Digital Commons Network^™

On Physical Processes That Work Like Learning Algorithms, Vidyesh Rao Anisetti

Dissertations - ALL

Adaptive behavior is a widespread phenomenon observed in both living and non-living systems, manifesting in diverse forms such as the directional growth of plants in response to sunlight and the directed aging of materials. Such diversity demands a physics-based approach. Thus, the emerging field of physical learning aims to explain these phenomena by drawing analogies between adaptive processes in nature and learning in neural networks, motivating the central question of this thesis: Can physical processes in nature function like learning algorithms? A typical learning algorithm involves two fundamental steps: signaling and weight up- dating. In the Part I of the …

On The Use Of Introspection In The Study Of Consciousness, Yaojun Lu

Dissertations - ALL

For the past half century, introspection has once again become a trusted source of knowledge in the study of consciousness. Some philosophers reflect on their own consciousness to draw metaphysical conclusions; some psychologists hypothesize observable regularities of consciousness by collecting introspective reports. They operate under the doctrine that first-person perspective provides a privileged access to the conscious mind. This dissertation is a critical examination of the use of introspection in the scientific and metaphysical study of consciousness. I first develop classic criticism of the privileged access, with a diagnosis of the failure of introspective psychology and a reflection on the …

Modeling And Algorithms To Simplify Complex Multi-Clock/Edge Timing Constraints In High Performance Synchronous Digital Circuits, Nagbhushan Veerapaneni

Dissertations - ALL

Complex timing constraints that refer to multiple clocks and/or edges are often used in the design of modern high-performance processors. Such constraints complicate downstream algorithms such as logic synthesis and lead to inefficiencies. The complexity of the overall CAD system can be reduced considerably if we can optimally transform the timing constraints so that they refer only to a single clock and edge. In this dissertation, we show how to model these multi clock/edge timing constraints and describe algorithms to reduce the number of reference clocks/edges. We first introduce the concept of timing specification transformation and define optimality. We formulate …

Enhancing Graph Neural Networks By Editing Graphs, Jiayu Li

Dissertations - ALL

Graphs are pervasive in both the natural world and various domains of science and engineering. Numerous advanced classifiers, such as Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), have been developed to perform node classification on these graphs. However, as graphs become denser with an increasing number of edges, GNNs often suffer from suboptimal generalization performance due to the presence of task-irrelevant connections. These redundant connections can introduce noise, consume excessive computational resources, and degrade performance. Identifying and preserving critical connections in large-scale graphs, while pruning unnecessary ones, is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of GNNs in node classification, particularly for GCNs. …

Studies On The Synthesis, Reactivity, And Stability Of Au Nanoparticles In Ts-1 Zeolites For Propylene Epoxidation Within H2/O2 Mixtures, Weixin Li

Dissertations - ALL

The increasing global demand for energy and materials has highlighted the importance of efficient production of chemical intermediates like propylene oxide (PO), a key compound in manufacturing polyurethanes, propylene glycol, and other industrial products. Traditional methods, such as the chlorohydrin process and organic peroxide methods, pose environmental and economic challenges due to hazardous by-products and complex processes. The need for greener alternatives led to the exploration of gold (Au) catalysts for the direct catalytic epoxidation of propylene using hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). This research focused on understanding the propylene epoxidation process over Au catalysts, specifically Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) supported …

Peptides And Metalloproteins: Evolution, Catalysis And Material Design, Dona Imanga Upamadi Edirisinghe

Dissertations - ALL

Peptide hydrogels are an important class of biomaterials that have gained significant attention in recent years. The stimuli responsive materials change their properties in response to pH, redox, temperature and enzymes and this property allowed us to design the materials with tunable properties based on their end application. This dissertation reports the de novo design, synthesis and characterization of short chain peptide sequences and optimizations of those in order to develop them into potential candidates in wound care and drug delivery applications. The investigation of these novel peptide sequences will open up new possibilities to tailor the properties through simple …

Mediating Roles To Develop Literacy Skills: A Formative Research Project Exploring Planning Tools Which Support Co-Practice For English Language Learners, Deborah Ann Moriarty

Dissertations - ALL

ABSTRACT Mediating Roles to Develop Literacy Skills: A Formative Research Project Exploring Planning Tools Which Support Co-practice for English Language Learners Educators are often required to mediate many factors while engaging in the act of literacy instruction. It is an insurmountable task to maneuver varied approaches, curricular expectations, achievement goals and overall system dynamics while teaching. This is confounded when teachers are differentiating to meet the needs of English language learners. The additional support of both literacy and English as a New Language (ENL) consultant teachers is intended to assist classroom teachers with this important work, however, collaboration becomes yet …

A Systematic Approach To Vehicle Suspension Modeling: Integrating Experimental Testing And Simulation-Based Validation, Naoufel Ghannami

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the dynamic behavior of suspension systems using a radio-controlled (RC) vehicle as the study unit. By combining experimental drop testing and the Mississippi State Autonomous Vehicle Simulator (MAVS), the research focuses on determining key suspension parameters, including the spring constant and damping coefficient, which define the stiffness and energy dissipation characteristics of the system. The RC vehicle's suspension system provided a controlled platform for studying these dynamics under both real-world and simulated conditions. Experimental drop testing involved capturing the vehicle's response to impact using an accelerometer, while MAVS simulations modeled a controlled compression and release of the …

Knighthood In The Wilderness: Ecocritical Readings Of Nature And Chivalry In The World Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight, Dajana Memko

Theses and Dissertations

Many interpretations of the Green Knight portray him as a personification of nature or as nature’s embodiment. Ecocriticism, however, challenges a more anthropocentric approach, calling into question deeply ingrained ideals of chivalry and human dominion over nature. The Green Knight is a hybrid creature whose striking features mark his otherness; yet, through his familiarity, he challenges the knight of Camelot and asks them to consider their chivalric identities as well as the nature of their Trojan ancestry and legacy. Among them, Gawain is forced to confront his identity as he ventures into the wilderness of Wirral, and his interactions with …

Molten Flux Synthesis Of Plutonium (Iv) Silicates K2Pusi2O7 And Rb2Pusi6O15, Travis K. Deason, Gregory Morrison, Amir Mofrad, Jake Amoroso, David Diprete, Theodore M. Besmann, Shanna L. Estes, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

Few plutonium containing silicates have been reported in the literature and only one other tetravalent plutonium silicate structure has been reported using the flux growth method. With the goal of understanding actinide incorporation into silicates, we describe herein two new plutonium (IV) silicates, Rb2PuSi6O15 and K2PuSi2O7, synthesized using a mixed alkali chloride/alkali fluoride flux growth. Both structures crystallize in the C2/c space group with lattice parameters a=24.2980(10) Å, b=7.1466(3) Å, c=17.2025(8) Å and 96.6560(10)° for Rb2PuSi6O15, and a=9.9478(2) Å, b=5.59820 (10) Å, c=13.1848(2) Å, and 105.7400(10)° for K2PuSi2O7. Comparisons to the synthesis of other reported alkali actinide silicates (Ce, U, …

Unintended Consequences: The Impact Of Apple Airtags On Vulnerable Populations, Camryn Bonetti

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

The rapid advancements in Global Positioning Systems (GPS), like those employed in Apple AirTags, have prompted a critical need for stringent privacy restrictions in tracking technologies. This article delves into the potential ramifications of such innovations, specifically addressing their impact on the issues of domestic violence, human trafficking, and theft. As women are disproportionately at risk, and have historically been underserved by protective legislation, the awareness of a need for comprehensive public policies and heightened awareness to protect vulnerable individuals is lacking. This article poses an in-depth exploration of these concerns and proposes solutions to be thoroughly examined, offering a …

The Illusory Coverage Doctrine Is Not A Doctrine At All (But It Should Be), Shannon W. Conway

Catholic University Law Review

The Illusory Coverage Doctrine, if it ever becomes a true legal doctrine, has the potential to be an incredibly useful tool in insurance law. But courts around the country take very different approaches to the doctrine, ranging from one end of the spectrum—a hard-nosed “pro-insurer” stance where coverage is not illusory so long as a policy provides any coverage—to the other—a muscular “pro-policyholder” public policy approach that requires coverage even if some other exclusion might have prevented coverage under the applicable policy. And along the spectrum are various other iterations, contributing to the complete lack of certainty or consistency about …

To Surmount Paramount Decrees By Degrees, Harry Kazenoff

Catholic University Law Review

The United States Supreme Court in United States v. Paramount and the subsequent Paramount Decrees in 1948 were the federal government’s original attempt to address the consolidation and concentration of the movie production, distribution, and exhibition markets. The government reversed its decision in 2020 because of both changes in the film industry and a change in the legal application of antitrust law. There are two schools of antitrust law thought: structuralism and the consumer welfare standard. The former is concerned with market concentration and supports the Paramount Decrees, and the latter is concerned with prices for consumers and is skeptical …

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Mediated Weight Loss And Diabetes Mellitus Benefits: A Narrative Review, Alan D. Kaye, Nathan Lien, Christopher Vuong, Matthew H. Schmitt, Yusra Soorya, Bushirat A. Abubakar, Luke Muiznieks, Noah Embry, Harish Siddaiah, Adam M. Kaye, Sahar Shekoohi, Giustino Varrassi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are chronic diseases with increasing prevalence, underscoring the urgent need for effective treatment and management strategies. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have emerged as an essential class of drugs for managing both obesity and T2DM, offering additional benefits for cardiovascular and kidney health. GLP-1 RAs work by targeting GLP-1 receptors, mimicking the effects of the natural hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood glucose levels, promote weight loss, and provide potential benefits for cardiovascular health. This narrative review evaluates the mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and broader roles of GLP-1 RAs in promoting weight …

The Percentage Of Sacroiliac Fusions Done In The U.S. By Non-Surgical Specialties Has Increased, Mathew Cyriac, Bela P. Delvadia, Julianna E. Winter, Jacob S. Budin, Olivia C. Lee, William F. Sherman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Surgical fusion of the sacroiliac (SI) joint is often performed to manage chronic lower back or buttock pain. When Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were introduced, SI joint fusion procedures were done primarily by orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. The purpose of this study was to examine the utilization of SI joint fusion CPT codes by physician specialty over time. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the PearlDiver database. The database was queried using CPT codes to identify patients who underwent SI joint fusion via percutaneous, open, or trauma codes. Specialties queried included surgical specialties (orthopaedic surgery and …

Re: Butte Mine Flooding Operable Unit Berkeley Pit And Discharge Pilot Project – November 2024 Monthly Discharge Monitoring Report, Mark Thompson, Dave Griffis

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Bpsou Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Belle Of Butte (Bres No. 8 & Ur-39) Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp) Request For Change Ir-2024-Ra-02 (Dated December 19, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Testing The Bullet Dwarf Collision Scenario In The Ngc 1052 Group Through Morphologies And Stellar Populations, Yimeng Tang, Aaron J. Romanowsky, Pieter G. Van Dokkum, T. H. Jarrett, Kevin A. Bundy, Maria Luisa Buzzo, Shany Danieli, Jonah S. Gannon, Michael A. Keim, Seppo Laine, Zili Shen

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

NGC 1052-DF2 and -DF4 are two ultradiffuse galaxies that have been reported as deficient in dark matter and associated with the same galaxy group. Recent findings suggest that DF2 and DF4 are part of a large linear substructure of dwarf galaxies that could have been formed from a high-velocity head-on encounter of two gas-rich galaxies, known as a “bullet dwarf” collision. Based on new observations from the Hubble Space Telescope, combined with existing imaging from the u band to mid-infrared, we test the bullet dwarf scenario by studying the morphologies and stellar populations of the trail dwarfs. We find no …

Integrating Traditional And Western Healing Practices For American Indian Patients, Victoria Blacksmith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) community experiences disproportionally high rates of mental health disorders. Although research had examined the benefits of using traditional AI/AN health practices, little was known about how integrating traditional and Western treatment methods works. Using historical trauma theory and oppression theory, this qualitative study explored how AI/AN clinicians integrate traditional health practices into Western treatment methods when treating mental health disorders in AI/AN patients. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with five clinicians. Data analysis via deductive coding revealed two main themes: lived experiences of AI/AN clinicians and integration strategies. Cultural knowledge was the most prominent …

Importance Of Social Support During Pregnancy For Girls With Limited Education, Mairo V. Bello

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social support signifies a system that provides for family, relatives, and friends or is derived from external sources such as social services or health promotion networks and can reduce depression and increase well-being. Absent from the literature was the understanding of the significance of social support for young women with limited education aged 18-25 on the journey from conception to the postpartum period in Nigeria. In this qualitative phenomenological study, the individual perception, attitude, and social support received by young women with limited education during pregnancy in Wudil LGA of Kano state in northern Nigeria were examined. The study addressed …

Teaching Video Game As A Leisure Skill To Arab American Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Video Modeling In A School Setting, Lubna Alzayyat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leisure activities are important in assisting individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to build relationships, learn to behave socially appropriately, and acquire new interests- competences that assist in cultivating positive self-consciousness (Specht et al., 2002; Womack et al., 2011). Statistics indicate that 2.3% of 8-year-old children in the United States are diagnosed with ASD (CDC, 2021). Despite these large numbers and the tremendous benefits of engaging in leisure activities, participation in leisure activities is lower among children with ASD when compared to their typically developing peers (Ratcliff et al., 2018). The situation is worse when compared to children with ASD …

Design, Synthesis, And Characterization Of Multi-Targeting Pyrrolopyrimidine Antifolates As Potential Single Agent Chemotherapeutic Entities, Tejashree Magdum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In cancer chemotherapy, the currently marketed antifolates have two major disadvantages: dose-limiting toxicities to normal tissues and susceptibility to drug resistance. These are due to their major transport by the ubiquitously expressed transporter and mutagenesis in enzymes present in cancer cells. This thesis describes an introduction, background, and research progress in antimetabolites-antifolates designed to multi-target (a) one-carbon metabolism and de novo nucleotide synthesis pathway and (b) target overexpressed transporter in cancer cells for selective tumor-targeting.

Cancer cells transport folate through three transporters: ubiquitously expressed reduced folate carrier (RFC), limitedly expressed proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT), and folate receptors (FRs). The research …

Daily Associations Between Minority Stressors And Dissociation For Sexual Minority Women And Transgender/Nonbinary Individuals: The Role Of Interpersonal Trauma, Kriti Behari

Theses - ALL

Sexual minority women (SMW), transgender, and/or gender-diverse (TGD) individuals experience interpersonal traumatic stressors (e.g., childhood abuse, sexual violence) at higher rates than their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. This population also experiences ongoing stressors related to their minoritized sexual and gender identities (e.g., stigma, discrimination). Dissociation has been positively associated with trauma exposure-related factors (e.g., trauma type, chronicity, and severity) as well as identity-related stressors (e.g., stigma, discrimination) for sexual and gender minority people. Some research suggests that experiencing dissociation in response to traumatic stressors can result in individuals responding to non-traumatic chronic stressors with dissociation. However, no study has yet examined …

Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (Tpdc) And Its Role In Self-Reliance And Sustainability, Ladislaus Norbeth Tumbu

Theses - ALL

Tanzania possesses significant natural gas reserves, currently estimated at 57.54 trillion cubic feet, with the potential for further discoveries. This thesis examines the socio-economic impacts of Tanzania’s substantial natural gas reserves, focusing specifically on the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and its engagement with the local communities in Mtwara and Lindi. TPDC is the national oil company and owner of all licenses for energy development in the country, wholly owned by the government of Tanzania with all its shares held by the Treasury Registrar. Through comprehensive literature review and field visits to production sites, the study examines TPDC’s management of …

The Creation Of Our Universe: How Science And Our Religious Beliefs Align, Dan Broadbent

Faculty Publications

This presentation describes the author's opinions about how the creation of our universe may align with theories of the multiverse and the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Design And Investigation Of Small Molecule Drugs For Potential Treatment Of Cns Disorders, Flaviviral Infections, And Cancers, Viktoriya Mashinson

Theses & Dissertations

Chapter 1 discusses the development of antagonists against the dopamine 4 receptor (D4R) that is expressed in the motor, associative, and limbic subdivisions of the basal ganglia network and is involved in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Levodopa is the firstline drug for the management of PD symptoms but its long-term use often leads to development of levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). D4R antagonists have been shown to decrease the abnormal involuntary movement scores in mouse models of LID. Chapter 1 outlines the development and optimization of selective D4R antagonists for potential treatment of LID. During the investigation of our D4R antagonists we discovered …

Mean From Median Estimation In Longitudinal Meta-Analysis Of Quality Of Life In Radiation Oncology Patients, Harlan R. Sayles

Theses & Dissertations

Meta-analysis of longitudinal data, where some of the studies report results with means and standard errors while others use medians and ranges, is a complex analytical problem with several challenges which must be overcome. Existing methods for estimating means from medians and either ranges, interquartile ranges, or both have not previously been evaluated in a longitudinal setting. In this work, a simulation study was used to estimate mean bias, between studies variance bias, and coverage of confidence intervals in a longitudinal setting. A second simulation study estimated the variance of meta-analysis results from a given set of studies that may …

Biobehavioral Correlates Of Multidimensional Fatigue In Men With Prostate Cancer, Kristin Dickinson

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis project was to 1) examine trajectories of multidimensional cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in men with prostate cancer during and after radiation treatment completion, and 2) identify biobehavioral correlates (demographic, clinical, co-occurring symptoms, and biologic [inflammatory cytokines]) for the different CRF dimensions.

Data for this secondary analysis were obtained from a descriptive, longitudinal IRB-approved study investigating men with non-metastatic prostate cancer receiving radiation therapy (RT). Data were obtained from 68 participant medical records, self-report questionnaires, and blood samples. Data were collected at: baseline (T1), completion of RT (T2), 6 months (T3) and 2 years (T4) after completion …

Prospective, Crossover, Comparative Study Of Two Methods Of Chlorhexidine Bathing, Richard J. Hankins

Theses & Dissertations

Bathing intensive care unit (ICU) patients with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) decreases hospital acquired infections (HAIs). The optimal method of CHG bathing remains undefined. Prospective cluster crossover study comparing CHG daily bathing with 2% CHG impregnated cloths versus 4% CHG solution. In phase 1, from January 2020 through March 2020, one ICU utilized 2% cloths, while the other ICU utilized 4% solution. After an interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in phase 2, from July 2020 through September 2020, the unit CHG bathing assignments were reversed. Swabs were performed three times per week from patients’ arms and legs to measure skin …

Data For: Examining The Impacts Of Demographics, Individual Experiences, And Perceptions On Range Anxiety And Electric Vehicle Road Trips, Joshua Ward, Patrick A. Singleton, Antje Graul, Zane Regan

Browse all Datasets

Electric Vehicle Road Trip Study: These data contain anonymized responses to a survey designed to investigate the experiences, perceptions, barriers, and opportunities identified by electric vehicle (EV) drivers regarding road trips to recreational areas (like national parks) and for recreational activities.