Emerging research shows that individual differences in how people use technology sometimes cluster by socioeconomic status (SES) and that when technology is not socioeconomically inclusive, low-SES individuals may abandon it. To understand how to improve technology’s SES-inclusivity, we present a multi-phase case study on SocioEconomicMag (SESMag), an emerging inspection method...
Multi-robot teams offer promising solutions for many long term deployments in remote and dangerous domains, such as extraterrestrial or underseas exploration. However, long term deployments present many problems preventing robot teams from operating effectively. Learning over long time scales is makes it difficult to assign credit to robots' actions, as...
This dissertation proposes the use of advanced time-varying approaches for modeling the dynamics of the multipath channel in wireless communication networks. These advanced time-varying approaches include linear Kalman innovation models in observable block companion form, and neural network-based models. The e˙ectiveness of these type of models is evaluated through three...
An important impact of the genome technology revolution will be the elucidation of mechanisms of cancer pathogenesis, leading to improvements in the diagnosis of cancer and the selection of cancer treatment. Integrated with current well-studied massive knowledge and findings about the role of protein-coding mutations in cancer, demystifying the functional...
Exploration and production of oil in the Gulf of Mexico has seen an astonishing increase since the first well was drilled in 1936. Much of the current exploration is occurring in waters greater than 5000 feet. The largest and most unprecedented oil spill in the United States occurred on April...
We consider three problems on simplicial complexes: the Optimal Bounded Chain Problem, the Optimal Homologous Chain Problem, and 2-Dim-Bounded-Surface. The Optimal Bounded Chain Problem asks to find the minimum weight d-chain in a simplicial complex K bounded by a given (d−1)-chain, if such a d-chain exists. The Optimal Homologous Chain...
Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5 and Graphium sp. were studied to evaluate their ability to cometabolize methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and its metabolites after growth on two different alkanes, propane and iso-pentane. Both cultures were capable of cometabolizing MTBE and the metabolites, tert-butyl formate (TBF) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). MTBE, TBF, and...
Recent advancements in unmanned aerial vehicle (drone*) technology, sensors, and software applications have increased efficiency in data collection, reduced human error, and increased safety while managing a wide range of projects. No longer relegated solely to military use, drones have become synonymous with picturesque views of natural wonders and resources...
M. avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) and M. abscessus subsp. abscessus (MAB) both belong to the clinically important non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) group that infect immunocompromised patients with AIDS and individuals with underlining lung conditions such as bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis. The main challenge of treating MAH and MAB patients is an...