In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), spinal motoneurons degenerate in the order of large motoneurons that innervate fast and fatigable muscle fibers to small motoneurons that innervate slow muscle fibers (Pun et al. 2006). This order of degeneration is peculiar in that it is in direct opposition to the normal order...
Algorithms which are efficient and robust are essential to meet the increasing computational demands in the world today. In this thesis, we consider the analysis and design of both distributed algorithms for dynamic average consensus and centralized algorithms for convex optimization.
Dynamic average consensus consists of a group of agents,...
3D integration of integrated circuits is becoming a prominent solution in the design of high performance chips. Multiple dies can be stacked in a single 3D structure and utilizes Through Silicon Vias (TSV) for die to die communications. While this feature significantly decrease the latency of data transfer, multi-tier stacking...
Phase separation in segmented polymers provides distinct challenges in regard to their chemical reaction kinetics and characterization. Well studied, it has been shown that structure, phase separation and non-covalent interactions are key factors in the design of elastomeric polyurethanes. Specifically, this dissertation is focused on two areas: the synthesis of...
Air pollution increases mortality risk up to 18 percent due to cardiovascular causes. Poor air quality occurs more when meteorological components prevent the dispersal of pollutants in the lower atmosphere. The atmospheric and hydrological patterns change as global warming alters the pattern of circulations seasonally. The purpose of this study...
“The Vicarious Middle Ages” investigates the religious and cultural history of proxy penance where medieval Christians believed that it was possible to suffer on behalf of another person. In proxy penance, one person completed a penitential work for another, who received the spiritual benefit. From the third until the sixteenth...
Ross (2015) proposed a recovery theorem which uses prices of contingent claims to recover market’s expectations about underlying asset returns. His work relies on two assumptions. He assumes all uncertainty of the economy follows a finite state irreducible Markov chain and that the pricing kernel is transition independent. We first...
A failure to effectively regulate emotions elicited by a stressful life event contributes to symptoms of psychopathology. This regulatory failure may result from a deficit in executive control. For some individuals, executive control is impaired following stress exposure. Thus, for some individuals, when executive control is needed to regulate emotions...
SIRT3 is a mitochondrial-localized, NAD+-dependent deacetylase, tumor suppressor protein that functions to direct mitochondrial energy sensing and antioxidant proteins, increasing the efficiency of energy utilization, providing a redox balanced environment, and preventing aging-related diseases. One SIRT3 deacetylation target is NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2), a key Krebs Cycle enzyme that...
Topoisomerases are ubiquitous enzymes involved in maintaining the supercoiled state of DNA in the cell. Structural, biophysical, and biochemical studies have provided an overall view of the mechanisms of DNA transformation by these enzymes, but many aspects, particularly their dynamic characteristics, remain poorly understood. Type IA topoisomerases change the topology...