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Evidence Of Lactobacillus Strains Shared Between The Female Urinary And Vaginal Microbiota, Haley Atkins, Baani Sabharwal, Leah Boger, Natalie Stegman, Alexander Kula, Alan J. Wolfe, Swarnali Banerjee, Catherine Putonti

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Lactobacillus species are common inhabitants of the ‘healthy’ female urinary and vaginal communities, often associated with a lack of symptoms in both anatomical sites. Given identification by prior studies of similar bacterial species in both communities, it has been hypothesized that the two microbiotas are in fact connected. Here, we carried out whole-genome sequencing of 49 Lactobacillus strains, including 16 paired urogenital samples from the same participant. These strains represent five different Lactobacillus species: L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. iners, L. jensenii, and L. paragasseri. Average nucleotide identity (ANI), alignment, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and CRISPR comparisons between strains from the …

Regularized Multivariate Functional Principal Component Analysis, Yue Zhao

Dissertations (1934 -)

Multivariate Functional Principal Component Analysis (MFPCA) is a valuable tool for exploring relationships and identifying shared patterns of variation in multivariate functional data. However, interpreting these functional principal components (PCs) can sometimes be challenging due to issues such as roughness and sparsity. In this dissertation, we establish the theoretical foundations of the penalized MFPCA problem within Hilbert space and propose three novel regularized MFPCA approaches. These approaches utilize eigen decomposition and singular value decomposition (SVD) techniques to enhance the performance of MFPCA by incorporating multiple penalty terms, such as roughness and sparsity penalties. In the first method, a roughness penalty …

Student Perceptions Of Integrated Stem Education In A High School Geometry Class, Alyssa Noland

Dissertations

Integrated Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) education provides students with opportunities to solve integrated real-world problems. Integrated STEM instruction aims to develop 21^st-century skills in students and promote interest in STEM subjects through authentic real-world tasks. Student perceptions can help educators and administrators to understand the benefits and constraints of integrated STEM instruction. This qualitative case study was designed to understand student perceptions of integrated STEM instruction and student perceptions of the value or applications of mathematics. The situated STEM learning and social constructivism theoretical frameworks guided the design of the lessons and methods of the study. High …

Radio Propagation Through Density Irregularities In The Auroral Ionosphere, Pralay Raj Vaggu

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

A radio wave propagating through a structured or turbulent ionosphere undergoes multiple effects, such as refraction, diffraction, etc., that distort the incident radio wave by inducing phase and amplitude fluctuations. These fluctuations are called ionospheric scintillation. Scintillation effects can be detrimental to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as Global Positioning System (GPS), but the observed effects can be used as a tool to study the underlying plasma process that causes scintillation. Scintillation is commonly seen in equatorial and high-latitude regions. This study centers around the scintillation and its causative plasma processes that dominantly happen in the high-latitude ionosphere …

Torus Surgery, Fibrations, Multisections, And Spun 4-Manifolds, Nicholas Paul Meyer

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

A compact n-manifold X is fibered if it is a fiber bundle where the fiber F and base space B are manifolds. Fibered manifolds are particularly nice, as they are essentially classified by their monodromy maps. Two common examples of 4-dimensional fibered manifolds are surface bundles over surfaces and 3-manifold bundles over the circle.

The main focus of this dissertation is to investigate fibered 4-manifolds whose boundaries are the 3-torus and how these manifolds glue together to give new closed, fibered 4-manifolds. In particular, suppose W is diffeomorphic to S¹ × E_Y (K) where Y …

A Case Study Of Mathematical Instructional Leadership, Theresa Haack

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation looks at the impact of instructional leadership in mathematics teaching on teachers at various stages in their careers. Using a case study methodology, the researcher explores the nuanced needs and effective strategies for beginning, mid-career, and established teachers. Peer instructional leaders provided data that involved a mix of qualitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and questionnaires, targeting five assistant principals selected randomly from diverse school environments. The study identifies common themes and differences in instructional approaches, highlighting how strategies vary and overlap across different career stages. Analysis gives insights into the practical application of leadership in educational settings, emphasizing …

A Study Of Electron- And Photon-Induced Dissociative Electron Attachment To Molecules And Within Anion-Molecule Clusters, Mahmudul Hasan

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Dissociative electron attachment (DEA) is a resonant process in which a molecule captures a low-energy electron, forming a transient negative ion (TNI). Subsequently, this unstable TNI fragments into a stable anion and one or more neutral fragments. DEA is crucial in various phenomena, ranging from atmospheric and radiation chemistry to processes occurring in plasmas, and is particularly significant in the context of radiation-induced damage to biological molecules. This study uses different experimental methods to better understand the fragmentation in molecular anions forming through dissociative photoexcitation and electron attachment. We have developed an experimental apparatus for dissociative photoexcitation studies. This apparatus …

Business Model Choice For Heavy Equipment Manufacturer, Philippe Blaettchen, Niyazi Taneri, Sameer Hasija

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Technological advances enable new business models for heavy equipment manufacturers wherein customers access equipment without ownership. We seek to understand the profitability and environmental performance of different emerging business models in light of salient economic and operational factors. We develop a game-theoretic model to identify the optimal choice between a traditional ownership-based business model and two access-based models: servicization and peer-to-peer sharing. After-sales services, equipment characteristics, usage environments, and fuel prices affect this choice. We also provide a novel framework to analyze business models’ environmental impact, which incorporates trade-offs between economic value and environmental costs and shows that all models …

Semi-Analytical Solutions For Time-Fractional Fisher Equations Via New Iterative Method, Shivaji Ashok Tarate Tarate, A. P. Bhadane, S.B. Gaikwad, K.A. Kshirsagar

Baghdad Science Journal

An effective method for resolving non-linear partial differential equations with fractional derivatives is the New Sumudu Transform Iterative Method (NSTIM). It excels at solving difficult mathematical puzzles and offers insightful information about the behaviour of time-fractional Fisher equations. The method, which makes use of Caputo's sense derivatives and Wolfram in Mathematica, is reliable, simple to use, and gives a visual depiction of the solution. The analytical findings demonstrate that the proposed approach is effective and simple in generating precise solutions for the time-fractional Fisher equations. The results are made more reliable and applicable by including Caputo's sense derivatives. Mathematical modelling …

Check Out The Library, 2024 Summer Issue, Cal Poly Humboldt Library

Library Publications

Issue 18

Enhancing The Security In High-Speed Networks Using P4 Programmable Switches, Ali Alsabeh

Theses and Dissertations

Network security has become increasingly essential in today's networks due to the growth of various network applications, such as Machine Learning (ML) and Fifth-Generation (5G) Networks. One fundamental Internet protocol is the Domain Name System (DNS), which maps domain names to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Despite its importance, DNS traffic is often forwarded without being analyzed, making it a center of ever-evolving attacks. Traditionally, defense strategies are implemented on fixed-function security middleboxes that are costly, proprietary, and hard to manage. Alternatively, defenses implemented in software use general-purpose servers (e.g., the control plane of a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) network) that cannot …

Influence Of Language Evolution And Compiler Advances On Program Creation: Implications To Electronics Engineering Education, Ralph Anthony Ramos Rafael, King Harold A. Recto

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

The progression of programming languages, from machine and assembly languages to high-level and very high-level languages, and now towards natural language processing and artificial intelligence, has significantly influenced program creation and assembly. Each generation has brought notable advancements in abstraction, readability, and usability, making programming increasingly accessible and efficient. Early languages such as machine and assembly languages were hardware-dependent and low-level, concentrating on direct interaction with hardware. This paradigm shifted significantly with the emergence of high-level languages, which abstracted hardware specifics and emphasized logic and functionality. These shifts have had profound impacts, particularly in Engineering Education, by potentially reducing the …

University Of San Diego Magazine 75th Anniversary 2024, University Of San Diego

University of San Diego Magazine (1992- )

Forging Community; Celebrating Impact; Aesthetic Aspirations; From Grassroots to the Vatican; Lighting the Way Forward; Decade of Discovery; The Stories Within; Those at Our Core; Aiming for Excellence; Twice as Nice; A Simple Yet Grand Vision

2024 July, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for July of 2024.

A Spectroscopic Search For Recoiling Supermassive Black Holes In Nearby Active Galaxies, Emily Temple

Theses

It is hypothesized that following a galaxy merger the two central supermassive black holes (SMBH) become a binary system, eventually coalescing due to emission of gravitational waves. This coalescence results in a single black hole, with an accretion disk shining with high luminosity that photoionizes the surrounding gas. Therefore, the newly merged SMBH is visible as an active galactic nucleus (AGN). However, the gravitational waves are emitted anisotropically by the binary as it inspirals, resulting in a recoil kick. This ejects the newly merged SMBH from the AGN’s center of the galaxy. The SMBH oscillates around the galaxy’s center of …

Elementary Teachers' Self-Efficacy And Its Role In Stem Implementation, Caroline Buechel, Michael K. Daugherty, Vinson Carter, Emine Sahin Topalcengiz

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

To equip students with 21st-century skills, teachers must have both deep STEM content knowledge and the confidence to implement and teach appropriate STEM content. Many elementary teachers have inadequate STEM background knowledge, low confidence, and STEM self-efficacy for implementing STEM in the classroom; as a result, teachers' classroom practices are affected. The study examined how elementary teachers perceive their ability to implement STEM in the classroom. The STEM Efficacy Survey was sent to a randomized pool of 100 elementary educators, and 18 of them agreed to participate in the study. This instrument was designed to elicit responses related to the …

New Labor Curves Of Dilation And Station To Improve The Accuracy Of Predicting Labor Progress., Emily F Hamilton, Tilekbek Zhoroev, Philip A Warrick, Adi L Tarca, Thomas J Garite, Aaron B Caughey, Jason Melillo, Mona Prasad, Duncan Neilson, Peter Singson, Kimberlee Mckay, Roberto Romero

Women’s Health Articles

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of failure to progress, the most common indication for intrapartum cesarean delivery, is based on the assessment of cervical dilation and station over time. Labor curves serve as references for expected changes in dilation and fetal descent. The labor curves of Friedman, Zhang et al, and others are based on time alone and derived from mothers with spontaneous labor onset. However, labor induction is now common, and clinicians also consider other factors when assessing labor progress. Labor curves that consider the use of labor induction and other factors that influence labor progress have the potential to be …

Multi-Link Prediction For Mmwave Wireless Communication Systems Using Liquid Time-Constant Networks, Long Short- Term Memory, And Interpretation Using Symbolic Regression, Vishnu S. Pendyala, Milind Patil

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

A significant challenge encountered in mmWave and sub-terahertz systems used in 5G and the upcoming 6G networks is the rapid fluctuation in signal quality across various beam directions. Extremely high-frequency waves are highly vulnerable to obstruction, making even slight adjustments in device orientation or the presence of blockers capable of causing substantial fluctuations in link quality along a designated path. This issue poses a major obstacle because numerous applications with low-latency requirements necessitate the precise forecasting of network quality from many directions and cells. The method proposed in this research demonstrates an avant-garde approach for assessing the quality of multi-directional …

Persistent Behavior In Solar Energetic Particle Time Series, N V. Sarlis, G Livadiotis, D J. Mccomas, M E. Cuesta, L Y. Khoo, C M S Cohen, D G. Mitchell, Nathan A. Schwadron

Faculty Publications

We investigate the long-term persistence of solar energetic particle (SEP) time series by means of four different methods: Hurst rescaled range R/S analysis, detrended fluctuation analysis, centered moving average analysis, and the fluctuation of natural time under the time reversal method. For these analyses, we use data sets from the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun instrument suite on board NASA's Parker Solar Probe. Background systematic noise is modeled using cross-correlation analysis between different SEP energy channels and subtracted from the original data. The use of these four methods for deriving the time-series persistence allows us to (i) differentiate between …

Persistent Behavior In Solar Energetic Particle Time Series, N V. Sarlis, G Livadiotis, D J. Mccomas, M E. Cuesta, L Y. Khoo, C M S Cohen, D G. Mitchell, Nathan A. Schwadron

Faculty Publications

We investigate the long-term persistence of solar energetic particle (SEP) time series by means of four different methods: Hurst rescaled range R/S analysis, detrended fluctuation analysis, centered moving average analysis, and the fluctuation of natural time under the time reversal method. For these analyses, we use data sets from the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun instrument suite on board NASA's Parker Solar Probe. Background systematic noise is modeled using cross-correlation analysis between different SEP energy channels and subtracted from the original data. The use of these four methods for deriving the time-series persistence allows us to (i) differentiate between …

Deep Learning In Reproducing Kernel Banach Spaces, Mingsong Yan

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Deep learning has achieved immense success in the past decade. The goal of this dissertation is to understand deep learning through the framework of reproducing kernel Banach spaces (RKBSs), which were originally proposed for promoting sparse solutions. We begin by considering learning problems in a general functional setting, and establishing explicit and data-dependent representer theorems for both minimal norm interpolation (MNI) problems and regularization problems. These theorems provide a crucial foundation for the subsequent results derived for both sparse learning and deep learning. Next, we investigate the essential properties of RKBSs capable of encouraging sparsity in learning solutions. With the …

Accelerating The Efficiency Of Multiscale Hybridizable Discontinuos Galerkin Methods For Flows In Heterogeneous Media, Tony Charles Haines

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

A plethora of scientific and engineering problems encountered are multiscale in nature. This multiscale feature often influences simulation efforts wherever large disparities in spatial scales are experienced. Notable examples include composite materials, fluid flow through porous media and turbulent transport in high Reynolds number flow. Although there are promising results from the advancement of modern supercomputer, obtaining direct numerical solution of multiscale problems is very laborious. This difficulty stems from the tremendous amount of computer memory and CPU time required. Parallel computing may be one obvious choice in remedying this issue. However, the complexity and size of the discrete problem …

Associations Between Combat Exposure, Moral Injury, And Suicidality Among U.S. Military Members: The Moderating Impact Of Positive Rumination, Jeffrey M. Gabelmann

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Numerous studies have documented the risk for suicide among recent-era veterans with combat experience. Recently, moral injury has emerged as a possible contributor to suicidality in veterans. To that end, no study has approached the combat exposure-moral injury-suicidality link with a focus grounded in positive psychology. Specifically, the present study explored whether positive rumination, or the reflection on positive emotions and moods, may buffer the deleterious effects of potentially traumatic experiences in warzones on moral injury and suicidality. This study was a secondary analysis of 250 current or former U.S. military members (M_age = 33.3 years) who had …

Measurement Of The Photoproduction Cross-Section Of F1(1285) In The Exclusive Reactions Γp → P′K∓KSΠ± At 7.5 < Eγ < 11.5 Gev With Gluex At Jefferson Lab, Tyler Viducic

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The f₁(1285) meson is commonly understood to belong to the axial-vector nonet as the low-mass isoscalar partner to the f₁(1420) but has been suggested as a candidate for a KK^∗+c.c molecule. A nearly mass-degenerate 0 ⁻⁺ state has been observed in πp scattering that calls into question the established branching ratios of the f₁(1285) decays. Recently, the differential cross-section for the photoproduction of f₁(1285) was measured by the CLAS experiment and the results disagreed with theoretical predictions. Additionally, the CLAS experiment did not observe a mass-degenerate 0⁻⁺ state. …

Mesostructure Reconstruction Of Prepreg Platelet Molded Composite With Artificial Intelligence, Richard Larson

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Prepreg platelet molded composites (PPMC) are long, discontinuous fiber reinforced polymer materials. PPMC are an important subcategory of composite materials as they are processible into geometrically complex structures and can be produced via high-throughput manufacturing processes, however they have higher stiffness and strength as compared to traditional discontinuous fiber reinforced polymers. However, there is inherent randomness in the structure of PPMCs and as such, PPMC parts frequently require per part testing that is cost prohibitive.

Herein, a method using artificial intelligence is proposed as a more cost-effective method of inspecting PPMC parts. Different artificial intelligence (AI) architectures are explored to …

Investigation Of Cooperative Subradiance In Dense Ultracold Rubidium Ensembles, Brent Michael Jones

Physics Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents results of an experimental investigation of the time resolved fluorescence from a cold and dense ensemble of ⁸⁷Rb atoms after the sample is illuminated by a short probe pulse. The goal of the experiment was to investigate cooperative subradiant behavior, characterized by a much longer decay time compared to the natural lifetime, induced in an off resonant probe regime. Such long lived states, if controllable, would provide a means to store quantum information. The samples were initially created in a magnetooptical trap before atoms were loaded into a far off resonance trap to achieve atomic densities …

Hydrologic Modeling Of The Lower Chesapeake Bay Watershed Using Hecc-Hms With Implications For Future Coupled Coastal Modeling, Christopher Leonard Frost

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the hydrological methodology for modeling a coastal watershed basin using the US Army Corps of Engineers hydrologic software, HEC-HMS with an objective of being able to create riverine boundary conditions that could be applied to a coupled compound flood model. Compound flooding is defined as high water inundation event that occurs due to the simultaneous occurrence of multiple flooding drivers. The Atlantic Seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico regions of the United States account for most of the compound events observed in the United States with a higher occurrence caused by hurricanes from July to November. In …

Theoretical Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Methodology For Tunnel Design And Construction Processes, Ozgur Satici, Esra Satici

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

All engineering projects involve risk management applications. Sometimes, risks cannot be effectively managed, leading to catastrophic consequences. Engineers must consciously or unconsciously manage these risks. Regardless of how risks are handled, project risks need to be systematically evaluated. Therefore, risk management procedures must be implemented in every project, particularly in geo-engineering projects, to mitigate undesirable consequences and achieve project objectives. However, the use of risk management procedures in underground excavation projects is not common. Numerous commonly employed underground excavation techniques lack assessment of risks, notably geotechnical risks. Most of them only evaluate rock structures and excavation stability in accordance with …

Freezing-Thawing Hysteretic Behavior Of Soils, Jidong Teng, Antai Dong, Sheng Zhang, Xiong Zhang, Daichao Sheng

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The soil freezing characteristic curve (SFCC) plays a crucial role in investigating the soil freezing-thawing process. Due to the challenges associated with measuring the SFCC, there is a shortage of high-quality or rigorous test results with sufficient metadata to be effectively used for applications. Current researchers typically conduct freezing tests to measure the SFCC and assume a singular SFCC when studying the freezing-thawing process of soils, although limited studies indicated that there is a hysteresis during the freezing and thawing process. In this paper, a series of freezing-thawing tests were performed to assess the SFCC, utilizing a precise nuclear magnetic …

Urban Soil Compaction Remediation By Shallow Tillage And Compost In Hydroseeded Lawn, James Jihoon Kang, Adam Flores, Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira, Jungseok Ho

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Construction activities often involve removal of topsoil and compaction of the exposed soil by heavy equipments. Such compacted soils with low organic matter can lead to low infiltration and poor vegetation establishment. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of tillage (shallow till) and compost on soil physical and biological properties in a hydroseeded lawn as a post-construction best management practice for soil compaction remediation. The experimental site received a total of four land treatments in five replicated trials and it was hydroseeded with common Bermuda grass: 1) No Tillage + Compost (NT-C), 2) No Tillage + …