11549 research outputs found
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Assessing The Role of the Endocaanbinoid System in Arsenic-Induced Neurotoxicity
No full textThe endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an important brain pathway that plays a major role in early brain development and neural circuitry. The ECS has been found to regulate stress and emotional behavior during development. It modulates neural and behavioral stress and has also been found to be affected by stress exposure. The endocannabinoid system is a biological system that includes endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptor proteins. Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) has been found to control excitatory and inhibitory synaptic strength. The balance of these strengths is important and an imbalance in the strengths can contribute to autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. Arsenic is a natural found heavy metal in air, water, and soil. It can disrupt the ECS by second- hand smoke, water contaminations, and industrial processes. Studies on arsenic's effects on the ECS are limited, but it is important to know the correlation between developmental defects and arsenic toxicities. iPSC in vitro 40 days neural organoid differentiation model mimics early brain development especially the 1st trimester during pregnancy
Precision in Pulse: The Accuracy of Wearable Heart Rate Monitors
No full textThis study investigates the accuracy of wearable heart rate monitors, specifically smartwatches, in providing reliable heart rate measurements for outpatient monitoring aimed at the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given the growing popularity of smartwatches, verifying their accuracy compared to traditional methods is essential for integrating them into healthcare. A quantitative comparative experimental study was conducted with 25 Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) students, comparing manually palpated heart rates to smartwatch readings. Heart rate data was collected and analyzed to determine the level of agreement between the two methods. The results showed a 65% correlation between smartwatch readings and manual palpation, with an agreement within five beats per minute (bpm). While limitations, such as sample size and potential user error, were identified, findings suggest that smartwatches may be an effective tool for general cardiac monitoring. Further research with a larger sample is recommended to solidify these findings and explore potential applications
Modeling Diffusive Search by Non-Adaptive Sperm: Empirical and Computational Insights
No full textDuring fertilization, mammalian sperm undergo a winnowing selection process that reduces the candidate pool of potential fertilizers from ~106-1011 cells to 101-102 cells (depending on the species). Classical sperm competition theory addresses the positive or ‘stabilizing’ selection that acts on sperm phenotypes within populations of organisms but does not strictly address the developmental consequences of sperm traits among individual organisms that are under purifying selection during fertilization. It is the latter that is of utmost concern for improving assisted reproductive technologies (ART) because ‘low fitness’ sperm may be inadvertently used for fertilization during interventions that rely heavily on artificial sperm selection, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Importantly, some form of sperm selection is used in nearly all forms of ART (e.g., differential centrifugation, swim-up, or hyaluronan binding assays, etc.). To date, there is no unifying quantitative framework (i.e., theory of sperm selection) that synthesizes causal mechanisms of selection with observed natural variation in individual sperm traits. In this report, we reframe the physiological function of sperm as a collective diffusive search process and develop multi-scale computational models to explore the causal dynamics that constrain sperm ‘fitness’ during fertilization. Several experimentally useful concepts are developed, including a probabilistic measure of sperm ‘fitness’ as well as an information theoretic measure of the magnitude of sperm selection, each of which are assessed under systematic increases in microenvironmental selective pressure acting on sperm motility patterns
ANALYZING STYLE TRANSFER ALGORITHMS FOR SEGMENTED IMAGES
No full textThe recently developed Segment Anything Model has made grabbing semantically meaningful regions of an image easier than before. This will allow for new applications that build on this approach that weren’t previously possible. This thesis investigates integrating the Segment Anything Model with style transfer. Specifically, it proposes Partial Convolution as a way to improve style transfer for segmented regions. Additionally, it investigates how
different style transfer techniques are affected by different mask sizes, image statistics, etc
Accessibility Advances at East Carolina University: Sensory Room in Joyner Library
No full textThis project aimed to provide essential resources to neurodiverse students at East Carolina
University, fostering a sense of inclusion within the university community. To develop an
effective resource that addresses the needs of the neurodiverse population without ostracizing
them, we conducted interviews with many students and faculty members. These discussions
offered valuable insights into the experiences of neurodiverse individuals on campus and
identified additional resources that needed to be developed. Through a combination of interviews
and internet research, our team recognized the importance of creating a centralized resource to
help both neurodiverse students and their peers. We designed a sensory room equipped with
various features, such as alternative seating and sensory tools to provide students with options
for decompressing during the typical school day in East Carolina University’s Main Campus
Library (Joyner Library). Building on the positive feedback received from the initial Sensory
Room in Joyner Library, we inspired the conversion of six study rooms into alternative study
spaces closely modeled after the original sensory room. This initiative aims to enhance the
overall campus experience for neurodiverse students, ensuring they feel welcomed and
supported
EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY ON THE COMPARISON OF POINT-ABSORBER WAVE ENERGY CONVERTERS
No full textThe objective of this thesis is to investigate how buoy geometry affects the performance of point absorber wave energy converters. Five different buoy geometries were designed, each with the same initial diameter and total height. These models were then tested using the same experimental conditions. The experimental phase was conducted in a lab scale wave tank and involved the use of a LVDT sensor to measure buoy displacement, wave height gauges to measure water height, and a high-speed camera to record the experiments. The models were tested completely perpendicular to the water as well as at different angles with the water. ANSYS AQWA was used for numerical analysis of the buoys. The buoy models were modeled perpendicular to the water using the wave conditions that were recorded in the wave tank as well as the wave conditions that were recorded at Jennette's Pier (Nags Head, NC) over five days. AQWA wave tank simulations output graphs depicting amplitude, radiation forces and gravitational forces for each buoy while the environmental simulations focused on amplitude only. Buoyancy forces were calculated for each model (perpendicular to the water only). The experimental results showed the overall trend that as angle of inclination increased, the buoy amplitude would decrease. The most likely reason why the ranges decreased as the angle of inclination increased was because as the LVDT sensor was inclined, the shield of the sensor began acting as an inclined plane creating friction between the sensor shield and armature. One model consistently outperformed the other models in both the wave tank and environmental simulations. The wave tank simulations also suggested a correlation between volume and buoy amplitude. There were differences between the experimental results and numerical wave tank results. This could have been because of friction between the sensor armature and shield, irregular wave shapes in the wave tank, certain parts not modeled in AQWA, and negative damping values in AQWA. Further studies into buoy geometry in point absorbers should examine performance changes when changing materials to examine the relationship between mass and buoy performance more thoroughly
Analyzing Public Support for Sustainable Hog Production in North Carolina
No full textAgricultural operations play a crucial role in the economic and cultural prosperity of the eastern coastal plains. In North Carolina alone, farm operations generate billions of dollars in state revenue. However, the industrialization of operations has introduced new obstacles, particularly within the hog farming industry. It is essential to understand the ongoing public debates regarding current practices in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and new state-level legislation, given the ubiquity of these institutions in North Carolina. The objective of this study is to determine why opposing narratives within the hog farming industry persist and identify which narratives are most prevalent. Through the lens of the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), this research study explores how specific narratives develop to influence public attitude towards hog farming, and consequently shape and are shaped by broader policy discourse in Wayne County, North Carolina. At the meso-level of analysis, the NPF suggests community survey respondents, producers, and legislative powers or organizations may each hold their own, potentially opposite, narratives which exist simultaneously and in conflict. Recognizing diverse perspectives within the hog farming industry is key to environmental awareness, informed policymaking, and the construction of subsystem beliefs
HLTH 4901 & HLTH 4902 Shadowing Experience
No full textFrom a young age, I aspired to enter the healthcare field, with my focus gradually shifting to becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) due to their unique role in patient care. The journey to PA school required not only academic excellence but also substantial hands-on experience. To gain a deeper understanding of the medical field and fulfill the shadowing hours necessary for PA school applications, I completed over 150 hours in two distinct areas: pediatrics and diagnostic radiology. These experiences provided a well-rounded view of healthcare, highlighting the importance of compassionate, family-centered care in pediatrics and the highly technical, procedure-focused realm of diagnostic radiology
Blending Lines: Interactive Experiences with Arab Culture
No full textThis thesis examines the integration of Islamic geometric patterns and traditional Kufic calligraphy into contemporary interactive design. The work highlights the historical and cultural significance of Islamic geometric patterns as a cornerstone of Arab identity while exploring the intellectual and spiritual depth embodied by traditional Kufic calligraphy. By bridging Arab cultural heritage with modern design practices, the work seeks to foster audience engagement and increase awareness of this rich culture and history. Designed to engage diverse audiences with Arab culture through traditional and contemporary approaches, the thesis culminates in an immersive experience that blends physical and digital installations. The physical installations are comprised of three hand-crafted wooden geometric motifs integrated with Kufic calligraphy written by macrame cords. The wood and cotton cords demonstrate the Arab appreciation of natural materials, as nature has been the primary source of inspiration in the Arab world. The digital installations complement this by using projection, light, and patterns to display large-scale graphics on an adjacent wall. With ultrasonic sensors and a Raspberry Pi, the installation creates an interactive experience where digital projections respond to visitors' movements through the space by shifting colors and patterns. This interaction is crucial; as learning evolves through participation and reinterpretation, this exhibition aims to engage people similarly. Through this research, the thesis underscores the power of design as a medium for education and cultural connection, mainly as it generates connections between tradition and innovation
RESTORATION AT THE BOUNDARY: A SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON MANAGEMENT IN THE GREATER EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM
No full textHow will conservation areas in South Florida continue to change because of ongoing restoration efforts? Ecosystem restoration practitioners in the Global North aim for adaptive management during a time of increasing uncertainty. To reconcile competing socio-ecological futures in South Florida, this project integrates discursive narrative analysis, spatial modeling, and intuitive data visualization to guide a holistic monitoring approach during the restoration of the Florida Everglades. Projects like the East Coast Buffer (ECB) and the Western Everglades Restoration Project (WERP) represent ongoing attempts in Everglades restoration to acquire and protect degraded landscapes adjacent to protected areas, such as Everglades National Park and the Big Cypress Preserve. This interdisciplinary framework seeks to build a socio-ecological model to monitor ecosystem restoration and holistically track affected cultural landscapes at the periphery of the built environment.
Insights provided through this research suggest that panarchy as a conceptual tool best facilitates the co-production of knowledge in large-scale restoration projects threatened by environmental amnesia. I developed a landcover change ranking system through expert knowledge consultation, remote sensing, and GIS to understand the shifting physiognomic structure of landscapes affected by restoration activities in the ECB. I bridge this modeling framework into the content of WERP to showcase how the restoration game progresses under new challenges to the role of wilderness in South Florida. The insights provided through this investigation also guide the ongoing development an ArcGIS Story Map that accompanies this research. This online spatial presentation platform integrates the research components of the greater project into a place-based narrative intended to assist with collaboration, education, and planning