain unknown. Here, we investigate how the loss of understory birds, in the lowest stratum of the forest, affects avian biomass and functional diversity in the Amazon rainforest. Across approximately 30 years in the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, we used a historical baseline of avian communities to contrast the avian communities in today's primary forest with those in modern disturbed habitat. We found that in primary rainforest, the reduced abundance of insectivorous species led to reduced functional diversity, …

The Impact Of #Metoo On Reasons For Sexual Assault Disclosure, Cheryl H. Tien

Doctoral Dissertations

Sexual assault is a long-standing widespread problem. Yet, despite the high prevalence of sexual assault, it is the most underreported crime of all crimes reported to the police (Bureau of Justice, 2018). The #MeToo movement has had a significant impact on the way in which sexual assault survivors disclose their experiences and the reasons they disclose. Disclosure appears to be an important factor in survivors’ healing from their assault, with increasing coping, greater attachment to others, and positive growth cited as effects of disclosure provided that the response to the disclosure is positive to the survivor (Ahrens & Aldana, 2012; …

Negosiasi Wacana Femininitas Melalui Film-Film Animasi Putri Disney, Sella Putri Arby, Lina Meilinawati Rahayu, R M. Mulyadi

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Negotiation Discourse of Femininity Through Disney Princesses’ Movies. Femininity tends to be explained as a condition ‘to be a woman’, making it an ideology that gives limitations to women. Mills uses discourse theory to explain femininity, stating femininity is a process that is constructed and negotiated in every interaction. Disney Princesses show changes through times and each animation film, showing a negotiation of what defines femininity. The data collection was carried out by qualitative method narrative study, with Performativity of Gender by Judith Butler and Negotiation Discourse of Femininity theory by Sara Mills. Thirteen Disney Princesses were used as researched …

Proteomic Identification Of Potential Target Proteins Of Cathepsin W For Its Development As A Drug Target For Influenza, Sira C Günther, Carles Martínez-Romero, Milagros Sempere Borau, Christine T N Pham, Adolfo García-Sastre, Silke Stertz

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Influenza A virus (IAV) coopts numerous host factors for efficient replication. The cysteine protease cathepsin W (CTSW) has been identified as one host factor required for IAV entry, specifically for the escape of IAVs from late endosomes. However, the substrate specificity of CTSW and the proviral mechanism are thus far unknown. Here, we show that intracellular but not secreted CTSW promotes viral entry. We reveal 79 potential direct and 31 potential indirect cellular target proteins of CTSW using the high-throughput proteomic approach terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (TAILS) and determine the cleavage motif shared by the substrates of CTSW. …

Linking Variation In Planktonic Primary Production To Coral Reef Fish Growth And Condition, Rc Roche, A Heenan, Bm Taylor, Jn Schwarz, Et Al

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Within low-nutrient tropical oceans, islands and atolls with higher primary production support higher fish biomass and reef organism abundance. External energy subsidies can be delivered onto reefs via a range of physical mechanisms. However, the influence of spatial variation in primary production on reef fish growth and condition is largely unknown. It is not yet clear how energy subsidies interact with reef depth and slope. Here we test the hypothesis that with increased proximity to deep-water oceanic nutrient sources, or at sites with shallower reef slopes, parameters of fish growth and condition will be higher. Contrary to expectations, we found …

Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) Distribution In Contaminated Soils And Impact On Rhizosphere And Plant Microbiota, Boran Wang

Dissertations

This dissertation is a comprehensive study of the mechanisms controlling per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) transformations and their transport in the environment, PFAS effects on plant growth and microbial community changes are critical in preventing or attenuating PFAS mobility and in predicting potential human exposure routes. The overarching goal of this project is to evaluate the distribution of PFAS in plants exposed to mixed contaminants, and their effects on the rhizosphere and in planta microbial community This main goal is achieved through the following research objectives: (1) Field investigation of PFAS contamination in New Jersey, (2) PFAS partition in soil …

Estimating External Tissue Support Parameters With Fluid-Structure Interaction Models From 4d Ultrasound Of Murine Thoracic Aortae, Tanmay C. Shidhore, Hannah L. Cebull, Megan C. Madden, Ivan C. Christov, Vitaliy L. Rayz, Craig J. Goergen

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Modeling of fluid-structure interactions (FSIs) between the deformable arterial wall and blood flow is necessary to obtain physiologically realistic computational models of cardiovascular systems. However, lack of information on the nature of contact between the outer vessel wall and surrounding tissue presents challenges in prescribing appropriate structural boundary conditions. Imaging techniques used to visualize wall deformation in vivo may be useful for estimating simulation parameters that capture the effects of both vascular composition and surrounding tissue support on the vessel wall displacement. Here, we present a method to calibrate external tissue support parameters in FSI simulations against four-dimensional ultrasound (4DUS) …

Covid-19 Pandemic Impacts On Mammalian Carnivore Activity In The Eastern United States, Joan Tremblay, Miranda Davis, Robert Bagchi

Honors Scholar Theses

Lockdowns and restrictions associated with the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic altered human activity, with potential impacts on wildlife. In particular, the activity of reclusive mammalian carnivores, which often avoid humans, may have been affected with ramifications for population connectivity and viability. Here, I evaluate changes in the capture rates of humans and mammalian carnivores between 2019 and 2020 across 31 sites in the Eastern United States. Site-specific capture records were obtained from the Snapshot USA camera trapping survey. Differences in carnivore activity were modelled as a response to human activity changes and the development level of the site (urban, suburban, rural …

Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) As A Potential Agent Of Organic Waste Bioconversion, Purnamasari Listya, Khasanah Himmatul

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The use of black soldier fly (BSF) as a bioconversion agent has become an emerging breakthrough in waste processing. Organic wastes, such as household waste and livestock manure, can be used as a growth medium for BSF larvae and converted into favorable products. The average composting time of BSF larvae is around 12– 15 days, which is faster than that of microbes or earthworms (4–5 weeks). BSF shows potential as a feed and food ingredient because it has a high nutritional content, such as enzyme, chitin, medium-chain fatty acid, and antimicrobial peptides, and can be used as a functional food …

The Effect Of Melatonin On Implant Stability And Marginal Bone Level Around The Implant, Hemanth Ravella, Mulpuri Venkata Ramoji Rao, Sathish Manthena, Suneetha Koneru, Penubolu Lakshmi Preethi, Venkata Naga Sri Harsha Anumolu

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Dental implants have been used for missing teeth replacement with a high success rate. Melatonin is an antioxidant and acts as a free radical scavenger. It retards the resorption of bone by regulating RANKL and OPG synthesis, and increases the BIC (Bone to implant contact) and also bone perimeter and bone mineralization. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess if topical melatonin application at the osteotomy site has any influence on the stability and marginal bone level around the implant Methods: In this split mouth double blind randomized control trial 30 implants were placed on either …

Selection Of Commercially Available Membrane Between Resorbable And Nonresorbable Materials For Guided Bone Regeneration, Yunia Dwi Rakhmatia, Yasunori Ayukawa, Akihiro Furuhashi, Kiyoshi Koyano

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the commercially available membranes used for treatment in Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). Methods: Four membranes resorbable and non-resorbable were used and a critical size defect in six-week-old Wistar rats was created for membrane application. Meanwhile, the defect without membrane treatment was used as the control (C). Results: After 4 and 8 weeks, all rats were euthanized and block biopsies of calvaria including membrane were excised and analysed using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). The sections were dehydrated with graded ethanol, embedded in resin, and cut for histologic evaluation. After 4 weeks, all membrane …

An Overview Of The Regulations Of Corporate Social Responsibility (Csr) Labelled Product, Zaid Zaid

Indonesia Law Review

Over the last 5 years, Indonesia has experienced an emergency of illegal products. Most of them are imported products that do not have adequate labeling standards which can adversely affect both domestic or national trade and stakeholders. On the other hand, product labels are one of the most effective ways to detect the legality, safety, and warranty of a product. This article aims to explore and analyze how the role of product labels can protect and cover social interests. In addition, this research also tries to observe how ethics and laws or regulations regulate product labels to provide a moral …