University of Idaho Library Digital Initiatives
Not a member yet
54971 research outputs found
Sort by
PASSIVE TREATMENT OF ACID ROCK DRAINAGE: TREATMENT SYSTEM LIMITATIONS AND LABORATORY COMPARISON OF SILICATE REACTIVE SUBSTRATES
No full textThe generation of acid rock drainage (ARD) continues to significantly impact water resources around the globe. Passive treatment systems have been developed as lower-cost remediation alternatives to active treatment systems, but seasonality of flow, acidity, and metal concentrations present challenges for passive systems. This thesis examines the limitations of current passive treatment system options and explores the potential of a manufactured silica fiber functionalized with (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (Si+APTES) and a naturally occurring silicate mineral (clinoptilolite) as reactive substrates for passive treatment of ARD. The first chapter is a review of passive treatment options for acid rock drainage. This review indicates reduced efficacy due to seasonal periods of increased drainage and metal concentrations that lead to mineral precipitation, surface passivation, and flow bypass. In select cases, passive treatment systems prematurely failed due to seasonal flux. Complimentary systems are needed to minimize impacts from seasonal flux of drainage and metal concentrations to improve treatment efficacy and preserve the life of a multi-component system or a downstream primary system. Multi-component systems are possible with integration of existing treatment systems and design of new treatment options to tailor treatment to site specifications. The second chapter explores Si+APTES and clinoptilolite as potential reactive substrates for passive treatment of acid rock drainage. Column permeability experiments with silica fiber and loosely packed clinoptilolite indicate greater permeability and stability of the clinoptilolite. Batch sorption experiments with bare silica fiber, Si+APTES, and clinoptilolite in an Fe-SO4, pH 3.0 solution indicate an Fe specific sorption efficacy of Si+APTES > clinoptilolite > bare silica fiber at equivalent surface areas. Specific sorption values normalized to possible packing densities indicate greater sorption per volume for clinoptilolite. Sorption results for Si+APTES and clinoptilolite did not produce isotherms that could be described by the Langmuir or Freundlich models likely because of surface heterogeneity and precipitation reactions. Column sorption experiments under flowing conditions indicate an Fe removal efficacy of clinoptilolite > Si+APTES for permeable packing densities. Si+APTES demonstrated high specific sorption of Fe in batch sorption experiments and has potential use in low-flow, passive treatment of acid rock drainage. The balance of greater permeability, stability under flowing conditions, large surface area, microporous structure, and ion-exchange properties of clinoptilolite make these zeolite grains a better reactive substrate for passive treatment of acidic drainage in high- or low-flow conditions.masters, M.S., Geology -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2020-0
Exploring Exogenous Matrix Metalloproteinases for Regulating Tendon Formation in Tissue Engineered Collagen Scaffolds
No full textTendon is one of the most commonly injured musculoskeletal tissues. Developing methods for regenerating tendon tissue will be crucial for the future treatment of tendon injuries. Tissue engineering strategies have explored combining cells, scaffolds, and signals for guiding tissue formation. Potential signals include biochemical and mechanical factors, but there is a need to identify appropriate combination of signals that regulate tendon formation. Recently, the enzymes that degrade matrix proteins, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), have been found in developing tendons. However, their use in engineered tendon formation has been limited. Therefore, our overall objective was to explore the combination of exogenous MMPs and mechanical strain to understand their roles in regulating engineered tendon tissue formation in vitro. In the following chapters we examine how mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and collagen type I scaffolds were impacted by MMPs and mechanical stimulus. We tested our central hypothesis that the alignment of the collagen fibers in the scaffolds would be improved with the combination of MMPs and tensile strain. In Chapter 2, treatments with exogenous pro-form MMP-1, 2, 8, and 13 were used to determine impacts on collagen scaffolds and MSCs. In Chapter 3, collagen scaffolds and tenogenically induced MSCs were treated with exogenous active MMP-1, 2, 8, and 13. In Chapter 4, exogenous active MMP-1, 2, 8, and 13 treatments in combination with a tensile strain were explored. The results of these studies showed that MMPs do not negatively impact MSC growth and viability. Furthermore, exogenous MMP treatments alone did not show any significant trends in collagen alignment, but the addition of a tensile strain in combination with active MMPs indicated that some localized collagen alignment occurred. This work provides important preliminary data for future tissue engineering studies and suggests that MMPs, mechanical loading, and their combinations may have promise for improving engineered tendon formation.masters, M.S., Biological & Agricultural Engineering -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2020-0
Smart Readout Electronics for CMOS Image Sensors
No full textA massive number of images and videos are captured by mobile phone cameras every day. Thus, the built-in cameras become essential in almost all produced mobile phones and devices. To compete, device manufacturers improve image sensors’ performance in camera modules and optimize it for high frame rate, better image quality, low power consumption, low cost, and added features.Solid-state image sensor is the core of today’s camera systems. Two well-known technologies exist for image sensors, which are the charge-coupled devices (CCD) and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors (CIS). CCD was the dominant and mature technology for a long time until CIS appears in the early 1990s to solve CCD drawbacks. CIS has several crucial advantages over CCD, including integrating peripheral circuits on the same chip, minimizing overall system size, and forming a camera system-on-chip (SOC). Besides other advantages, just these advantages of CIS have qualified it to be integrated with the modern mobile phone systems. Typically, the built-in camera module’s power consumption specification is crucial for mobile devices’ overall battery life. Besides low-power consumption, image sensors in these camera modules require high-resolution and high-quality image reproduction capabilities to provide a competitive edge for the manufacturers to dominate in the marketplace. Today, CIS is the technology of choice due to its low-power consumption, high resolution, and increased integration capabilities. One of the essential blocks in the CIS that affects its speed, power consumption, image quality, and resolution at the same time is the analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Thus, optimizing and improving the performance of integrated ADCs is crucial for CIS performance. Many ADC types have been used in CIS. One of the most efficient types is the integrating (ramp) type ADCs, as they are small, easy to integrate, consume minimal power, and fulfill high-resolution requirements easily while providing low-noise operation. However, they suffer from the conversion speed problem when bit resolution is increased. Many solutions were proposed to improve the conversion speed of ramp ADCs in CISs while maintaining acceptable bit resolution and, consequently, reproduced image resolution and quality at the same time. In this research, two speedup techniques (SuPTs) are proposed to improve the conversion speed of ramp-type ADCs integrated with a CIS column-parallel architecture (CPA). They are the single-slope look-ahead ramp (SSLAR) and accelerated single-slope look-ahead ramp (ASSLAR) ADCs. Measurements of the SSLAR SuPT in a 200 × 150 pixel CIS chip showed that a 6x frame rate increase could be achieved while reducing power consumption 13% without compromising image quality. The ASSLAR SuPT, on the other hand, improved the performance of the SSLAR and the well-know accelerated ramp (AR) SuPT by enhancing the speedup ratio (SuPR) by 20% on average while keeping the structural similarity of the reproduced image not affected by the proposed algorithm and structural similarity index of over 98%. These new CIS SuPTs have some inherent settings that control speed-up ratio (SuPR) and ADC bit-resolution. As a result, power consumption, frame rate, and image quality of the CIS can intelligently be controlled and optimized. This intelligent control requires predicting the content and complexity of captured scenes without requiring complex computational resources. To do this, a new image quality (IQ) metric, called conversion complexity metric (CCM), was developed to simply and quantitatively measure complexity for any scene captured by CIS or a still image stored on a medium. It provides an index number for smart adjustment of the performance parameters of CIS electronics, including on-chip ADCs. The CCM was proven to be bounded, monotonic, 99% linear, and 316% sensitive. It is a computationally efficient single-image quality metric that no other metrics could provide for CIS to intelligently adjust and optimize on-chip analog and digital signal processing operations. The new CCM can also be used for comparing different SuPT for different ramp ADCs used in CIS CPAs. A new image quality and complexity comparison methodology is also proposed based on the CCM index and existing image quality metric, known as structural similarity metric (SSIM). This new methodology is proposed to set up a fair comparison between different SuPTs. Each SuPT has its controlling parameters (CPs) to adjust SuPR while trading off some CIS performance parameters, such as reproduced image quality of which, if not considered during the comparison procedure, it may result in a misleading performance advantage. Using the proposed comparison methodology guarantees that a fair comparison and judgment of different SuPTs is possible. A case study was developed to apply this new comparison methodology to compare the new ASSLAR and the existing AR SuPTs. This case study resulted in a process to hybridize these two powerful SuPTs to get superior performance. It was found that for the highly complex images with a CCM index of 0.5 or lower, the AR SuPT has to be used. For less complex images with a CCM value of 0.5 or more, it is beneficial to use the proposed ASSLAR SuPT to provide 20% or more SuPR compared with AR SuPT in CIS CPA.doctoral, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2020-1
Toward an Implementable Framework of the FAIR Data Principles for Earth Science Data Management and Stewardship
No full textAbstract: This Ph.D. research aims to improve the data management and stewardship for Earth sciencedigital resources by developing an implementable framework for the FAIR data principles. The lack of a pragmatic framework to facilitate the translation of FAIR data principles into the digital world has led to a gap between the theories and implementation of those principles for Earth science data stewardship. To overcome this challenge, we ask four themed questions to guide the research activities: First, how can we verify the validity and tautology of FAIR data principles? Second, how can we theoretically address FAIR data principles? Third, how can we technically approach FAIR data principles? Fourth, how can we efficiently evaluate the FAIRness of a digital resource? The two formal logical methods used in this work are the Truth Table and the Natural Deduction. The development method used is semantic web technologies supported by a FAIR ontology. Furthermore, the FAIRness level evaluation method used is a Fuzzy logic method. We show that FAIR data principles are valid and tautological, which resulted in the formulation of FAIR theorems. This research is the first research that implements formal logic to verify the FAIR data principles and uses fuzzy logic to assess the FAIRness level, which helps set up a bridge between the human conceptualization and the machine implementation of the FAIR data principles. We also show the prototype of FAIRtool.org, a semantic web application that adopts FAIR data principles, and the creation of the Fuzzy FAIR Assessment Framework (FFAF). The development of the FAIR theorems establishes rules to translate the FAIR data principles into machine-readable formats, which are necessary for the implementation of FAIR in the cyberinfrastructure. Using the FFAF model to assess the FAIRness of a digital resource led to an efficient FAIRness level evaluation. We demonstrated the outputs of this research with two examples from Earth science, the “NCDC Storm Events Database” use case and the “Data for Building an Open Science Framework to Model Soil Organic Carbon” use case. The Earth science community is actively promoting the adoption and implementation of FAIR principles. This Ph.D. research provides evidence about the logic validity of FAIR principles. The pilot system and examples show the implementability of FAIR principles in the cyberinfrastructure for various datasets and other digital resources. With more work and community of practice, this advancement in cyberinfrastructure will eventually promote the precision of Earth science data management and stewardship to a new level.doctoral, Ph.D., Computer Science -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2020-1
Summer habitat selection of female white-tailed deer: can we reduce agricultural field use in Northern Idaho?
No full textBig game species in Northern Idaho provide both ecological and economic benefits to a variety of societal groups. In the Clearwater region, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; WTD) are one of the main big game species that recreationalists seek, yet are also known to cause significant damage to high-profit crops. Although research is abundant in other parts of WTD range, research on habitat and behavioral ecology of WTD in Northern Idaho is lacking. The goal of our research was to investigate WTD ecology via fine-scale habitat selection and develop management tools that reduce crop damage through behavioral modifications. Behavioral modifications were intended to reduce the amount of time individuals spent in agricultural fields, and ultimately reduce the amount of damage caused. We used step selection functions to analyze summer home range (May 15 – October 6) habitat selection of 49 adult WTD females in 2017 and 2018, and analyzed data during 5 diel time periods: morning/evening, midday, crepuscular, peak, and night. We found that during the midday and nighttime hours WTD selected to be closer to agricultural field edges, shrublands, and forested habitat types. Similarly, WTD selected to be near agricultural field edges and shrublands during morning/evening hours, yet further away from forested habitat types. During peak hours (i.e., highest occurrence of WTD in agricultural fields), WTD selected for gentle slopes, larger distances from forested habitat, and to be closer to agricultural field edges, roads, and all 3 prominent crop types (hay, pulse, and winter wheat). Lastly, during crepuscular hours WTD selected for gentle slopes, larger distances from pulse crop fields, and closer to agricultural field edges, roads, grassland, and forested habitat types. We also investigated large scale movement patterns and seasonal migration timing. We found that approximately half of the GPS-collared individuals migrated each year, but that there were differences in movement behaviors between the 2 sub-populations. Half of the GPS-collared individuals resided on private land, while the other half resided on an Idaho Department of Fish and Game Access Yes land parcel subject to public hunting pressure. We found that 62% of private land individuals were resident, while 35% were migratory. The opposite was true for the Access Yes individuals with 38% remaining residents, while 65% were migratory. Not only did more publically-accessible individuals migrate, but they also migrated on average 2 months earlier than migrants from the other sub-population. Our behavior modification deterrent treatments consisted of a fear-enhancing deterrent (a combination of 3 components that target auditory, olfactory, and visual cues), a physical exclusion deterrent (4-strand electric partial fence), and a taste-aversion compound (lithium chloride, LiCl). Efficacy of the fear-enhancing deterrent was determined through counts of used GPS locations in agricultural fields, and distance from deterrent metrics. We found that the weekly number of GPS locations within treated fields was reduced by 23% after the treatment had been deployed, and that on average, GPS-collared individuals preferred to be ~35m further away from deterrent systems when they were on compared to when they were off. We used a log linear model to evaluate our physical exclusion deterrent, and found that WTD crossings (entering or exiting an agricultural field) were reduced by 30% when the fence was up and on compared to when it was down and off. Finally, although we were not able to actively deploy LiCl in a field setting or determine its efficacy as a deterrent treatment for WTD, we were able to investigate muscle and organ tissue withdrawal times and toxicity at a low and high dosage of ingested LiCl over a 10-day period in an analogous small ruminant, domestic sheep. Linear regression models were used to determine that peak lithium concentration (7.8µg/g) occurred in muscle tissues 25 hours post-ingestion at a low dosage of 150mg/kg body weight. At a high dosage (450mg/kg body weight), lithium concentration peaked (45µg/g) 73 hours post-ingestion, and resulted in a high mortality rate, raising concerns over the use of LiCl in a field setting except at low dosages. Overall, this research provides insight to WTD ecology and space-use patterns in Northern Idaho, which can help guide management strategies and actions to reduce WTD crop depredations while aiding in keeping a positive working relationship between agricultural producers, wildlife enthusiasts, and wildlife agencies.masters, M.S., Natural Resources -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2020-1
Behavioral Intentions, Risk Perception, and Issue Framing: Exploring Perspectives in a Mining-Impacted Region of Northern Idaho, USA
No full textInitiatives to remove and contain hazardous waste are complex, requiring collaboration across stakeholder groups. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency leads efforts to remediate and restore sites with hazardous waste through the Superfund program. Despite reductions in risk, complete removal of hazardous waste is often infeasible. Decisions about how to manage remaining hazards are influenced by how stakeholders frame economic development, public health, and environmental issues. In cases where contaminants such as lead [Pb] are present, risk communicators must also encourage people to practice health protective behaviors to reduce exposure risks. Risk perceptions influence how people receive and act on this risk communication information. The overall goal of my dissertation was to understand issue framing, behavioral intentions, and risk perceptions at a Superfund site with widespread lead contamination in a mining-impacted region of northern Idaho, USA. I conducted my research in partnership with the Panhandle Health District, an agency responsible for enforcing regulations and policies related to the Superfund program and public health. The dissertation includes four primary chapters. The first assesses associations between residents’ perceived health risk and their behavioral intentions to avoid Pb contamination. The second explores how economic, public health, and environmental priorities influences primary issue frames related to stakeholder perspectives about site remediation and restoration. The third offers perspectives about best practices for integrating participatory research when studying issues related to water and society. The final chapter presents a case study analysis of challenges and opportunities for risk communication. Implications from my research inform future risk communication strategies and collaborative planning processes in mining-impacted regions.doctoral, Ph.D., Water Resources -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2020-0