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CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM LOGICS: TEST SPACES, BOOLEAN ALGEBRAS, AND ORTHOALGEBRAS
No full textIn this paper, the connections between classical propositional logic and Boolean algebras are explored. Then, an introduction to quantum logic explains that the distributive property does not hold, which gives rise to the need for a different structure for quantum logic. One of these systems, algebraic test spaces, is described, along with their connection to orthoalgebras, which are also analyzed
POLICING THE UNIVERSITY: A CRITICAL HISTORY OF CAMPUS LAW ENFORCEMENT
No full textThis thesis treats campus policing as a central mechanism of governance within contemporary public universities. Rather than a peripheral safety service, campus police operate as a system through which universities manage political conflict, regulate physical space, and protect institutional time, property, and legitimacy. Focusing on the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) and pairing it with a comparative analysis of the 2024 Gaza solidarity encampment at UW–Madison, with selective reference to other 2024 sites including the University of Toronto, the thesis argues that campus policing functions as a hinge between the university’s ideological mission and its repressive capacities. Through this hinge, dissent and disorder are translated into administrable risk and, when necessary, into enforceable removal. Chapter 1 reconstructs a genealogy of campus policing at UWM from the late 1960s through the 1990s using archival sources such as regents’ and senate minutes, administrative memoranda, interagency correspondence, departmental reports, and contemporaneous campus and local media. It identifies a recurring sequence in which periods of unrest, including antiwar protests, recruitment demonstrations, and racialized conflict, justify expanded police authority, coordination, and surveillance. Once established, these capacities persist as routine safety infrastructure even after the immediate crisis subsides. Chapter 2 examines the organizational present through the concept of “service as control.” Drawing on Althusser’s distinction between ideological and repressive state apparatuses, Bowles and Gintis’s correspondence principle, racial formation theory, Mills’s epistemology of ignorance, and racial capitalism, the chapter shows how everyday enforcement and communication practices shape campus life. Low-level regulation, jurisdictional spillover through memoranda of understanding and off-campus authority, and “timely warning” communications that narrate risk work together to produce a subtle enclosure of space and time, while preserving a standing capacity for escalation. In this account, campus policing appears less as a response to exceptional violence than as a routine system for governing bodies, movement, and institutional order. Chapter 3 turns to the 2024 encampments as moments when this system is compelled into visibility. It interprets encampments as infrastructure and counter-jurisdiction: portable “popular universities” that organize space and time through kitchens, medics, marshals, guidelines, teach-ins, prayer, and mutual aid. Drawing on administrative statements, policy processes, police communications, agreements, media coverage, and post-event rule changes, the chapter traces a recurring strategy. Political conflict is reframed through safety and neutrality discourse. Legal and administrative mechanisms convert membership and presence into revocable status and trespass. Police and disciplinary processes then restore enclosure, and post-crisis stabilization embeds the exception through conduct pipelines, normalized surveillance, spatial redesign, and institutional neutrality doctrines that centralize speech while leaving coercive capacities intact. The paired Wisconsin cases show that outcomes depend not only on legality or principle but also on coercive capacity and interagency coordination. What appears as restraint may instead reflect a temporary inability to enforce.Across the thesis, reform is shown to operate largely within an already mis-specified territorial order. Abolition is instead approached as a spatial project. It requires not only reducing police presence or budgets but also reorganizing and expanding non-police infrastructure, such as housing, health care, survivor-centered processes, mutual aid, disability access, and community accountability. These infrastructures are necessary if universities are to govern safety and care without relying on coercive control
Preclinical Characterization of Therapeutic Candidates for Inflammatory Disease and Chemical Injury
No full textHerein, I report the use of a cytotoxicity assay to rapidly evaluate the safety and biological activity of newly synthesized small molecules. Using cultured mammalian cells, overt toxicity was measured by quantification of ATP as a viability biomarker. The preceding data provided an efficient early assessment of compound-induced cytotoxicity, enabling initial prioritization for animal studies. Advancing compounds were evaluated with murine safety studies to detect early signs of adverse central nervous system (CNS) effects and systemic toxicity. Using open-field and rotarod tests, locomotor activity was quantified and the motor coordination of mice after compound administration. The rotarod test is a reliable and sensitive in vivo sensorimotor assay that provides insight into compound-related sedation, ataxia, impaired coordination or other adverse effects.1The open field test quantified changes in volunteer movement between the vehicle and the compound-treated mice. Various drug candidates were evaluated supporting the selection process for lead candidates. Pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were conducted to define the compound’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination. This work provided information to select dosing for subsequent pharmacodynamic studies. Furthermore, quantitative toxicology studies using escalating-dose and repeated-doses were conducted. In combination, these efforts helped to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), daily exposure limits, and potential for drug accumulation. Different compound formulations were then evaluated with the goal of enhancing solubility, stability, and sustained release, which included the microencapsulation of a select compound (Compound 1). Next, Compound 1 was investigated across complementary murine models of atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Compound 1 and Compound 2 was evaluated in a vitamin D3 analog (MC903)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) model. Followed by quantification of key inflammatory and disease-related biomarkers. Further validation of Compound 1 was conducted with an ovalbumin-sensitized asthma model and quantification of lung Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) levels. Analogs of Compound 1 were investigated for their effects on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) using methacholine-challenged A/J mice.2 Finally, treatments options for dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis using both C57 and CFW mice, we investigated for potential changes of in-life and post mortem indices of IBD. These models were chosen due to their common features of epithelial barrier and comparable inflammation across barrier tissues, allowing to evaluate peripheral gamma-aminobutyric A (GABAA) receptor modulation as a strategy to improve clinical outcome. Building on prior efficacy studies, Compound 1 was investigated as a medical countermeasure for chlorine gas-induced lung injury. This work addressed a critical unmet need for potentiating injury following accidental exposure or chemical warfare. Compound 1 was designed to activate non-neuronal GABAA receptors to suppress calcium-dependent inflammatory signaling. Extensive preclinical testing demonstrated a favorable safety profile, rapid onset of action, temperature stability suitable for stockpiling, and potent anti-inflammatory effects across multiple pulmonary and inflammatory in vivo models. Two study designs were developed to assess survival and recovery after chlorine exposure, providing temporal measures of injury and physiological improvement needed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy. Finally, recombinant full-length and truncated human FIS1 proteins were expressed in E. coli, purified, and evaluated for their ability to bind fluorescently labeled peptide PEP213. Milligram amounts of each protein were obtained from liter cultures of E. coli at sufficient concentrations of about 3 mg/ml.2027-12-2
PART I: A CONCISE TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF MICROTUBULE INHIBITORS TRYPROSTATIN A, B AND THEIR ANALOGS PART II: EVALUATION OF AN APPROACH FOR THE C2 ALKYLATION OF GRAMINE
No full textPART I: A CONCISE TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF MICROTUBULE INHIBITOR TRYPROSTATIN A AND B AND THEIR ANALOGSTryprostatins A and B are natural products that exhibit anticancer properties. They were originally isolated from Aspergillus fumigatus, in trace amounts. These natural products are microtubule inhibitors and completely inhibit cell cycle progression of tsFT210 cells at the G2/M phase, at final concentrations of 50 μg/mL and 12.5 μg/mL, respectively. The proposed mechanism of action for these compounds involves interference with the interaction between microtubule-associated protein 2 and the C-terminal region of tubulin. Additionally, it has been shown that tryprostatin A inhibits breast cancer resistance protein meaning it has potential to reverse multidrug resistance found in some cancers. This intriguing biological activity coupled with their simple structure has inspired interest in the synthetic community resulting in a few reported total syntheses. Here, we report a concise four-step total synthesis of tryprostatins A and B that has been developed. This synthesis started from commercially available gramine. The key step features a coupling between a C2,N′-diprenylated gramine salt and a diketopiperazine, mediated by quinine as a bifunctional base. The synthesis afforded tryprostatins A and B along with their respective epimers in 1:1 ratios, as determined by isolation and separation via column chromatography. The overall combined yields were 22% for tryprostatin A and its epimer, and 44% for tryprostatin B and its epimer. Additionally, this synthetic method has been extended to 5-methoxy tryprostatin analogs which had an overall combined yield of 11%. The synthesis of several other analogs has been started. Some of the analogs have had preliminary biological assays performed that prove they are active compounds. Lastly, in silico studies have been performed to guide the choice of the next analogs to make. PART II: EVALUATION OF AN APPROACH FOR THE C2 ALKYLATION OF GRAMINE C2-substituted indoles are often considered “privileged structures” because they can engage a wide range of biological targets with high affinity. That fact paired with our group’s interest in synthesizing tryprostatins led us to further investigate our simple alkylation at the C2 position of N-protected gramines under relatively mild reaction conditions. The designed transformation involves the reaction of N-protected gramines with n-BuLi and a variety of alkyl halides to produce C2,N’-dialkylated gramine salts in moderate to high yield. We expanded the scope of the reaction in terms of electrophiles and protecting groups. Then the mechanism was probed which resulted in us demonstrating that both gramine’s methylene N and the indole’s protecting group, such as Boc, cooperate to stabilize C2 lithiation and provide the highest conversion to the product. The generation of novel C2,N’-dialkylated gramine salts while be important for the synthesis of tryprostatin analogs with potential for utility in synthesizing other natural products.2027-12-2
INVERSE PROBLEMS IN ELECTROMAGNETICS: CASE STUDIES OF DEEP LEARNING-BASED SOURCE RECONSTRUCTION AND OBJECT COUNTING
No full textIn this thesis, two case-specific Electromagnetic (EM) inverse problems are investigated. The first inverse problem is the prediction of the number of wires randomly distributed within a square-shaped region of interest (ROI). The predictions are made based on the Electric Field (E-field) values calculated at 40 points at the outer perimeter of the ROI uponilluminating each Randomized Wire Distribution (RWD) within the ROI with a linearly-polarized plane wave at a given frequency f = 10 MHz. The calculation of the E-field component parallel to the wire orientation is accomplished using the self-consistent approach described in Ref. 1. This semi-analytic approach made it possible to generate the E-field data for millions of RWDs at a relatively low computational cost. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) of sequential topology was utilized as a data-driven inverse solver. Under the assumption that the upper limit to the number of wires, Nmax , is known, the CNN is structured such that when the trained CNN is fed with the numerically-generated E-field values, it outputs the likelihood of the presence of N wires within the ROI, where 1 ⩽ N ⩽ Nmax . The accuracy of the predictions were examined upon adding data channels in the input vector, with each channel containing the E-field data acquired upon illuminating the RWD with a plane wave (PW) at a different angle of incidence. A novel technique is developed based on this analysis which enables the visualization of the “blind spots” of the predictor within the ROI. Moreover, in an effort to gain physical insights into the inner workings or the inverse solver, the CNN diffraction limit was deduced from the statistical analyses performed on CNN predictions made on 3 × 106 test samples and comparing the f = 10 MHz results with the f = 5 MHz case. The second inverse problem is the data-driven reconstruction of the coarse surface reflectivity patterns formed on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). This reconstruction is merely based on the Radio Frequency (RF) snapshots taken in the far-zone while the PCB is under illumination with quasi-planar EM radiation within 9–11 GHz. In particular, the term “RF snapshot” is used here to refer to the set of S21 traces acquired at the 8 Receiver (Rx) antennas in the frequency domain. In essence, an RF snapshot is an undersampled∗ EM image with multiple frequency channels. On the PCB side, the reflectivity patterns are formed dynamically using a new and novel technique proposed in this thesis. The hardware developed in this work, which is referred to as “RF display,” makes it possible to generate 8-by-8-pixel reflectivity patterns at a relatively high speed by means of electronic switching. As a result, large datasets of distinct 8-by-8-pixel randomized patterns can be generated along with their corresponding RF snapshots. The resulting datasets are subsequently used to train various CNNs of U-net2 architechture. A reflectivity pattern that is outside the training dataset can then be reconstructed upon feeding its corresponding RF snapshot into the trained U-net. Some of the Data Acquisition (DAQ) cycles were run inside an anechoic chamber and some cycles were run in a cluttered room, which accumulatively led to the acquisition of ∼ 1.5 million samples, with each sample containing a randomly-generated reflectivity pattern and its corresponding experimentally-acquired RF snapshot. The U-nets that are separately trained on the resulting “in-chamber” and “cluttered-room” datasets led to highly accurate predictions when tested on independent test samples. This empirically proves the U-net-based pattern decoding strategy to be effective even when the RF snapshots are acquired in a cluttered room. Prior to the design and fabrication of the RF display, preliminary numerical investigations were carried out to explore the feasibility of this U-net-based decoding strategy. To do so, a semi-analytic model was developed to calculate the EM-field of a full patch antenna array (PAA) by superposing the EM-field due to individual elements. Owing to analytic expressions for the EM-field due to a single patch antenna,3 millions of randomized on-off configurations for an 8-by-8 PAAs are generated within a time scale of ∼ 103 sec—a numerical task that could not have been achieved through the use of full EM simulations. The resulting numerically-generated samples were used to train the U-nets, and the trained U-nets were capable of making high-accuracy predictions on independent numerically-generated test samples. It is worth noting that, (i) this superposition-based model can only be used for PAAs with a large enough nearest-neighbor distance, (ii) this model is developed for an electromagnetically active∗ (EM-active) array whereas the fabricated RF display is an EM-passive array, i.e., it does not radiate by itself, and (iii) the EM-field data produced by this model is valid only within the far-field zone of the array. The parameters of interest which are inferred from EM-field measurements in the first and second cases are the number of vertically-oriented wires inside the ROI and the overall on-off state of the RF pixel array (the pattern), respectively. In the former case, the inverse solver is built based on the prior knowledge of (i) the number of points at which the E-field is sampled, nRx , (ii) the number of swept frequency points, (iii) the number of distinct illumination angles, ninc , and (iv) the upper limit to the number of wires within the ROI, Nmax . Similarly, in the latter case, the construction of the inverse solver requires the prior knowledge of (i) the number of points at which the E-field is sampled, nRx , (ii) the numberof swept frequency points, nf , and (iii) the dimension of the array, d. The common aspect between these two scenarios is the inference of cause from the effect; hence the name inverse.2028-01-0
Industrial Robotic Automation: Motivational Drivers and Safety Considerations for Implementation and Use
No full textPart 1: Industry 4.0 has brought forward a new type of robot, a cobot, designed to interact with humans during manufacturing processes. Cobots are precise, efficient, and do not require distance or physical barriers from the employees they work with and around. The emerging technology introduces hazards distinct from those associated with traditional industrial robotics, yet there is limited evidence to suggest that safety control protocols have been adapted to address these differences. In order to assess how safety measures have evolved with the advent of this technology, a comprehensive literature review was performed to identify the key factors contributing to human-cobot collisions resulting in injuries within general manufacturing. The study includes an evaluation on collision detection and avoidance technology as well as commentary on specific standards aimed to control cobot-human interaction safety. Over 200 research papers and/or books covering topics on robotic knowledge, procurement motivation, implementation, training, and safety were examined. Inclusion criteria, defined by quality of work and its applicability, were utilized to identify research efforts warranting further study. In addition, safety standards were examined, with a focus on general robotics and robotic safety in particular. Modern robotic technology incorporates both proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensors, as well as control system algorithms designed for pre-collision detection, collision identification, and collision avoidance. Robotic safety standards are currently beginning developed and made available for use, however, no mandatory regulations have been established in the United States at this time. Established and historically effective training methodologies continue to be applied. While advancements in cobot technology show promise, there remains a significant need for more precise and reliable sensory system and control algorithms. At present, most technological innovations struggle to manage the complexity of dynamic and densely populated workstations. To enhance robotic safety, standards must become more tailored to specific robot types and applications while aligning with manufacturing needs and practical considerations. Establishing a standard outlining the processes and requirements for introducing new safety advancements to market could prove beneficial for both manufacturers and customers. Tailored training programs, designed to address specific topics and adapted to individual users, are necessary for flawless implementation. However, the pace of technological advancements and standard development is lagging behind the rapid adoption of cobot technologies. Relying solely on past safety practices is not enough to prevent injuries and incidents. Technological innovation should be driven by the needs of the manufacturing sector, and safety standards must be developed to ensure that newly validated safety measures are integrated into products and applied during operation. In addition, providing customers with comprehensive guidelines for proper training and implementation can promote best practices, fostering a safer work environment for everyone. Part 2: Integrating robotics into industrial operations is generally believed to enhance productivity, lower costs, and improve occupational health and safety. These anticipated advantages are considered key factors motivating companies to adopt robotic solutions in their manufacturing processes. While robotics introduce distinct risks compared to manual labor, they hold potential to positively alter company safety outcomes for businesses. Limited research has been conducted to identify the key factors influencing companies’ decisions to adopt industrial robotics. Moreover, the question of how the motivational factors differ between companies based on their type or size for example, remains insufficiently explored. A study was conducted to examine distinctions in motivations for robotization, focusing specifically on safety-related aspects. The investigation compared companies with existing robotic processes (robotic companies) to those without such systems (non-robotic companies). Among the latter, further differentiation was made between companies planning to implement robotics in the future and those with no plans to do so. A custom designed and validated survey was administered, gathering data from 100 companies within the general manufacturing sector, 52 of which currently utilize robotics. Statistically significant differences in motivational factors were observed across robotic companies, those planning to adopt robotics, and those with no plans to do so. Economic aspects emerged as the primary justification for adopting robotics across all company types. Additionally, differences in perceived safety hazards and injury types were identified between robotic and non-robotic companies. Robotics showcase the potential to mitigate certain hazard types, yet they may also pose risks to employees if not properly implemented. Companies, irrespective of their size or geographic location, hold varying views on the motivation behind and safety implications of industrial robotization, depending on whether they currently utilize robotic systems or not
Authentic Learning Through Course-Based Clinical Experience : TBIconneCT CSD 754 Acquired Cognitive Disorders
No full textColor poster with text and images.Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can result in significant changes to social communication, which strain relationships with partners. Second-year graduate students in CSD 754, Acquired Cognitive Disorders, deliver a manualized treatment to individuals with TBI and their partners, as a part of the course. TBIconneCT is a 10-week program, which focuses on improving social communication between individuals with TBI and their partners. The program includes education about the social communication consequences of TBI and uses video modeling to help both individuals become more aware of their communication behaviors and adopt positive strategies. Hall et al. (2025) conducted a pilot investigation of North American TBIconneCT on individuals with TBI and their partners, while our study focuses on graduate student learning outcomes. Student learning reflections were analyzed qualitatively, identifying themes related to their learning. Preliminary findings include providing a safe learning space for individuals with TBI’s, partners, and student clinicians. As the program progressed, students' overall confidence increased, as they applied class content and further developed therapy skills, gaining knowledge beyond a textbook. We plan to use this data to enhance the positive impacts of TBIconneCT on student learning and identify ways to refine the program.
PresentersUniversity of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
Recommendations from NOAA's Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee: Supporting Indigenous-led conservation and co-stewardship
No full textThese recommendations from NOAA's Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee, produced and approved by consensus before the committee was terminated on February 28, 2025, identify how NOAA and other coastal organizations can better support and prioritize Tribal Nation and Indigenous-led conservation and co-stewardship.As an agency of the US Government, NOAA has a legal and moral obligation to protect the interests of Tribal Nations, including their lands, resources, and treaty or other tribal rights, based on the unique relationship that exists between the US Government and Tribes. There exists a fundamental trust responsibility to protect tribal lands, resources, assets and treaty rights. NOAA has centrally important obligations to federally recognized Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiians through this trust responsibility.
In addition, building meaningful and enduring partnerships with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities across the United States and US Territories generates effective and durable approaches to conservation, economic benefit, access to nature, and climate resiliency, thereby restoring human relationships with coastal and ocean ecosystems vital to our wellbeing. This requires NOAA staff equipped for and invested in long-term relationship building who understand the specific histories and needs of Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, and clear understandable processes of engagement and consultation situated well in advance of and extending beyond a single project or policy.
NOAA can leverage tools to support Indigenous sovereignty including mutually beneficial co-stewardship agreements, funding through awards and cooperative agreements, staffing dedicated to collaboration and coordination with Tribal Nations, and developing broad staff expertise in concerns related to Indigenous-led conservation and co-stewardship
Transcriptomic Differences Between Schistosome Miracidia Recovered from Different Host Tissues
No full textColor poster with text, images, charts,and graphs.Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by three parasitic flatworm species, including Schistosoma mansoni, relies on freshwater snails as intermediate hosts. Interrupting the parasite’s ability to locate snails could provide a novel strategy for disease control. Praziquantelis the current treatment of choice for human infections, and it exerts its effect by targeting transient receptor potential (TRP) channels on the parasite, leading to death of the worm. Despite its effectiveness in eliminating adult parasites, treated individuals remain susceptible to reinfection. In this study, a drug screening approach was used to identify compounds targeting the transient TRP receptors in miracidia, a larval stage of the parasite. A custom 96-well acrylic device was designed; worms were added to each well and treated with 10 µM of drug. The impact of each compound on miracidia behavior was assessed to identify potential drug candidates. To accurately monitor their responses, a high-resolution recording device was utilized. This system enabled precise observation of miracidia motility and orientation, allowing identification of compounds that disrupt general movement or host-seeking behavior. Preliminary findings suggest that TRP channel modulators play a role in altering miracidia navigation, offering a promising avenue for disrupting the parasite’s life cycle.NIH-NIAID Contract HHSN272201700014I; UW-Eau Claire Foundation; Mayo Clinic; University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
Oral History Interview, Teonna Cooksey (2521)
No full textIn her August 2025 interview with Dadit Gunarwanto Hidayat, Teonna Cooksey, WiscAMP alum and CEO of Mecca Development, describes her journey through the WiscAMP program at UW-Milwaukee. To learn more about this oral history, download & review the index first (or transcript if available). It will help determine which audio file(s) to download & listen to.In her August 2025 interview with Dadit Gunarwanto Hidayat, Teonna Cooksey, WiscAMP alum and CEO of Mecca Development, describes her journey through the WiscAMP program at UW-Milwaukee. She grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was inspired to go into the field of architectural design when she saw how segregation was built into the city. The opportunities and training that WiscAMP provided led to her to attend graduate school at Columbia University and found her own urban planning and architectural design consulting firm, Mecca Development. She discusses discrimination that she both experienced and noticed in Milwaukee, and how her experiences contributed to her drive to make urban planning more equitable. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the WiscAMP Legacy Oral History Project and the UW-Madison Archives and Records Management oral history collection