Digital Commons Network^™

Enabling Emg-Based Silent Speech Transcription Through Speech-To-Text Transfer Learning, Alexander T. Garcia

Master's Theses

In recent years, advances in deep learning have allowed various forms of electrographic signals, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG), to be used as a viable form of input in artificial intelligence applications, particularly for applications in the medical field. One such topic that EMG inputs have been used is in silent speech interfaces, or devices capable of processing speech without an audio-based input. The goal of this thesis is to explore a novel method of training a machine learning model to be used for silent speech interface development: using transfer learning to leverage a pre-trained speech recognition model …

“Der Niagara”: Research, Analysis, And Treatment Of A 19th-Century Etching On A Strawboard Support, Jenni Krchak

Art Conservation Master's Projects

“Der Niagara”, an 1850’s etching of Niagara Falls on incredibly thin paper with an un-inked print address, was brought in by the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library (BECPL) for treatment in 2018 to the Garman Art Conservation Department. The print was adhered overall around the perimeter to an unstable strawboard support. Treatment was undertaken to remove the print from the strawboard, address discoloration, planar distortions, tears and losses, and rehouse the print in an appropriate enclosure. Research, visual analysis, and comparison to other copies was used to date the piece and establish it as a proof print. Multimodal imaging …

Coastal Flood Risk In The Context Of Climate Change And Urbanization In Northeastern South Carolina, Hongyuan Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers and the public now widely recognize the seriousness of coastal flood risks. Various changes in natural processes, such as altered rainfall patterns, increased tropical cyclone intensities, and sea-level rise, are consequences of global warming induced by heightened greenhouse gas concentrations. To comprehensively understand coastal compound flooding, it is crucial to consider multiple processes and their interactions. Moreover, the growth of coastal cities and the concentration of people and assets in these areas make them increasingly vulnerable to flooding events. Accurately estimating the future flood risks faced by coastal communities necessitates addressing the compounding effects on coastal flood risk, taking …

It Is All Relative: Intergenerational Postsecondary Education And Economic Mobility, Leslie Jean Barrett Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the intricate relationship between intergenerational postsecondary education and economic mobility by focusing on the nuanced themes of environment and exposure, encouragement and expectation, and experience and equal opportunity. Drawing from the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), this research seeks to unravel the nuanced mechanisms through which familial and societal influences shape individuals' educational trajectories and economic outcomes across generations.

The study is conducted through an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in which 10 participants provide meaningful insights of their interpretation of experiences in an eight open-ended question interview. Participants are postsecondary education graduates in the age range of …

Preparation Of Alginate Beads By Ionic Gelation Method Using Encapsulator B-390: Effect Of Process Parameters On Physical Properties Of Beads, Nillapat Funfakjit, Nattakan Kanana, Kasorn Manopakdee, Dusadee Charnvanich

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Microencapsulation has received increasing attention across various industries, including pharmaceutics, cosmetics, foods, and biotechnology because of its many benefits. One method to prepare microparticles is an ionic gelation technique because of its simplicity and mild processing conditions. In this study, alginate beads encapsulating rice bran oil (RBO) for cosmetic applications were prepared using ionic gelation through vibration-nozzle coextrusion technology. Objective: The research aimed to investigate the effect of process parameters on the physical properties of alginate beads. Methods: Alginate beads encapsulating RBO were produced using Encapsulator B-390 with a concentric nozzle system. The shell material comprised …

Coal Ash Triggers An Elevated Temperature Landfill Development: Lessons From The Bristol Virginia Solid Waste Landfill Neighboring Community, Reagan Patton Witt, Marcelo I. Guzman

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Landfills for disposing of solid waste are designed, located, managed, and monitored facili- ties expected to comply with government regulations to prevent contamination of the surrounding environment. After the average life expectancy of a typical landfill (30 to 50 years), a large investment in the construction, operation, final closure, and 30-year monitoring of a new site is needed. In this case study, we provide a holistic explanation of the unexpected development of elevated temperature landfills (ETLFs), such as that in the city of Bristol (United States) on the border of the states of Virginia and Tennessee, including the initial role …

Stew News, Orientation Paddle 2024, University Of Dayton. Rivers Institute

Stew News: The Newsletter of the University of Dayton River Stewards

No abstract provided.

Investigating A Pollinator Curriculum (1-3 Grade), Divya Baranwal

Multidisciplinary Studies Research

In this unit, elementary graders will identify and explain the pollen, flowering plants, and pollination process, and labelled various parts of a flower, pollinators. They will build the model of pollinators, initial models of the reproductive parts of plants. They will explore the 3D shapes, magnifying glasses, area and volume, modelling and explain low-high fidelity prototyping, engineering design process. The unit is designed by providing an abundance of practical ways to learn the significance of the pollination process and to get to know about pollinators and pollen in a place-based environment. Here, students will engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate …

The Surprising Survival—So Far—Of The Corporate Contribution Ban, Richard Briffault

The University of Chicago Business Law Review

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Temperature, Solution Strength, And Applied Stress Effects On Cation Exchange Processes In Different Geosynthetic Clay Liner Products, Kendra Fuller

Master's Theses

An extensive laboratory test program was conducted to analyze and compare the cation exchange processes in three different varieties of sodium bentonite (Na-B) geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) over increased conditioning durations up to 32 days and investigate the effects of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress. The goal of this test program was to establish whether the variables of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress improved or degraded the engineering properties of GCLs in laboratory testing and municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill applications. The GCLs were conditioned in liquids of increasing ionic strength, using deionized water and 2, 50, and …

Dual Base Sige Is-Hbt For Use In Biosensing Applications, Liam Stephen Hayes

Master's Theses

The proposed research is for a novel SiGe-based Ion-Sensitive Dual Hetero-junction Bipolar Transistor (IS-HBT) to be used in both trans-dermal biological sensing as well as Lab-on-Chip (LOC) applications. The end goals for the device designed are two: For one, the research done for this work will be used to substantiate the claims made by Zafar et al. [1] that an HBT-style structure is better suited for biosensing application rather than a conventional Field Effect Transistor (FET) based geometries. Secondly, it provides the final element to be integrated along with a selectivity membrane, as well as with a reverse-iontophoresis system to …

Design And Implementation Of An Inverted Short Baseline Acoustic Positioning System, Jakob Frabosilio

Master's Theses

This document details the design, implementation, testing, and analysis of an inverted short baseline acoustic positioning system. The system presented here is an above-water, air-based prototype for an underwater acoustic positioning system; it is designed to determine the position of remotely-operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in the global frame using a method that does not drift over time.

A ground-truth positioning system is constructed using a stacked hexapod platform actuator, which mimics the motion of an AUV and provides the true position of an ultrasonic microphone array. An ultrasonic transmitter sends a pulse of sound towards …

Reactive Dye Wash-Off Processing Of Cotton Fabrics Using Polymer Dye Transfer Inhibitors For Sustainable Dyeing, Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Tuba Toprak-Cavdur, Safiqul Islam, Fatema Tarannum, Keisha Walters

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cotton fiber consumption is higher than any other natural fiber due to its superior mechanical and physical properties. In the conventional reactive dyeing process, the dye undergoes hydrolysis due to hydrogen bonding and weak Van der Waals forces, yielding poor washing color fastness. Additionally, the post-dyeing wash-off process consumes significant amounts of water, energy, and time in order to remove the unreacted and hydrolyzed dye. Therefore, reactive dyes are predominantly utilized to color cotton fabrics as the covalent bond formed between dye and fiber results in excellent washing fastness for a wide range of colors, and improved ease of use. …

A Comparison Of A Three Blade And Five Blade Wind Turbine In Terms Of The Mechanical Properties Using The Q-Blade Software, Othman K. Zidane, Yaseen H. Mahmood

Baghdad Science Journal

Wind turbines deployed in utility-scale wind farms can support and meet future energy desires and also decrease carbon dioxide emissions by reducing energy requirements from fossil fuels. As the air heats up throughout the day, the wind velocity increases due to temperature gradients. This in turn produces a density pressure gradient, inducing air movement that a wind turbine encounters. Depending on ground topography, the wind can encounter and be directed in valleys and between and over hills as it flows and follows the curves of the earth. These topographies produce an increase in wind velocity at summits and ridges. In …

Limit Cycles Of The Three-Dimensional Quadratic Differential System Via Hopf Bifurcation, Aram A. Abddulkareem, Azad I. Amen, Niazy H. Hussein

Baghdad Science Journal

In this study, the quadratic 3-dimensional differential system is considered, in which the origin of the coordinate becomes the Hopf equilibrium point. The existence and stability of limit cycles that emerge from the Hopf point are being investigated. The Lyapunov coefficients connected to the Hopf point are calculated using the projection method. First, four families of parameter conditions are driven by which the quadratic 3-dimensional differential system can exhibit codimension three of the Hopf bifurcation. The analytical proof of each parameter family of conditions is given by calculating the Lyapunov coefficients, the vanishing of the first, sconed Lyapunov, and the …

Artificial Intelligence In Human Resource Development: An Umbrella Review Protocol, Sangok Yoo, Kim Nimon, Sanket Ramchandra Patole

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

The recent surge in artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed work dynamics, particularly in human resource development (HRD) and related domains. Scholars, recognizing the significant potential of AI in HRD functions and processes, have contributed to the growing body of literature reviews on AI in HRD and related domains. Despite the valuable insights provided by these individual reviews, the challenge of collectively interpreting them within the HRD domain remains unresolved. This protocol outlines the methodology for an umbrella review aiming to systematically synthesize existing reviews on AI in HRD. The review seeks to address key research questions regarding AI’s contributions …

Growing Identity Over A Decade: Asl-English Interpreter Education, Kimberly Hale

International Journal of Interpreter Education

The employment context of ASL-English Interpretation programs (ASLIPs) has not been analyzed in a decade. In this study, I compared the institutional type and disciplinary category of 38 ASLIPs operating in 2011 and 57 programs operating in 2021 to determine whether there had been a standardization of academic profile. Over half of the programs in 2021 are in doctoral/research granting institutions (52.6%) compared to only 31.6% in 2011. While the number of programs classified under Schools/Colleges of Education has nearly doubled (11 and 20, respectively), the proportion has remained steady (45.8% and 45.5%, respectively). The proportion of language and/or culturally-related …

“Can You Hear Me Now?” Evaluating Virtual Interpreted Healthcare Simulations, Mark A. Halley, Linda Connelly

International Journal of Interpreter Education

In this paper, we evaluate virtual healthcare simulations with undergraduate American Sign Language/ English interpreting students and undergraduate nursing students. To evaluate this educational innovation, we conducted a focus group interview with key stakeholders – undergraduate nursing and interpreting students, graduate interpreting student mentors, and deaf standardized patients – who participated in the simulations. The focus group data were thematically analyzed, which allowed for an evaluation of instructional effectiveness and identification of areas for quality improvement in future iterations. Taken together, the findings suggest that virtual simulations offer students a powerful experiential learning experience and the opportunity to apply theoretical …

Nrsm 212n.00: Ecology, Physics And Taxonomy Of Soils, Justin D. Gay

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Slo Children’S Museum Music Education Exhibit, Charles Coffen, Madeline Carleton-Sniff, Yael Castillo, Anthony Ramos

Mechanical Engineering

The Children’s Museum in San Luis Obispo is a non-profit facility providing education to young children through interactive exhibits. The proposed project would address a basic introduction to musical theory through mechanical engineering principles. The target audience for this musical art installation would be young children, aged 5-10, who would be regularly interacting with this exhibit, as well as their parents, and the employees of the museum. The installation will educate children in basic musical understanding through interaction while still being engaging enough to hold their attention. This document describes the final concept design and various methods of verification in …

Rewriting Nepa: Statutory Continuity And Disruption In A Polarized Era, Daniel A. Farber

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

For decades the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 was a paradigm of statutory stability. In 2023 that changed overnight with a major rewrite of NEPA as part of the debt ceiling bill. The text of the statute was hurriedly negotiated between President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy, and then passed with virtually no debate.

This article is the first to analyze the amendments. Due to the frenzied enactment process, NEPA is now loaded with overlapping and partially conflicting language, provisions that seem nonsensical if taken literally, and perplexing gaps. The article teases apart these problems, concluding that the …

From Columbus To Lansing: Exploring The Prosecution Of Environmental Crimes Within Epa Region 5, Joshua Ozymy, Melissa Jarrell Ozymy

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

Transgressions of federal environmental law involving significant harm or culpable conduct can result in criminal prosecution. However, we know very little about how such prosecutions have taken place within EPA Region 5, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. We undertake a content analysis of 2,807 criminal prosecutions that resulted from U.S. EPA criminal investigations from 1983-2022, selecting all 392 prosecutions occurring within Region 5 for analysis. Results show that over $3.4 billion in monetary penalties, 1,039 years of probation, and over 492 years of incarceration were assessed at sentencing. 33 % of prosecutions centered on water pollution, …

Evaluation Of Industrial And Consumer 3-D Resin Printer Fabrication Of Microdevices For Quality Management Of Genetic Resources In Aquatic Species, Seyedmajid Hosseini, Jack C. Koch, Yue Liu, Ignatius Semmes, Isabelina Nahmens, W. Todd Monroe, Jian Xu, Terrence R. Tiersch

Faculty Publications

Aquatic germplasm repositories can play a pivotal role in securing the genetic diversity of natural populations and agriculturally important aquatic species. However, existing technologies for repository development and operation face challenges in terms of accuracy, precision, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, especially for microdevices used in gamete quality evaluation. Quality management is critical throughout genetic resource protection processes from sample collection to final usage. In this study, we examined the potential of using three-dimensional (3-D) stereolithography resin printing to address these challenges and evaluated the overall capabilities and limitations of a representative industrial 3-D resin printer with a price of US$18,000, a …

Esrra Regulates Rplp1-Mediated Translation Of Lysosome Proteins Suppressed In Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis And Reversed By Alternate Day Fasting, Madhulika Tripathi, Karine Gauthier, Reddemma Sandireddy, Jin Zhou, Priyanka Guptta, Suganya Sakthivel, Wei Wen Teo, Yadanar Than Naing, Kabilesh Arul, Keziah Tikno, Sung Hee Park, Yajun Wu, Lijin Wang, Boon Huat Bay, Lei Sun, Vincent Giguere, Pierce K.H. Chow, Sujoy Ghosh, Donald P. Mcdonnell, Paul M. Yen, Brijesh K. Singh

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Currently, little is known about the mechanism(s) regulating global and specific protein translation during metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH; previously known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH). Methods: Unbiased label-free quantitative proteome, puromycin-labelling and polysome profiling were used to understand protein translation activity in vitro and in vivo. Results: We observed a global decrease in protein translation during lipotoxicity in human primary hepatocytes, mouse hepatic AML12 cells, and livers from a dietary mouse model of MASH. Interestingly, proteomic analysis showed that Rplp1, which regulates ribosome and translation pathways, was one of the most downregulated proteins. Moreover, decreased Esrra expression and binding to …

Effect Of Impaired Awareness Of Hypoglycemia On Glucose Decline During And After Exercise In The T1dexi Study, Jorge L. Jo Kamimoto, Zoey Li, Robin L. Gal, Jessica R. Castle, Francis J. Doyle, Peter G. Jacobs, Corby K. Martin, Roy W. Beck, Peter Calhoun, Michael C. Riddell, Michael R. Rickels

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Context: Adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face the necessity of balancing the benefits of exercise with the potential hazards of hypoglycemia. Objective: This work aimed to assess whether impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) affects exercise-associated hypoglycemia in adults with T1D. Methods: We compared continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-measured glucose during exercise and for 24 hours following exercise from 95 adults with T1D and IAH (Clarke score ≥4 or ≥1 severe hypoglycemic event within the past year) to 95 “aware” adults (Clarke score ≤2 and no severe hypoglycemic event within the past year) matched on sex, age, insulin delivery modality, and …

Far From Their Origins: A Transcriptomic Investigation On How 2,4-Di-Tert-Butyl-6-(5-Chloro-2h-Benzotriazol-2-Yl) Phenol Affects Rainbow Trout Alevins, Andreas N.M. Eriksson, Justin Dubiel, Alper James Alcaraz, Jon A. Doering, Steve Wiseman

Faculty Publications

Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) are a group of widely used chemicals added to a variety of consumer (e.g., plastics) and industrial (e.g., metal coating) goods. Although detected globally as an environmentally persistent pollutant, BUVSs have received relatively little toxicological attention and only recently have been acknowledged to affect development and the endocrine system in vivo. In our previous study, altered behavior, indicative of potential neurotoxicity, was observed among rainbow trout alevins (day 14 posthatching) that were microinjected as embryos with a single environmentally relevant dose of 2,4-di-tert-butyl–6-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl) phenol (UV-327). In the present follow-up study, we performed whole-transcriptome profiling (RNA sequencing) …

Toward A Comparative Framework For Studies Of Altitudinal Migration, David Vander Pluym, Nicholas A. Mason

Faculty Publications

The study and importance of altitudinal migration has attracted increasing interest among zoologists. Altitudinal migrants are taxonomically widespread and move across altitudinal gradients as partial or complete migrants, subjecting them to a wide array of environments and ecological interactions. Here, we present a brief synthesis of recent developments in the field and suggest future directions toward a more taxonomically inclusive comparative framework for the study of altitudinal migration. Our framework centers on a working definition of altitudinal migration that hinges on its biological relevance, which is scale-dependent and related to fitness outcomes. We discuss linguistic nuances of altitudinal movements and …

To Belong Or Not To Belong: Bipoc First-Generation Community College Students’ Experiences, Christine Orbeta

Theses and Dissertations

Using narrative interviews, this study explored the experiences of belonging among eight first-generation college students (FGCS) who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). By applying Strayhorn's Belonging and Crenshaw's Intersectionality Framework, this study sheds light on the challenges and benefits BIPOC FGCS encounter as they strive for academic success at two-year institutions within the City University of New York (CUNY) where approximately 44% of CUNY's student body comprises FGCS (CUNY, 2019). According to participants, families and institutions played significant roles in shaping students' sense of belonging. It also highlights the intricate negotiations BIPOC FGCS undergo as they …

Development Of A Disc Blade Cutting System For Sesame Harvesting: Determination Of Operating Criteria And Energy Requirements, Selcuk Ugurluay, Gamze Genc

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study aimed to explore the use of rotary disc blades in cutting, since the mowing units used in sesame harvesting contain many parts, require frequent lubrication, and have vibration problems. An experimental setup with a disc blade working on a cut-mowing system based from harvesting methods of sesame plants was designed and fabricated. The most suitable cutting criteria which are blade edge types (30°-30°, 30°-Flat, 45°-45°, 45°-Flat) and disc blade diameters (150, 180, and 210 mm) were determined for shearing and disc cutting action. The lowest cutting energy was consumed by the disc blade with a 30°-wedge angle at …

A P-Graph Approach For Planning Sustainable Rice Straw Management Networks, Victoria Migo Sumagang Maria, Michael Angelo B. Promentilla

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The Philippines produces up to 15.2 Mt of rice straw waste annually. Unmanaged rice straw waste disposal can lead to pollution from open field burning. On the other hand, rice straw agricultural waste can be used sustainably to produce valuable products such as mushrooms, fodder, pellets, or bioenergy, in a rice straw management system. Such systems can be optimized using Process Integration tools so that the raw materials are used efficiently at the maximum profit and with a minimal carbon footprint. The P-graph framework is an efficient Process Integration tool that solves Process Network Synthesis problems. A P-graph finds the …