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Framework to develop an open-source forage data network to improve primary productivity and enhance system resiliency database
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MECHANISTIC STUDIES OF ELONGATOR PROTEIN 3 AND PERIPLASMIC NITRATE REDUCTASE
No full textBioinorganic chemistry is an important field of chemistry that strives to understand the roles of metalloproteins and the chemistry they catalyze. Herin, I describe my efforts to characterize the mechanism of two metalloenzymes, Elongator Protein 3 (Elp3) and Periplasmic Nitrate Reductase (NapA). Elp3 is a member of the Radical SAM superfamily of enzymes. The enzyme contains two domains, the Radical SAM and Lysine Acetyl Transferase (KAT) domain. The preferential substrate for Elp3 is aminoacyl tRNAs that harbor a wobble uridine at position 34. Elp3 modifies the wobble uridine through the addition of a carboxymethyl group derived from Acetyl-CoA. Evidence for the Elp3 mechanism is lacking. It has been hypothesized that reaction is facilitated through a radical reaction that abstracts an H-atom generating an Acetyl radical which adds to the C-5 position of uridine to create 5-carboxymethyluridine (cm5U). This is a challenge given the domains are ~40 Å apart. I have investigated possible mechanisms by which this may occur using a bacterial homologue of Elp3 (Dehalococcoides mccartyi; DmElp3). NapA is part of the DMSO Reductase family of molybdopterin enzymes and catalyzes the reduction of nitrate to nitrite at the molybdenum center through an oxygen atom transfer reaction. Despite extensive research on molybdenum enzymes, including NapA, there are significant questions regarding the coordination environment of the molybdenum and the resulting mechanism of oxygen atom transfer. Here, I describe my efforts to characterize the mechanism and influence of the primary and secondary coordination sphere on catalysis. I describe the importance of a highly conserved lysine in the secondary coordination sphere as well as the likely route of inhibition by cyanide. Rapid reaction kinetics of the wildtype enzyme has shed light on the mechanism revealing that the steady state turnover is rate limited by reduction of the enzyme, not the chemistry of oxygen atom transfer. The results of both Elp3 and NapA are discussed in the context of the proposed mechanisms for the respective enzymes.2027-05-2
EVALUATING EGOCENTRIC AND EXOCENTRIC DEPTH PERCEPTION WITH DIGITALLY MAGNIFIED VIDEO-PASS-THROUGH AUGMENTED REALITY
No full textThis thesis explores the impact of stereo-correct magnification on depth perception in video pass-through augmented reality (VPT-AR) environments. As more AR technologies are being integrated into professional and consumer applications, understanding how magnification influences spatial judgments is critical for improving user experience and system performance. Two experimental frameworks were developed: an exocentric depth perception task, where participants judged the relative distance between two objects, and an egocentric depth perception task, where participants manipulated virtual objects using a controller. Preliminary results from the exocentric experiment suggest that moderate magnification (2× zoom) enhances depth sensitivity compared to lower (1×) and higher (3×) magnifications, although a perceptual bias (left) was observed. The egocentric experiment design, while not yet fully executed, provides a foundation for studying depth adaptation through intermediate spatial tasks. Across both experimental designs, preserving stereoscopic cues during magnification emerged as a key factor for maintaining depth accuracy. This work highlights the complex relationship betweenmagnification, visual clarity, and depth perception, while suggesting future directions such as incorporating gaze- and voice-controlled magnification for more intuitive interactions. The findings contribute to the broader effort of making AR systems more immersive, comfortable, and effective for real-world applications
Essays On Artificial Intelligence for Strategic Decision Support
No full textThe rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have opened new frontiers for strategic decision support in various domains. As businesses increasingly rely on unstructured data, natural language processing (NLP), a subset of AI techniques, has emerged as a powerful tool for extracting insights that drive decision-making. My dissertation examines how state-of-the-art AI models, particularly those utilizing the BERT architecture, can significantly enhance strategic decision support within the financial domain. By leveraging advanced NLP techniques, my research explores how BERT-based models can extract valuable insights from unstructured text data, such as social media sentiment and corporate communications, to inform better decision-making. These essays contribute to the understanding of how AI-driven analyses can offer novel, data-driven approaches for strategic decisions in capital markets and corporate communications.In Essay 1, I construct a valence-based measure of incidental emotion using BERTweet’s sentiment analysis and empirically investigate the association between collective incidental emotion toward the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. stock market. I employ multivariate time series autoregressive models to test the relationship between emotion polarity and stock market returns or trading volumes. The results reveal that societal sentiment toward the pandemic has a significant effect on the returns of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500. In contrast, the macro-level emotion does not significantly affect the return for NASDAQ 100. The findings also suggest a significant association between incidental emotion and trading volumes. I conduct a battery of sensitivity tests that further support our conjecture. The study underscores the robust role of incidental emotion in investment decision-making, highlighting its significance as a distinctive feature that should be incorporated into financial decision support systems. In Essay 2, I perform topic modelling using BERTopic to analyze the content of CEO letters and identify fourteen unique topics. I further conduct event studies to evaluate stock market reactions to the identified topics. The results show significantly positive investor response to the majority of topics while some topics receive negative or insignificant reactions, suggesting variations in investor perceptions toward different topics. The study demonstrates that integrating ESG communications between management and investors into text-based financial decision support systems has profound implications for fostering more informed and responsible financial decisions.2027-05-1
Changes in clouds over the four decades using PATMOS-xv6.0: Radiative effects and controlling factors
No full textSatellite-based global cloud data records are crucial for understanding the impact of regional weather changes and global climate variations due to the direct and indirect radiative forcing of clouds. In this dissertation, the PATMOS-x version 6.0 dataset, developed through a collaboration between NOAA National Center for Environmental Information and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was used to investigate long-term changes in maritime clouds between 60°S to 60°N.This dataset provides reliable climate records from NOAA’s POES and EUMETSAT’s MetOp satellite series. To account for orbital drift and varying local overpass times between satellites, monthly mean cloud fractions were calculated using a generalized additive model with backfitting and observational weighting. The results show a decreasing trend in mean fractional cloudiness of 0.86% per decade, with the most significant decline occurring over the central equatorial Pacific Ocean at a rate of 4% per decade. In contrast, increasing trends in water clouds over the southeastern Pacific Ocean as well as midlatitude and in ice clouds over western Pacific Ocean were observed. These changes in cloud fractions are closely linked to variations in cloud top heights. Cloud top heights have increased over western Pacific Ocean at a rate of 0.4 km per decade due to increases in ice clouds while decreasing cloud top heights were observed in the southeastern Pacific Ocean and other marine stratocumulus dominated regions. Such variations in cloud fraction and cloud top heights significantly contribute to cloud radiative effects, influencing Earth’s radiation budget. Recent studies suggest that ongoing global warming is associated with a reduction in planetary albedo, primarily driven by a decline in global cloud fractions. However,some regions, such as the southeastern Pacific Ocean, have shown increasing albedo, enhancing solar radiation reflection and mitigating surface warming. This trend in albedo is attributed to arise in low cloud cover, which plays a key role in increasing albedo. For a more comprehensive understanding of the physical processes driving cloud formation in this region, this study utilizes two satellite-based observational datasets (PATMOS-x v6.0 and CERES EBAF), both of which show an increase in total cloud fractions (0.97% per decade), particularly a rise in water clouds (1.63% per decade). This increase in strongly correlated with a strengthening of cloud induced cooling effects (−1.91 Wm-2 per decade). By applying the ridge regression method and the CCFs framework to the ERA5 reanalysis dataset, the analysis indicates that these changes are primarily driven by an increase in estimated inversion strength at a rate of 0.30 K per decade, reflecting enhanced atmospheric stability. This stabilization is attributed to a decrease in surface temperature(−0.10 K per decade) and an increase in atmospheric temperature at 700 hPa (0.21 K per decade)
Building a collaborative monitoring strategy for a changing St. Louis River Estuary: a recommendation report
No full textThe research results and monitoring recommendations presented in this report are a collaborative
effort among water quality monitoring experts, scientists, and estuary caretakers. We share a motivation
that stems from the anticipated 2030 delisting of the St. Louis River as a Great Lakes Area of Concern,
and the pressing need to chart a path forward to develop a long-term monitoring plan. We offer this
report as a first step toward building a more coordinated, efficient, and future-focused water quality
monitoring program—one that supports the unique St. Louis River Estuary that serves as the foundation
for the health, livelihoods, economies, and sense of place of the Twin Ports community and the broader
Lake Superior watershed.
This project was led by the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve (LSNERR) and University
of Minnesota’s Natural Resource Research Institute (NRRI). The following document presents foundational
scientific information on the environmental predictors of cyanobacteria abundance and characterizes
harmful algal blooms, phytoplankton dynamics, nutrient conditions, decadal trends in water quality,
and hypoxia in the SLRE. From these findings, we offer monitoring recommendations on where, when,
and how to focus future efforts. Some are highly specific, such as proposed locations for monitoring
stations, while others are broader programmatic considerations.As the St. Louis River Estuary (SLRE) approaches delisting as a Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC),
emerging stressors, particularly cyanobacteria blooms, raise new questions about the estuary’s longterm
condition. To investigate these concerns, we conducted intensive water quality and phytoplankton
monitoring across eight sites in 2023 and 2024, selected as “hotspots” based on their susceptibility to
nutrient enrichment, hypoxia, and bloom formation. Our approach combined high-frequency routine
sampling with targeted analyses to identify key drivers of cyanobacteria biovolume and assess spatial
and temporal redundancies in monitoring design.
We observed multiple small, ephemeral cyanobacteria blooms across both years, with diverse community
composition, and documented a widespread lower estuary bloom in October 2023 dominated by
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Random Forest Analysis identified low total nitrogen, elevated temperatures,
low dissolved organic carbon, and high pH as the strongest predictors of cyanobacteria biovolume.
Bloom development was further linked to late-summer drought conditions and calm wind conditions.
Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed spatial overlap in environmental and phytoplankton
patterns, supporting a streamlined routine sampling design focused on fewer locations and parameters
for regular monitoring. We recommend a shift from evenly timed, year-round sampling across all sites
to a more flexible strategy that intensifies sampling during late summer at high-risk locations, with a
refined set of core parameters.
By providing foundational insights into phytoplankton dynamics and evaluating monitoring design, this
work supports the development of a collaborative monitoring strategy for a changing SLRE.This work was made possible through support from the National Estuarine Research Reserve System
Science Collaborative (University of Michigan, NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management), which funded
not only the scientific components, including data collection, processing, and analysis, but also the
meaningful conversation among the collaborative team throughout the project. Additional funds from
NRRI’s Technology Review Board (Permanent University Trust Fund, University of Minnesota) supported
additional data analysis and drafting of this report
Education, Collaboration, and Networking among High-Quality Water Lakes in Southeastern WI
No full textEducation, Collaboration, and Networking among High-Quality Water Lakes in Southeastern W
BEST PRACTICES IN PERFORMANCE MEASURES AMONG HIGH PERFORMING CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAMS
No full textIntroduction: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. CR programs include a range of interventions that enable patients to recover, maintain, and improve their physical, psychological, and social well-being after a heart event, such as a cardiac attack, bypass surgery, or heart failure. Performance measures (PM) are implemented to enhance the structure, process, and care outcomes for patients eligible for CR services, focusing on functional capacity (FC), blood pressure control (BP), depression, smoking cessation, adherence, and enrollment. However, variability in assessment tools and methods can lead to inconsistent outcomes, quality assurance challenges, and resource allocation issues. Theoretical Framework: The study utilized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to systematically assess the barriers and facilitators in CR programs, providing a structured approach to evaluating implementation practices. Purpose: This study aimed to identify the best practices in CR by addressing gaps in PMs to enhance patient care and disease management. Design: This study used a quantitative and qualitative approach design to examine best practices in high-performing CR programs in the U.S. and their impact on FC, BP, smoking, and depression. Method: Online surveys collected quantitative data that assessed program characteristics, patient and leader demographics, and PE numbers. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 purposively selected CR leaders via Zoom to explore the best practices in performance measures, what makes them unique, their challenges, quality improvement initiatives, and the impact on patient outcomes. Participants were from American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) accredited programs ranked in the top 10% nationally. Results: Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρ), and Kruskal-Wallis H, as the sample was not normally distributed, to help identify the association between program PMs and compare it across the 10 programs. Ten CR program leaders from eight states participated (80% female; with 6-10 years of practice experience, programs had between 7 and 165 patients per year). Programs with high performance in function capacity assured detailed fitness goal setting, frequent progress monitoring, and exercise mode variety. They regularly utilized strength training and high-intensity training and strongly encouraged home exercise. To overcome barriers to exercise, they employed motivational strategies, provided regular staff education, and collaborated closely with physical therapy to address musculoskeletal limitations. Programs with high performance in blood pressure control utilized standardized protocols to measure blood pressure accurately, encouraged home blood pressure monitoring, and collaborated directly with physicians to ensure the prescription of anti-hypertensive medications. Programs with high performance in depression and smoking cessation directly integrate smoking cessation and mental health services into their programs. Programs with high enrollment performance proactively sought referrals from physicians and offered flexible scheduling to patients. Programs with high performance in adherence emphasized patient support and confidence building, and actively assisted patients in overcoming barriers to attendance. Conclusion: We identified key differences between high- and low-performance across multiple domains within certified programs. These insights may guide other programs in adopting best practices to enhance performance, improve patient outcomes, and support system-wide quality improvement.2027-05-2
The impact of language transfer on English language acquisition among Chinese English learners: a focus on phonetics and writing
No full textA seminar paper presented to the graduate faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science – English EducationThis study investigated the impact of language transfer on the phonetics and writing of Chinese
English learners. It based its discussion on library research and literature review and explained
how mother tongue affects language acquisition. The study suggested that Chinese learners may
encounter challenges when learning English because of differences in Chinese and English
grammatical, structure, and phonetics. It contributed to understanding ways in which foreign
language learning is influenced by mother tongue and provided insights for educators to design
more effective teaching strategies
Wisconsin's Water Watch: Eyes on Invasive Species
No full textWisconsin's Water Watch: Eyes on Invasive Specie