Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Utilizing Few-Shot Meta Learning Algorithms For Medical Image Segmentation, Nick Littlefield

Thinking Matters Student Research Symposium

Deep learning models can be difficult to train because they require large amounts of data, which we usually do not have or are too expensive to get or annotate. To overcome this problem, we can use few-shot meta-learning, which allows us to train deep learning models with little data. Using a few examples, meta-learning, or learning-to-learn, aims to use the experience learned during training to generalize to unknown tasks. Medical imaging is an industry where it is particularly useful, as there is limited publicly available data due to patient privacy concerns and annotating costs.

This project examines how meta-learning performs …

Analysis Of Maine’S Coastal Water And Soil Solidity, Corbin Glover

Thinking Matters Student Research Symposium

Much of the agriculture conducted in Maine is done near the southeastern coast. This situates many of Maine’s farms in an ecoregion called a ‘brackish tidal marsh,’ containing brackish water. Brackish water can then result in an increasing salinity content for the surrounding agricultural soil, causing complications for crop growth. This proof-of-concept project focuses on identifying the gradient levels of salinity, or EC (Electric Conductivity), contained within a small region of Casco bay. This project's data were collected from the Androscoggin River bordering Brunswick and Bath, Maine. Along this river, three plots were selected in order to gauge the longer …

The Economic Value Of Sea Otters And Recreational Tourism In A California Estuary, Jessica A. Fujii, Charles S. Colgan, Anthony Castelletto, Michelle M. Staedler, Amy G. Wolfrum, Kyle S. Van Houtan

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

The recovery of marine megafauna can lead to improved ecosystem function and services, but not all stakeholders may benefit equally. Quantifying the local economic value of a species’ presence may appeal to broader range of stakeholders when developing conservation strategies. This study aims to examine the economic effect recreational activities can have on a local region, and to determine what role the presence of southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) had on the value visitors placed on the visit and the area’s preservation. We surveyed visitors to Elkhorn Slough, a small estuary in California known for diverse wildlife, …

How Land Surface Characteristics Influence The Development Of Flash Drought Through The Drivers Of Soil Moisture And Vapor Pressure Deficit, Lauren E. L. Lowman, Jordan I. Christian, Eric Hunt

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

As global mean temperature rises, extreme drought events are expected to increasingly affect regions of the United States that are crucial for agriculture, forestry, and natural ecology. A pressing need is to understand and anticipate the conditions under which extreme drought causes catastrophic failure to vegetation in these areas. To better predict drought impacts on ecosystems, we first must understand how specific drivers, namely, atmospheric aridity and soil water stress, affect land surface processes during the evolution of flash drought events. In this study, we evaluated when vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and soil moisture thresholds corresponding to photosynthetic shutdown were …

Multiple‑Point Statistical Modeling Of Three‑Dimensional Glacial Aquifer Heterogeneity For Improved Groundwater Management, Nafyad Serre Kawo, Jesse T. Korus Dr., Mats Lundh Gulbrandsen

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Quaternary glacial aquifers are important water sources for irrigation in many agricultural regions, including eastern Nebraska, USA. Quaternary glacial aquifers are heterogeneous, with juxtaposed low-permeability and high-permeability hydrofacies. Managing groundwater in such aquifers requires a realistic groundwater-flow model parameterization, and characterization of the aquifer geometry, spatial distribution of aquifer properties, and local aquifer interconnectedness. Despite its importance in considering uncertainty during decision-making, hydrofacies probabilities generated from multiple-point statistics (MPS) are not widely applied for groundwater model parameterization and groundwater management zone delineation. This study used a combination of soft data, a cognitive training image, and hard data to generate 100 …

Developing A Slow-Release Permanganate Composite For Degrading Aquaculture Antibiotics, Chainarong Sakulthaew, Chanat Chokejaroenrat, Sidaporn Panya, Apisit Songsasen, Kitipong Poomipuen, Saksit Imman, Nopparat Suriyachai, Torpong Kreetachat, Steven Comfort

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Copious use of antibiotics in aquaculture farming systems has resulted in surface water contamination in some countries. Our objective was to develop a slow-release oxidant that could be used in situ to reduce antibiotic concentrations in discharges from aquaculture lagoons. We accomplished this by generating a slow-release permanganate (SR-MnO₄^-) that was composed of a biodegradable wax and a phosphate-based dispersing agent. Sulfadimethoxine (SDM) and its synergistic antibiotics were used as representative surrogates. Kinetic experiments verified that the antibiotic-MnO₄^- reactions were first-order with respect to MnO₄^- and initial antibiotic concentration (second-order rates: 0.056–0.128 s …

The Association Between Drought Exposure And Respiratory-Related Mortality In The United States From 2000 To 2018, Yeongjin Gwon, Yuanyuan Ji, Jesse E. Bell, Azar M. Abadi, Jesse D. Berman, Austin Rau, Ronald D. Leeper, Jared Rennie

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Climate change has brought increasing attention to the assessment of health risks associated with climate and extreme events. Drought is a complex climate phenomenon that has been increasing in frequency and severity both locally and globally due to climate change. However, the health risks of drought are often overlooked, especially in places such as the United States, as the pathways to health impacts are complex and indirect. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the effects of monthly drought exposure on respiratory mortality for NOAA climate regions in the United States from 2000 to 2018. A two-stage model …

Joint Flood Risks In The Grand River Watershed, Poornima Unnikrishnan, Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam, Nirupama Agrawal, Fakhri Karray

Machine Learning Faculty Publications

According to the World Meteorological Organization, since 2000, there has been an increase in global flood-related disasters by 134 percent compared to the previous decades. Efficient flood risk management strategies necessitate a holistic approach to evaluating flood vulnerabilities and risks. Catastrophic losses can occur when the peak flow values in the rivers in a basin coincide. Therefore, estimating the joint flood risks in a region is vital, especially when frequent occurrences of extreme events are experienced. This study focuses on estimating the joint flood risks due to river flow extremes in the Grand River watershed in Canada. For this purpose, …

A Streptomyces Tendae Specialized Metabolite Inhibits Quorum Sensing In Group A Streptococcus, Vanessa M. Nepomuceno, Kaitlyn M. Tylor, Skylar Carlson, Michael J. Federle, Brian T. Murphy, Tiara Perez Morales

Pacific Faculty Work

Quorum sensing (QS) is a means of bacterial communication accomplished by microbe-produced signals and sensory systems. QS systems regulate important population-wide behaviors in bacteria, including secondary metabolite production, swarming motility, and bioluminescence. The human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) utilizes Rgg-SHP QS systems to regulate biofilm formation, protease production, and activation of cryptic competence pathways. Given their reliance on small-molecule signals, QS systems are attractive targets for small-molecule modulators that would then affect gene expression. In this study, a high-throughput luciferase assay was employed to screen an Actinobacteria-derived secondary metabolite (SM) fraction library to identify small molecule inhibitors …

Hamiltonian Monte Carlo For Reconstructing Historical Earthquake-Induced Tsunamis, Jacob Paul Callahan

Theses and Dissertations

In many areas of the world, seismic hazards pose a great risk to both human and natural populations. In particular, earthquake-induced tsunamis are especially dangerous to many areas in the Pacific. The study and quantification of these seismic events can both help scientists better understand how these natural hazards occur and help at-risk populations make better preparations for these events. However, many events of interest occurred too long ago to be recorded by modern instruments, so data on these earthquakes are sparse and unreliable. To remedy this, a Bayesian method for reconstructing the source earthquakes for these historical tsunamis based …

A Structural Analysis Of The Simpson Mountains, Hyrum A. Briscoe

Theses and Dissertations

The Simpson Mountains have long been of economic interest and have renewed interest in their potential value. Field mapping of the project area redefined structural relationships between stratigraphic units. Geometric and kinematic analysis of structures in the Simpson Mountains show the range is deformed by the three most recent tectonic events: the Sevier Orogeny, the Laramide Orogeny, and Basin and Range Extension. Laramide structures define the range with a significant E-W normal fault and an E-W thrust fault, which are both likely related to Eocene-age igneous intrusions. Principal component analysis (PCA) of regional quartzite X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) data resulted in …

The Future Of Indiana’S Water Resources: A Report From The Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment, Keith Cherkauer, Robert Barr, Laura C. Bowling, Kyuhyun Byun, Indrajeet Chaubey, Natalie Chin, Chun-Mei Chiu, Darren Ficklin, Alan Hamlet, Stephen Kines, Charlotte Lee, Ram Neupane, Garett Pignotti, Sanoar Rahman, Sarmistha Singh, Pandara Valappil Femeena, Tanja Williamson, Melissa Widhalm, Jeffrey Dukes

Water Report

This report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment (IN CCIA) applies climate change projections for the state to explore how continued changes in Indiana’s climate are going to affect all aspects of water resources, including soil water, evaporation, runoff, snow cover, streamflow, drought, and flooding. As local temperatures continue to rise and rainfall patterns shift, managing the multiple water needs of communities, natural systems, recreation, industry, and agriculture will become increasingly difficult. Ensuring that enough water is available in the right places and at the right times will require awareness of Indiana’s changing water resources and planning at regional …

|Draft Final 2023 Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap) Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) Annual Update (Non-Residential Parcels), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Preliminary Data Of Potentially Hazardous Radon Concentrations In Modrič Cave (Croatia), Robert Lončarić, Vanja Radolić, Maša Surić, Igor Miklavčić, Matea Šatalić, Dalibor Paar, Lukrecija Obšivač

International Journal of Speleology

Instigated by relatively high cave-air CO₂ concentrations in Modrič Cave (Croatia) recorded for the purpose of speleothem-based paleoclimate research, we established preliminary monitoring of radon (²²²Rn) concentrations within the cave for a 4.5-year period (2018–2022). As radioactive geogenic gas, radon, which often correlates with cave-air CO₂ concentrations, presents a potential health hazard in cases of longer exposure time in high concentration conditions. Since the Modrič Cave is open to tourists and long-term scientific research has been performed within, a safety assessment for radon concentrations was essential. The integrated measurements of radon concentrations were performed by passive …

Creating Regression Model For Non-Markov Transition Probability Using Pseudo-Observations, Michael Gray

Dissertations and Theses

A multi-state model is a graphical tool widely used to illustrate a transitional relationship between states in many applications. We will study the transition probabilities of an illness-death model, which is an example of a multi-state model. We will investigate transition probabilities using a counting process approach. Aalen-Johansen estimator is the gold-standard in estimating a transition probability. However, Aalen-Johansen estimator may be biased when the Markov assumption is violated. Therefore, Aalen-Johansen estimator is an unreliable estimator when the Markov assumption is violated. Several papers have published non-parametric estimators that accommodate for non-Markov models using a counting process approach.

Furthermore, there …

Constraints On The Cosmic Expansion History From Gwtc–3, R. Abbott, H. Abe, F. Acernese, K. Ackley, N. Adhikari, Michael G. Benjamin, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Francisco Llamas, Soma Mukherjee, Gaukhar Nurbek, Volker Quetschke, Wenhui Wang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We use 47 gravitational wave sources from the Third LIGO–Virgo–Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector Gravitational Wave Transient Catalog (GWTC–3) to estimate the Hubble parameter H(z), including its current value, the Hubble constant H0. Each gravitational wave (GW) signal provides the luminosity distance to the source, and we estimate the corresponding redshift using two methods: the redshifted masses and a galaxy catalog. Using the binary black hole (BBH) redshifted masses, we simultaneously infer the source mass distribution and H(z). The source mass distribution displays a peak around 34 M⊙, followed by a drop-off. Assuming …

A Novel Driver Emotion Recognition System Based On Deep Ensemble Classification, Khalid Zaman, Sun Zhaoyun, Babar Shah, Tariq Hussain, Sayyed Mudassar Shah, Farman Ali, Umer Sadiq Khan

All Works

Driver emotion classification is an important topic that can raise awareness of driving habits because many drivers are overconfident and unaware of their bad driving habits. Drivers will acquire insight into their poor driving behaviors and be better able to avoid future accidents if their behavior is automatically identified. In this paper, we use different models such as convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, and multi-layer perceptron classification models to construct an ensemble convolutional neural network-based enhanced driver facial expression recognition model. First, the faces of the drivers are discovered using the faster region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN) model, which …

Machine Learning In Action: Exploring Examples In Multiple Domains, German Harvey Alferez

Achieve

Machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, is an exciting and fast-moving field in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Machine learning studies computer algorithms that use a variety of approaches to automatically learn from experience and improve the prediction of a target state, without explicit programming. In this presentation, you will learn about the theoretical foundations of machine learning and how to apply it to solve relevant problems. Special attention will be given to describing the potential of deep learning. This presentation will be illustrated with examples from research projects on geoscience, medicine 4.0, and other areas of …

Dynamical Polymer Chain Heterogeneities And Their Impacts On The Glass Transition, William Forrest Drayer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The utilization of polymeric materials has endured since prehistory, at first unknowinglyin the form of natural biopolymers such as wood and leather, culminating and continuing through the development of the plastics industry in the early twentieth century. Polymers, along with other materials including silicate glasses, readily exhibit the glass transition upon quenching: a continuous but rapid change from viscous (liquid) to elastic (solid) behavior. The physics surrounding the glass transition have been studied for over a century; while considerable progress has been made, there remains no universally accepted predictive theory of the glass transition. Modern development of glassy materials consists …

Updating The Dual C And O Isotope—Gas-Exchange Model: A Concept To Understand Plant Responses To The Environment And Its Implications For Tree Rings, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf, Marco M. Lehmann, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Olga V. Churakova (Sidorova), Cathleen Mirande-Ney, Galina Timoveeva, Rosmarie B. Weigt, Matthias Saurer

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The combined study of carbon (C) and oxygen (O) isotopes in plant organic matter has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding plant functional responses to environmental change. The approach relies on established relationships between leaf gas exchange and isotopic fractionation to derive a series of model scenarios that can be used to infer changes in photosynthetic assimilation and stomatal conductance driven by changes in environmental parameters (CO₂, water availability, air humidity, temperature, nutrients). We review the mechanistic basis for a conceptual model, in light of recently published research, and discuss where isotopic observations do not match our …

The Concept Of Slum Management Become A Tourism Zone In Kendari City, Joko Tri Brata

Smart City

This study aims to assess to find out how the public views the handling of slums in the Kendari City Coastal Area and how the sustainability of slum handling. This research is classified as a qualitative research type, by analyzing the area to be studied because this research is classified as an exploratory research type, by describing the condition and situation of the area that is the object of research. To answer the first research objective related to the pattern of slum handlers, a survey was conducted to find out the pattern of handling slums in Kendari City, carried out …

Coupling Dendroecological And Remote Sensing Techniques To Assess The Biophysical Traits Of Juniperus Virginiana And Pinus Ponderosa Within The Semi-Arid Grasslands Of The Nebraska Sandhills, R. Allen, Anastasios Mazis, Brian Wardlow, P. Cherubini, J. Hiller, David A. Wedin, Tala Awada

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Woody species encroachment is occurring within the semi-arid grasslands of the Nebraska Sandhills U.S., primarily driven by native Juniperus virginiana and Pinus ponderosa, altering ecosystems and the services they provide. Effective, low cost, and cross-scale monitoring of woody species growth and performance is necessary for integrated grassland and forest management in the face of climate variability and change. In this study, we sought to establish a relationship between remote sensing-derived vegetation indices (VIs), tree dendrochronological (raw and standardized tree ring width) measurements, and the abiotic environment [(precipitation, temperature, Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), and soil water content (0–300 cm …

An Electric Vehicle Analysis Model For Sustainable Environment In Devoicing Nationals, Nada A. Nabeeh, Karam M. Sallam, Ali Wagdy Mohamed

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

The usage of fossil fuels is regarded as the generation of energy alternative towards electric vehicles (EVs) in third-world nations for a cleaner transportation sector. The rapid development of EVs is the most effective solution, even if the short-term ecological benefits for third-world nations cannot cover the short-term expenses. Since ecological issues have opened the door for certain developing nations to catch up to the worldwide competition, it is important to weigh other options to bring EVs to the marketplace. Hence, the study proposes a model of neutrosophic set combined with entropy to deal with uncertain cases. The proposed model …

Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium Correlation With Geochemical Characteristics Of Soil And Basalt In Hawaii, Leeza Marie Wells

Theses and Dissertations

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cause opportunistic lung disease though environmental exposure pathways. Among the United States, Hawaii has a significantly higher infection rate. Preliminary studies have shown certain environmental factors, such as phosphorus and other select soil geochemical characteristics, to be statistically significant to NTM occurrence. However, a model to predict NTM occurrence based on soil geochemistry had yet to be attempted. A selection of 40 NTM positive and 40 NTM negative soils from Oahu were selected for a geochemical analysis to search for possible correlations to mineralogy and elemental abundances that may promote, or inhibit, NTM growth in the environment. …

Adversary Aware Continual Learning, Muhammad Umer

Theses and Dissertations

Continual learning approaches are useful as they help the model to learn new information (classes) sequentially, while also retaining the previously acquired information (classes). However, these approaches are adversary agnostic, i.e., they do not consider the possibility of malicious attacks. In this dissertation, we have demonstrated that continual learning approaches are extremely vulnerable to the adversarial backdoor attacks, where an intelligent adversary can introduce small amount of misinformation to the model in the form of imperceptible backdoor pattern during training to cause deliberate forgetting of a specific class at test time. We then propose a novel defensive framework to counter …

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) 2023 Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Areas Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated April 20, 2023), Nikia Greene

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) 2023 Draft Final Unreclaimed Sites Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated May 05, 2023), Nikia Greene

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

2023 Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Math Attitudes And Identity Of High Schoolers Impacted Through Participating In Informal, Near-Peer Mentoring, Aaron T. Wilson, Xiaohui Wang, Mayra Ortiz Galarza, John Knight, Eliazar Patiño

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Research in mentoring has shown that students may at times be more willing and able to absorb information that is delivered to them by their near-peers, rather than by traditional figures of authority, like teachers and professors. In this study, underrepresented minority high school students participated in an informal learning experience that was led by college students who were "near-peers" to the high schoolers. Students were engaged by participating in interactive MathShows, following a Math Social Media Campaign, and attending a summer Math Internship. Participants in the quantitative component of the study included N = 559 U.S. high schoolers who …

Survival Times And Investment Analysis With Dynamic Learning, Zhenzhen Li

Dissertations and Theses

The central statistical problem of survival analysis is to determine and characterize the conditional distribution of a survival time given a history of some observed health markers.

This dissertation contributes to the modeling of such conditional distributions in a setup where the health markers evolve randomly over time in a manner that can be represented by an Ito stochastic process, that is, a stochastic process that can be written as a sum of a time integral of some stochastic process and an Ito integral of some stochastic process, with both integrands subject to certain restrictions.

The random survival time is …