Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Climate Change On Arctic Water Quality, Karki Sarthak

Engineering

Climate change is fundamentally altering Arctic hydrological systems, impacting water quality and posing challenges for communities dependent on these vulnerable sources. This study examines water quality trends across three distinct Arctic contexts: (1) Arctic glaciers, (2) the Yukon River Basin (YRB), encompassing a five-year dataset (2019-2023) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), sulfate, and stable water isotopes (δ2H, δ18O, and d-excess) across varying permafrost regions and seasons, and (3) Shishmaref, Alaska, where a washeteria-based drinking water system is affected by environmental and seasonal changes triggered by climate change and coastal erosion. By addressing both regional hydrology and community-specific challenges, the study …

Measuring Arctic Ground Squirrel Adult Neurogenesis In Caudal Hippocampus Using Dab/Dab-Ni Enzyme-Based Immunohistochemistry, Vy L. Nguyen

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Unconscious patients who are resuscitated after cardiac arrest often have a poor prognosis for neurological recovery and are routinely treated with therapeutic hypothermia as a standard of care. This intervention aims to reduce the risk of death and minimize brain damage. However, results from the Targeted Temperature Management 2 (TTM2) trial in 2021 indicate that cooling does not improve neurological outcomes in these patients. This finding raises questions about the neurological benefits, particularly regarding neurogenesis, of the rewarming phase of therapeutic hypothermia, as well as the effects of repeated cooling and rewarming cycles. Neurogenesis has been largely overlooked in therapeutic …

Understanding Secondary Atmospheric Chemistry In Extremely Cold And Dark Environments Through Hydroxymethanesulfonate (Hms) Measurements In Wintertime Fairbanks, Alaska, James R. Campbell

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Fairbanks, Alaska is a subarctic city that regularly violates PM2.5 air quality standards in the winter, exacerbated by strong wintertime inversion layers and wood stove heating. While primary sources of PM2.5 in Fairbanks have been studied extensively, secondary chemistry remains not well understood. Here, we focus on the aqueous secondary product hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS), a major sulfur(IV) particulate species, to help understand what drives secondary pollution in Fairbanks. In 2020 and 2021, we used a particle-into-liquid sampler coupled with ion chromatography (PILS-IC) to measure HMS and sulfate concentrations. We report that HMS concentrations are high compared to other highly polluted regions …

Gwich'in Athabascan Storybook For Primary Classrooms: Integrating Alaska Native Language And Culture Into Language Arts Curriculum, Lin Vandyke

Education

The problem addressed by this project is the lack of high-quality children’s literature that accurately embodies Alaska Native culture, specifically Gwich’in Athabascan culture, that can be used in primary classrooms. The significance of this topic is the need for materials that Alaska Native students can connect with on a personal level and that can create a greater understanding of Native culture for all individuals. The work was completed in July of 2025. The important implications of this project are the availability of an easy-to-use storybook and connected resources to read with students and have quality discussions about Athabascan language and …

Alaska Earthquake Center Quarterly Review January-March 2025, Heather Mcfarlin, Will Dienstfrey, Alexandra Farrell, Beth Grassi, Stephen Holtkamp, Nate Murphy, Elisabeth Nadin, Carolyn Parcheta, Angelica Stabs, Michael West

Alaska Earthquake Center Reports

This series of technical quarterly reports from the Alaska Earthquake Center (AEC) includes detailed summaries and updates on Alaska seismicity, the AEC seismic network and stations, fieldwork, our online presence, public outreach, and lists publications and presentations by AEC staff. Multiple AEC staff members contributed to this report.

In Silico Investigations Of Class Ii Trans Activator (Ciita): Its Plausible Implications In Neuroinflammation And Neurological Disorders, Kishore N

Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation plays a significant role in maintaining homeostasis. Neuroinflammation is a chronic inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to brain or spinal cord dysfunction. To promote mental health, it is crucial to understand the regulation of neuroinflammation. Class II transactivator (CIITA) is a master-regulator of the major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII).

Modulation of CIITA has been suggested as a promising intervention for inflammatory conditions, including neurological disorders. However, there is limited knowledge about the role of CIITA and its interactors in inflammation. This study aimed to understand the role of CIITA in neuroinflammation and neurological disorders using …

Detailed Modelling And Analysis Of A Shake Table Comprising Hybrid Actuation And Load-Balancing Mechanism, Xavier Reni Prasad

Theses and Dissertations

Catastrophic earthquakes endanger human lives by severely damaging critical infrastructure such as nuclear plants, bio-laboratories, and bridges. Developing earthquake-resistant structures is vital to mitigate these risks. Shake tables replicate recorded earthquake ground motions to assess structural performance. This research presents a novel three-legged, six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) hybrid shake table with a cost-effective design and decoupled motion control, offering a viable alternative to conventional six-legged models.

This architecture effectively decouples actuator motions by employing hydraulic actuators for 3-DOF spatial movement and electromechanical actuators for 3-DOF planar motion. Servo-hydraulic actuators support the static payload against gravity, while lightweight electromechanical actuators …

Computational Studies On The Major Antioxidant Enzymes Of Wuchereria Bancrofti Towards The Development Of Anti Filarial Leads, Sureshan M

Theses and Dissertations

Lymphatic filariasis (LF), or elephantiasis, is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease affecting the lymphatic system, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. It is the second leading cause of long-term disability and a neglected tropical disease. According to WHO, LF threatens 882 million people in 44 countries, with over 9 billion treatments administered. The disease is caused by three nematodes: Wuchereria bancrofti (90% of cases worldwide, including India), Brugia malayi (10% in Southeast and Eastern Asia), and Brugia timori (found in Timor and nearby islands). Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an ancient disease that continues to challenge scientists and physicians. Current treatments include …

Hindcasting The Occurrence Time Of Major Earthquakes Using Machine Learning And Time Series Analysis, Rubidha Devi D

Theses and Dissertations

An earthquake is an intense shaking of the ground that typically occurs when tectonic plates move beneath the surface of the Earth. Scientists analyze historical seismic records and geophysical and atmospheric signs to build models estimating the probability of major earthquakes by detecting patterns and anomalies in data such as ground deformation and seismic waves. This study would help in predicting earthquakes to minimize risks of people and buildings. The present study investigates the devastating earthquakes along the Chilean subduction zone in South America, linking non-seismic data to machine learning predictions of Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) and Relative Humidity (RH) …

Fabrication Of Protein-Based Nanomicelle Against Inflamed Synoviocytes In Rheumatoid Arthritis, Madhumithra Thangadurai

Theses and Dissertations

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by persistent synovial inflammation, progressive cartilage and bone destruction, and systemic complications. 1% of the global population are affected by RA, when their immune system targets synovial tissues, leading to joint pain, swelling, and functional disability. Standard treatments, such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate (MTX), are limited by systemic toxicity and inconsistent patient responses, highlighting the need for improved therapies. This research work explores protein-glycosaminoglycan nanomicelles engineered using Zein with Chondroitin or carboxymethylated Dextran Sulfate as targeted drug delivery vehicles for RA.

MTX was encapsulated within these nanomicelles to …

Perspectives On Northern Gulf Of Alaska Freshwater Pathways, Wind, And Linkages To Phytoplankton Biomass, Isaac Reister

Oceanography

The biologically productive northern Gulf of Alaska continental shelf receives freshwater from surrounding watersheds and wind stress from atmospheric pressure systems. A better characterization of the relationship between wind and salinity spatiotemporal variability is important for understanding the fate of freshwater and its ecological importance. In Chapter 2, I analyzed 25 years of northern Gulf of Alaska hydrographic data to reveal mid-shelf and shelf­ break freshwater pathways that impact stratification, currents, and freshwater distribution. Process studies of the Copper River plume’s propagation towards the shelf-break and beyond inform ecological function on the northern Gulf of Alaska shelf and productivity in …

Optimal Control And Inverse Problems For Partial Differential Equations And Variational Inequalities, Olha Sus

Mathematics and Statistics

This dissertation addresses optimal control problems for nonlinear evolutionary variational inequalities involving Volterra-type operators and inverse problems for the Dirac system on finite metric graphs. The first part presents the historical background, novelty, and motivation behind the research studies. In the second part, we focus on solving the initial value problem for nonlinear evolutionary variational inequalities with Volterra-type operators, proving the existence of a unique solution using the Banach fixed-point theorem. The third part explores an optimal control problem for these inequalities, establishing the existence of a solution under specific assumptions on the given data. In the last part of …

Educational Opportunities Of Participatory Gis For Accessibility On A College Campus, Shiya Cao, Heather Rosenfeld, Sarah Susnea

Statistical and Data Sciences: Faculty Publications

The educational benefits of Participatory GIS (PGIS) in geographic higher education have received limited direct attention, often because of the complexities of integrating PGIS into university curricula. While a few exceptions found important educational benefits of PGIS, extant studies focused primarily on the educational benefits for students who worked in the research teams, instead of participants who contributed their local knowledge and perspectives to mapping. Our research aims to understand the educational benefits of PGIS for participants in a campus accessibility mapping project using the modes of experiential learning, positionality, and service learning. Through this, we also provide strategies for …

@Egan Newsletter 2025 Convocation Edition, Kaia Henrickson, David Cox, Ramona Broussard, Jessy Goodman, Jennifer Ward

Egan Library News

No abstract provided.

Reanalysis And (Near) Real-Time Inversion Of Deformation Observations At Alaskan Volcanoes, Mario Fernando Angarita Vargas

Geosciences

Forecasting volcanic eruptions remains challenging due to the complexity and limited understand­ing of volcanic processes. However, recent studies have shown that integrating multidisciplinary data from past eruptions can improve forecasts for monitored volcanoes. The PREEVENTS project addresses this challenge identifying patterns prior, during or following volcanic eruptions on mul­tidisciplinary data. The project considers four disciplines: Geodesy, Petrology, Seismology and Gas/Geochemistry. This dissertation contributes with two novel tools to analyze geodetic data. The first tool exploits the amplitude from SAR imagery to quantify morphology changes during erup­tions. The tool has been verified with a synthetic case and validated with a dome …

Toward Multidisciplinary Volcanic Eruption Models And Forecasts In Alaska: Contributions From Automated Seismic And Acoustic Signal Detection, Darren Tan

Geosciences

Explosive, ash-generating volcanic eruptions pose an increasing threat to a growing, globally connected population. Accurate forecasts of volcanic eruptions remain challenging due to the complex­ity of volcanic systems, but recent multidisciplinary synthesis efforts have proven effective. The National Science Foundation Prediction of and Resilience against Extreme Events (PREEVENTS) project aims to re-analyze and combine multidisciplinary observations at eight Alaska volcanoes to develop eruption forecast models. Leading the seismology and infrasound discipline, this dis­sertation details the development of automated tools capable of producing high-resolution catalogs of volcanic unrest signals from continuous seismic and acoustic data. By leveraging these catalogs and synthesizing …

Strontium Isotope Movement Modeling Of Modern And Ancient Megafauna In Alaska, Audrey Rowe

Biological Sciences

Strontium isotope analysis is a technique that can be used to infer the geographic origin of biological materials. The strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of biological tissues can be matched to locations on a modeled strontium geographic distribution (“isoscape”) with similar 87Sr/86Sr. In this dissertation, I measured 87Sr/86Sr and other stable isotopes along the length of a mammoth tusk to model its lifetime movement and infer details about its food sources and nutritional status. I then adapted this modeling method to caribou tooth enamel to compare modern and premodern caribou space use in interior Alaska and built a new 87Sr/86Sr isoscape …

Investigation Of Dependency Parsing Techniques For Digital Document Analysis Through Deep Learning Approach, Rekah D Ms

Theses and Dissertations

Digital document dependency parsing is a significant task in natural language processing. Dependency parsing supports verification of the grammatical correctness of a sentence besides enabling extraction of relevant documents. Inappropriate extraction of features may result in falsely parsing a document, leading to decreased accuracy. Machine learning methods have been employed to perform feature extraction. However, selecting pertinent features was never achieved which minimizes the time consumption and overhead.

Hence, novel machine learning and deep learning techniques have been designed in our work for accurate and computationally efficient digital document analytics through dependency parsing. Four different contributions have been proposed for …

Evidentiary Practices In Arbitration: Need For A Minimum Framework, Krishnaja Olappamanna

Theses and Dissertations

Indian arbitration has emerged as a preferred method of dispute resolution, offering the benefits of flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and confidentiality over conventional litigation. Although this flexibility, more specifically in evidentiary matters, has brought procedural inconsistencies and uncertainties that detract from the enforceability of arbitral awards.

This is in line with Section 19 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996, which prohibits arbitral tribunals from following the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 or the Code of Civil Procedure of 1908. While the provision allows procedural autonomy, it also brings with it an uncertainty in the evidentiary process of arbitrations, mostly when …

Cyclone Intensity Prediction In The Bay Of Bengal Using Deep Learning Methods, Senthil Kumar J

Theses and Dissertations

The Bay of Bengal region's coastlines have been badly devastated by tropical cyclones, as the region experiences an average of five to six cyclones per year, with about two to three of these intensifying into tropical storms or severe cyclones. Thus it necessitates to study the accurate and efficient forecasting of their intensity to improve preparedness and response to natural disasters. The present study compares and examines three distinct approaches to cyclone intensity prediction using historical datasets from 1998 to 2020: hybrid optimisation, deep learning-based, and empirical approaches.The predicted accuracy, computational effectiveness, and feasibility for real-time scenarios of each model …

Investigations Of Secure Memory For Vlsi Based Crypto System, Vijay Sai R Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Semiconductor technology is growing very rapidly in their architectural developments, involving the usage of processor and memory. Presence of memory, in general is a vital commodity in various devices which are almost embedded into human activity, from robust work stations to handy mobile phones. Security of data stored in memory is very important, and hence, observation must be made that these valuable data should not be thwarted by malicious means. Security in cache memory is a major issue in memory related applications such as smart cards and bio-metric implementations.

Cache, is a small and limited memory located between central processing …

Benthic Community Composition And Ecosystem Function In Southern Kachemak Bay, Alaska, Jonah Jossart

Marine Biology

The benthic environment in southern Kachemak Bay, Alaska provides critical ecosystem services, processing organic matter from the land and the sea, and returning nutrients to the food web. In Kachemak Bay, concerns have arisen that marine agriculture (mariculture) operations in the form of salmon hatcheries and oyster farms may have negative impacts on the local environment. This thesis investigates the seafloor sediment environment to assess these potential impacts under salmon hatchery net pens in Tutka Bay Lagoon, and under an oyster farm in Jakolof Bay. We found that beneath the net pens, high waste inputs of fish food, feces and …

Dissolved And Particulate Nutrient Dynamics In The Northern Gulf Of Alaska: A Productive Subarctic Shelf Ecosystem, Emily Ortega

Oceanography

The Northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA) is a biologically productive system, culturally and economically sustaining Alaska’s coastal communities, with inorganic nutrients as an important foundation of this important food web. Nonetheless, seasonal cycles, interannual variability, and nutrient chemistry all influence nutrient dynamics, creating challenges in the overall understanding of the NGA ecosystem and the resources it provides. Therefore, this work examines nutrient sources, sinks, and trends over time and location to identify and explain key nutrient dynamics within the NGA. One key process is the exchange between dissolved (potentially bioavailable) and particulate nutrients that is examined in Chapters Two and …

Seasonal Predictability Of Sea Ice And Boreal Fire In Alaska, Cecilia Borries-Strigle

Atmospheric Sciences

Attribution studies have shown that warming Arctic temperatures have led to a substantial loss of sea ice and an increase in large wildfire seasons. With wildfire and sea ice decline impacting everyday life by disrupting transportation or damaging infrastructure, for example, a clear need for skillful forecasts at seasonal timescales has emerged. This dissertation addresses critical challenges in seasonal prediction for wildfire and sea ice in Alaska. The first study evaluates outlooks of Buildup Index derived from three seasonal forecasts to assess their skill in predicting fire conditions. Forecast skill is greatest during the wind (April 1-June 10) and drought …

An Investigation Of Ichthyophonus Infection Related In-River Mortality In Yukon River Chinook Salmon From Multiple Knowledge Systems: Indigenous, Local, And Western Science, Keith D. Herron

Fisheries

The recent historic low salmon returns in the Yukon River contribute to an ongoing humanitarian crisis for subsistence users and Indigenous Peoples with cultural and well-being ties to salmon. After over a decade of relative calm, the marine parasite Ichthyophonus has undergone a resurgence and is once again infecting Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; king; Taryaqvak; Ggaal; Gath; Łuk choo, hereafter referred to as king salmon) at high rates, with currently unknown consequences for survival of migrating adults. This thesis pairs multiple knowledge systems to assess the prevalence, severity, and impact of Ichthyophonus on adult Yukon River king salmon …

Factors Affecting Nest And Brood Survival Of Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus Muta) In Interior Alaska, Robert Wiltzen

Biological Sciences

Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) are a circumpolar species endemic to high elevations and latitudes of North America and are common throughout Alaska. The r- selected life history of ptarmigan indicates that reproduction and specifically nest and brood survival is the most important component of population growth. However, factors affecting these population parameters have not been studied extensively or intensively, since there have only been three studies done in Alaska. Rock ptarmigan exhibit population fluctuations, which may be caused by changes in reproduction and survival due to predation and weather events. Warming climatic patterns and shifts in the range of their …

Post-Fire Riverscapes: Exploring The Ecological And Behavioral Responses Of Stream Communities To Wildfire In Boreal Streams, Elizabeth Geraldine Hinkle

Fisheries

Wildfire is the dominant disturbance in boreal forest ecosystems, and its frequency and severity are increasing with climate change. This dissertation examines how wildfire affects boreal stream habitats, food webs, and fish movement across spatial and temporal scales in interior Alaska. In Chapter 2, I compared burned and unburned streams 10 to 15 years post-fire using habitat survey, water chemistry, and aquatic community composition data. Burned sites had marginally significant lower canopy cover (-19.6%, p = 0.095), coarser substrate (+23.7 mm, p = 0.102), and higher macroinvertebrate abundance (626 ± 361 vs. 331 ± 349 individuals/m2, p = 0.03); fish …

Navigating The Psychosocial Landscape Of Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome: An Autobiographic Case Study, Jessica D. Locke, Jason T. Eastman

Sociology

Living with a rare disorder, such as Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (EDS), presents unique psychosocial challenges. This autobiographical case study explores the psychological, social, and professional impacts of navigating life with hypermobile EDS (hEDS), a condition marked by chronic pain, joint instability, and diagnostic uncertainty. Placing personal experiences into the context of clinical findings and research, this study highlights both the physical and emotional toll of the syndrome, including stigma, isolation, and medical gaslighting often accompanying rare conditions. The first-person case study of the first author extracted by the second author experienced in qualitative interviewing provides a first-hand account of the importance …

Endorsing And Revising Peace Accords: The Outlet For Ontological Tensions In Peace Endorsement, Ian Niccolo V. Tobia

European Studies Department Faculty Publications

This essay elucidates peace accord revisions as a theorized mechanism for reducing ontological tensions in the peace endorsement phase. It begins by addressing a critical gap in peace scholarship: the ontological underpinnings of "peace endorsement," or the moment when a peace accord is subjected to democratic validation. While liberal peacebuilding approaches typically design democracy into a vehicle for minimizing conflict and securing popular consensus, these often diminish legitimate opposition to peace accords as "spoiling". Drawing on Mouffe's theory of agonistic pluralism, the discussion shines a light on the tension between liberal peacebuilding's emphasis on consensus-building and alternative democratic political ontologies …

Differences In Fitness Between Cadet And General Population Firefighter Academy Recruits, Scott D. Brau, David Cornell, Benjamin J. Mendelson, Rudi A. Marciniak, Kyle Ebersole

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 774-793, 2025. This longitudinal study explored entry route- and age-related fitness differences between cadet (CR) and general population (GR) firefighter recruits. Fitness data were collected from eight separate firefighter recruit academy cohorts (N = 317; 122 CR, 195 GR; 27.17 ± 7.58 yrs, 177.30 ± 8.72 cm, 88.65 ± 17.78 kg). In the first week of the academy, recruits completed an assessment battery including: body composition via skinfold measures to estimate body fat (BF, %) and fat-free mass (FFM, kg); aerobic fitness (VO_2peak, mL· kg^-1· min^-1) and …