Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Quantitative Visualization Tool For The Assessment Of Mammographic Risky Dense Tissue Types, Margaret R. Mccarthy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is the second most occurring cancer type and is ranked fifth in terms of mortality. X-ray mammography is the most common methodology of breast imaging and can show radiographic signs of cancer, such as masses and calcifcations. From these mammograms, radiologists can also assess breast density, which is a known cancer risk factor. However, since not all dense tissue is cancer-prone, we hypothesize that dense tissue can be segregated into healthy vs. risky subtypes. We propose that risky dense tissue is associated with tissue microenvironment disorganization, which can be quantified via a computational characterization of the whole breast …

A Vector-Valued Trace Formula For Finite Groups, Miles Chasek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We derive a trace formula that can be used to study representations of a finite group G induced from arbitrary representations of a subgroup Γ. We restrict our attention to finite-dimensional representations over the field of complex numbers. We consider some applications and examples of our trace formula, including a proof of the well-known Frobenius reciprocity theorem.

Wave Attenuation Through Submerged Oyster Aquaculture Cages, Liam T. Hanley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coastal erosion presents a growing issue to shorelines around the world and is especially harmful to Maine, a region where sea-level rise is higher than the global average. Green and hybrid coastal defense strategies are being implemented around the country to provide sustainable, habitat-friendly solutions to erosion control. Maine is a hotspot for commercial aquaculture, with an estimated $13.6 million economic impact. This study looks to bridge the gap between Maine aquaculture and the living shorelines initiative, by determining the wave attenuating properties of submerged oyster cages. The project will be able to inform local oyster farmers, resource planners, and …

A Bi-Hemispheric Perspective On The Last Glacial Maximum And Termination Using 10be Surface-Exposure Chronologies From An Interhemispheric Asia-Zealandia Transect, Peter Strand

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Late-Pleistocene glacial cycles represent the largest natural changes to Earth’s climate over the past one million years, and yet determining the underlying drivers remains a major mystery in paleoclimate. The observation of generally synchronous glaciation and deglaciation between the polar hemispheres (Mercer, 1984) runs contrary to long-standing ice age theory (e.g. Milankovitch, 1941), and was recently dubbed ‘Mercer’s Paradox’ (Denton et al., 2021). In this thesis I derive regional climate records from mountain glaciers along an interhemispheric Australasian transect, extending from the Mongolian Altai to the Southern Alps of New Zealand, to test the existence of Mercer’s Paradox in the …

Nanocellulose Based Foams For Low-Cost Disposable Medical Applications, Dominic Kugell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polyurethane foams have been a staple material for their use in medical positioners, such as post-surgery elevation pillows as well as specific tailored positioners for their use during surgery. Polyurethane foams are preferred because of their lower cost compared to other petroleum derived foams, their versatility, and suitable mechanical properties. However, the environmental impact, including both cost and perception, of these foams is immense. Therefore, alternatives are being explored with biopolymers emerging as a promising class of materials. Cellulose is one such polymer that has recently demonstrated desirable properties. In this study, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), a household foaming agent, and …

A Proposed Artificial Intelligence Model For Android-Malware Detection, Fatma Taher, Omar Al Fandi, Mousa Al Kfairy, Hussam Al Hamadi, Saed Alrabaee

All Works

There are a variety of reasons why smartphones have grown so pervasive in our daily lives. While their benefits are undeniable, Android users must be vigilant against malicious apps. The goal of this study was to develop a broad framework for detecting Android malware using multiple deep learning classifiers; this framework was given the name DroidMDetection. To provide precise, dynamic, Android malware detection and clustering of different families of malware, the framework makes use of unique methodologies built based on deep learning and natural language processing (NLP) techniques. When compared to other similar works, DroidMDetection (1) uses API calls and …

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Unreclaimed Sites – Field Sampling Plan (Fsp) Ur 42 – Area Near Walkerville Playground, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Collaborative And Engaged Research To Strengthen Equity And Adaptive Governance In Co-Managed Fisheries, Gabrielle V. Hillyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Small-scale, co-managed fisheries are found throughout the world and often represent intertwining cultures, societies, communities, economies, institutions, and governments. They face complex issues, derived from ecological and social sources. Solving these issues requires diverse expertise, often developed through engaged methodologies which can facilitate collaborative solution creation between researchers, community members, and others. In this dissertation, I demonstrate the benefits of these engaged methodologies and review how they, when coupled with anticolonial approaches to research, can create more equitable solutions to complex issues. This dissertation focuses on multiple projects within the wild clam fishery in Maine including: (1) the creation of …

Longitudinal Case-Control Study Of Mammographic Breast Tissue Subtypes, Kendra Batchelder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Breast density is a known risk factor for breast cancer. However, there has been limited research on potential subtypes of mammographic dense breast tissue to identify areas of active dense tissue that is structurally reorganizing and links to cancer dynamics, versus areas of passive dense tissue which remains organized. We hypothesize that the amounts of subtypes of mammographic dense tissue and the associated rate of change through time could provide insights into breast cancer risk. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate breast cancer using longitudinal screening mammograms and accompanying pathology reports collected in 2015. Patients were matched by age …

Integrating Environmental Dna, Traditional Fisheries Techniques, And Species Distribution Modeling To Assess Bridle Shiner Status In Maine, Lara S. Katz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus) is a small minnow species native to the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. The species is declining dramatically throughout most of its native range and has legal protection or concern status in thirteen states and two Canadian provinces. In Maine, the bridle shiner is listed as a Species of Special Concern and considered a Species of Greatest Conservation Need, partially because we lack a basic understanding of their status and distribution within the state. Bridle shiners have historically been found in southern and western Maine in densely vegetated, shallow habitats along the …

Electrochemistry, Oxidative Mediation, And Evaluation Of Medicinal Activity For A Series Of Triphenyl And Tri(2-Furyl) Phosphine Gold(I) Thiolate Complexes., Shyam Pokhrel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gold(I) thiolate complexes have received a lot of interest in drug development due to their promising antiarthritic, antimicrobial, and antitumor properties. Among them, auranofin [(tetra-O-acetyl-D-glucopyranosyl)-thio(triethyl phosphine)-gold(I)] which was approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in 1985, is an important, medicinally active compound. Recently, researchers have focused on repurposing auranofin for other medicinal applications, as well as developing alternative phosphine gold(I) thiolate complexes for medicinal purposes.

This thesis presents the synthesis and characterization of a series of twelve phosphine gold(I) thiolate complexes of the general formula, R3PAuSR’ where R= phenyl or tri(2-furyl) and SR’ = (2-pyridyl thiol, 2, 2’-mercaptopyrimidine thiol, …

Expanding Glycomic Investigations Through Thiol-Derivatized Glycans, Robert Hurst

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

N-(2-thioethyl)-2-aminobenzamide (TEAB), a novel glycan auxiliary, was synthesized and its utility was evaluated. The auxiliary was conjugated to glycans by reductive amination with the water-stable reagent 2-picoline borane complex. Glycan products, which ranged from 1 to 7 linked hexoses, were all isolated in yields ranging from 60% to 90% after purification by reverse-phase chromatography. The novel conjugate introduces a convenient, shelf-stable thiol directly onto the desired free glycans with purification advantages and direct modification with efficient reactions through alkenes, halides, epoxides, disulfides, and carboxylates in yields of 49% to 93%. Subsequently, a thiol-selective modification of the BSA protein was used …

The Response Of The Zooplankton Community In The Western Gulf Of Maine To A Shift In Oceanographic Conditions: 2005-2017, Emma Cecile Dullaert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf of Maine (GoM) harbors a productive ecosystem that supports a wide variety of marine life, providing services upon which local communities rely. The GoM ecosystem supports many important commercially harvested species, including the American lobster (Homerus americanus) which is the most valuable fishery in the US, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and a variety of groundfish. The GoM is also home to the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), which has historically been known to feed in the eastern GoM and Bay of Fundy during the summer and fall months. In …

The Radical Relationality Of Complex Partnerships: Community-Member Experiences In Critical Community-Based Learning, Amie Riley

Dissertations and Theses

Through a radical relationality within the social-ecological systems that sustain us, critical community-based learning (CBL) in higher education offers a praxis for engaging the demanding pedagogical and community challenges we face. When CBL is implemented as both a critical and sustainability pedagogy, as a strategy for social change, the relationships created by CBL partnerships have the potential to generate transformational outcomes for all partnership agents. Using a critical complexity theoretical framework, a bricolage of complexity science and critical theory, this critical qualitative study sought to understand the systemic patterns and behaviors of a community-based learning partnership by elevating community-member voices. …

Additive Effects Of Cyclic Peptide [R4w4] When Added Alongside Azithromycin And Rifampicin Against Mycobacterium Avium Infection, Melissa Kelley, Kayvan Sasaninia, Arbi Abnousian, Ali Badaoui, James Owens, Abrianna Beever, Nala Kachour, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari, Vishwanath Venketaraman

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Mycobacterium avium (M. avium), a type of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), poses a risk for pulmonary infections and disseminated infections in immunocompromised individuals. Conventional treatment consists of a 12-month regimen of the first-line antibiotics rifampicin and azithromycin. However, the treatment duration and low antibiotic tolerability present challenges in the treatment of M. avium infection. Furthermore, the emergence of multidrug-resistant mycobacterium strains prompts a need for novel treatments against M. avium infection. This study aims to test the efficacy of a novel antimicrobial peptide, cyclic [R4W4], alongside the first-line antibiotics azithromycin and rifampicin in reducing M. avium survival. Colony-forming unit (CFU) …

Phosphorus Sorption And Kinetics Across The Sediment-Water Interface Of Utah Lake, A Shallow Eutrophic Lake, Forrest Fielding Stretch Jarvis Jarvis

Theses and Dissertations

Internal sediment phosphorus (P) cycling may regulate harmful algal blooms (HABs) in shallow eutrophic lakes. Utah Lake frequently experiences HABs despite its high alkalinity and P-rich sediment. Phosphorus cycling between the lakebed and the water column is dependent upon stable P-sorption with organic matter (OM) and mineral species, which can vary with substrate availability, P-concentrations, temperature, redox, pH, and microbial activity. A full biogeochemical analysis of the water and sediment across seven sites shows Utah Lake to be spatially well-mixed in terms of composition and sorption, with few exceptions. Sediment P-concentrations (avg. 677 mg-P kg-1) primarily correlate with redox-sensitive iron …

Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning For Radiation Localization, Benjamin Scott Totten

Dissertations and Theses

For the safety of both equipment and human life, it is important to identify the location of orphaned radioactive material as quickly and accurately as possible. There are many factors that make radiation localization a challenging task, such as low gamma radiation signal strength and the need to search in unknown environments without prior information. The inverse-square relationship between the intensity of radiation and the source location, the probabilistic nature of nuclear decay and gamma ray detection, and the pervasive presence of naturally occurring environmental radiation complicates localization tasks. The presence of obstructions in complex environments can further attenuate the …

Data Heterogeneity And Its Implications For Fairness, Ghazaleh Noroozi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Data heterogeneity, referring to the differences in underlying generative processes that produce the data, presents challenges in analyzing and utilizing datasets for decision-making tasks. This thesis examines the impact of data heterogeneity on biases and fairness in predictive models. The research investigates the correlation between heterogeneity and protected attributes, such as race and gender, and explores the implications of such heterogeneity on biases that may arise in downstream applications.

The contributions of this thesis are fourfold. Firstly, a comprehensive definition of data heterogeneity based on differences in underlying generative processes is provided, establishing a conceptual framework for understanding and quantifying …

A Variational Theory For Integral Functionals Involving Finite-Horizon Fractional Gradients, Javier Cueto, Carolin Carolin, Hidde Schönberger

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

The center of interest in this work are variational problems with integral functionals depending on nonlocal gradients with finite horizon that correspond to truncated versions of the Riesz fractional gradient. We contribute several new aspects to both the existence theory of these problems and the study of their asymptotic behavior. Our overall proof strategy builds on finding suitable translation operators that allow to switch between the three types of gradients: classical, fractional, and nonlocal. These provide useful technical tools for transferring results from one setting to the other. Based on this approach, we show that quasiconvexity, which is the natural …

Reinforcement Learning Approach To Stochastic Vehicle Routing Problem With Correlated Demands, Zangir Iklassov, Ikboljon Sobirov, Ruben Solozabal, Martin Takac

Machine Learning Faculty Publications

We present a novel end-to-end framework for solving the Vehicle Routing Problem with stochastic demands (VRPSD) using Reinforcement Learning (RL). Our formulation incorporates the correlation between stochastic demands through other observable stochastic variables, thereby offering an experimental demonstration of the theoretical premise that non-i.i.d. stochastic demands provide opportunities for improved routing solutions. Our approach bridges the gap in the application of RL to VRPSD and consists of a parameterized stochastic policy optimized using a policy gradient algorithm to generate a sequence of actions that form the solution. Our model outperforms previous state-of-the-art metaheuristics and demonstrates robustness to changes in the …

A Review Of Recent Gene Expression-Based And Dna Methylation-Based Mathematical Cell Type Deconvolution Methods, Chenxiao Tian

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, many cell type deconvolution methods based on DNA methylation data and gene expression data have been developed. Both of these two methods have its special advantages and disadvantages, e.g., DNA methylation-based methods’ data source is usually more stable than gene expression and DNA methylation is easier to measure in FFPE tissues or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded, while some gene-expression data like scRNA-seq data usually has high cost and complexity. On the other hand, gene expression-based deconvolution methods currently have many more available methods than DNA methylation-based deconvolution methods, which leads to DNA methylation-based methods in many cases can learn …

Detailed Characterization Of Material Deformation, Alexander J. Farnsworth

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive exploration of material deformation at the atomic level, investigating key findings and contributions through three fundamental methods: Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy (SFG), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). The research commences by uncovering the material dependency of nonresonant responses in both SFG and Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) signals. This redefinition of the nonresonant component as an information-rich carrier, rather than mere background noise, leads to novel insights into the potential applications of SFG. The study then delves further into the influence of mechanical stress on materials, establishing a connection between dislocation density on …

Sickle Cell Disease Treatment With Arginine Therapy (Start): Study Protocol For A Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trial., Chris A Rees, David C. Brousseau, Daniel M Cohen, Anthony Villella, Carlton Dampier, Kathleen Brown, Andrew Campbell, Corrie E Chumpitazi, Gladstone Airewele, Todd Chang, Christopher Denton, Angela Ellison, Alexis Thompson, Fahd Ahmad, Nitya Bakshi, Keli D Coleman, Sara Leibovich, Deborah Leake, Dunia Hatabah, Hagar Wilkinson, Michelle Robinson, T Charles Casper, Elliott Vichinsky, Claudia R Morris

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite substantial illness burden and healthcare utilization conferred by pain from vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE) in children with sickle cell disease (SCD), disease-modifying therapies to effectively treat SCD-VOE are lacking. The aim of the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment with Arginine Therapy (STArT) Trial is to provide definitive evidence regarding the efficacy of intravenous arginine as a treatment for acute SCD-VOE among children, adolescents, and young adults.

METHODS: STArT is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, phase 3, multicenter trial of intravenous arginine therapy in 360 children, adolescents, and young adults who present with SCD-VOE. The STArT Trial is being conducted at 10 …

2023 August 17 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Mechanochemical Esterification Of Cellulose Nanofibers Lyophilized From Eutectic Water–Tert-Butanol Mixtures, Miran Mavlan, Taehoo Chang, Rudan Feng, Jake R. Wilkinson, Robert J. Nicholas, Nosa B. Idahagbon, Jeffrey Youngblood, Alexander Wei

Department of Chemistry Faculty Publications

Freeze-dried CNFs can be modified by mechanochemical (MC) processes with minimal use of auxiliary solvents, however aggregation of nanofibers during lyophilization compromises their granularity and reaction efficiency. Adding 10 wt% tert-butanol (TBA) to aqueous slurries of wood-derived CNF creates a eutectic mixture that reduces hornification during lyophilization, resulting in well-formed aerogels with minimal shrinkage in volume. CNFs lyophilized from mixtures containing at least 10 wt% TBA exhibit an order of magnitude increase in specific surface area relative to CNFs freeze-dried from water alone. The amount of TBA and input energy needed for lyophilization can be reduced considerably by dewatering …

Nalidarturbopauseshear, Titus Yuan

Browse all Datasets

The USU Na lidar has been upgraded to be able to measure temperature and winds in the lower thermosphere up to ~ 115 km routinely. The new capability, coupled with the existing nightglow instruments at USU, enables the investigation of the extreme large wind and shears in this region and their correlation to the atmospheric gravity waves activities in the upper mesosphere.

Supramolecular And Covalent Crosslinking Of Organic Semiconductors, Audithya Narasimha Nyaychavadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Organic semiconductors are a class of materials that are uniquely positioned to be the platform for next generation technologies that possess properties that transcend the limitations of silicon materials such as inherent biocompatibility, stretchability and degradability, all while being manufactured sustainably and at lower cost. These materials have good electronic properties that arise from their π-delocalized network, which when combined with rational chemical design allow for highly specialized materials for targeted applications and properties. Furthermore, their ability to be solution processed provides an avenue for low-cost, scalable mass production techniques, such as printing and roll-to-roll coating. Despite these advantages, however, …

Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Featuring Chelating Benzylidene-Triazole Ligands, Allegra L. Liberman-Martin

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

In this issue of Chem Catalysis, Shi and co-workers describe the synthesis and olefin metathesis activity of ruthenium complexes with chelating benzylidene-triazole ligands. Catalyst decomposition is slow at up to 80°C, which enables challenging catalytic reactions, including cross-metathesis of trans-alkenes and macrocycle synthesis by dynamic covalent chemistry.

Measuring Microparticle Adhesion Via High-Speed Rotor, Jacob C. Fearnley

Theses and Dissertations

Much is known about the atomic/molecular theories that govern adhesion as well as the macroscopic aspects and properties of adhesion. However, adhesion in the microparticle regime is poorly characterized. We report on experiments that use centrifugal force to remove polystyrene (PS) particles from the surface of a high-speed titanium rotor operated in vacuum. This unique rotor can apply forces far greater than other centrifugal force methods or related techniques using atomic force spectroscopy. The mode of attachment, whether particles were located on the windward side versus leeward side of the spinning rotor, time spent in vacuum prior to experiments, and …

Symmetric Functions Algebras (Sfa) Iii: Stochastic And Constant Row Sum Matrices, Philip Feinsilver

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.