Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2014, Environmental Sciences

Social behaviours serve many functions including conflict resolution and stabilizing group dynamics. Relatives may engage in more affiliative behaviours and be in frequent close proximity with each other. The distribution of food can increase intragroup competition and agonistic behaviours. I examined the influence of relatedness and food distribution on the social behaviour and proximity between free-roaming cats in a colony. To determine relatedness, individuals were genotyped at ten polymorphic microsatellite loci. Food was manipulated in dispersed and clumped treatments. Data included affiliative, agonistic and investigatory behaviours and the frequency of times cats were within 1 meter proximity to conspecifics. I compared behaviour/proximity data to relatedness data for each food treatment. Relatedness did not influence behaviour or proximity between conspecifics. Although food distribution did not influence behaviour or proximity between individuals within the entire colony, agonistic behaviours were influenced by the distribution of food at the subgroup level.

Committee: Nancy Solomon (Advisor); Thomas Crist (Committee Member); Brian Keane (Committee Member); Ann Rypstra (Committee Member) Subjects: Animals; Biology; Ecology; Genetics; Zoology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2010, Spanish and Portuguese

This study explores the Catholic sensitivity in the fictional works and select articles of Spanish author, Juan Manuel de Prada. Prada officially declared himself a Catholic writer in 1995 and is also a columnist in the conservative Spanish daily ABC. This study traces the evolution and trajectory of this Pradian Catholic sensitivity, which is neither homogeneous nor static and which includes positions that ridicule the beliefs and practices of the Catholic religion, criticism and praise of the priest figure, a Catholic tone in his imagery and iconography, and an explicit defense of the institution of the Catholic Church and its spiritual treasures. Moreover, this Catholic sensitivity communicates the message of hope and redemption in the midst of a sinful world. The examination of the different Catholic subject positions of Prada was undertaken through textual analysis and the direct intervention of the author through interviews. The problematic articulation of what is Catholic sensitivity was based on several orthodox and traditional Catholic sources, primarily El catecismo de la Iglesia Catolica (1995), Theology of the body (1997) and Memoria e identidad (2005) by Pope John Paul II, as well as on the thinking of two celebrated Catholic minds: St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. Furthermore, the concept of Catholic sensitivity was rooted in various theories of subjectivity. Prada belongs to a genealogy of international Catholic writers from the French, English and North American tradition and, to a lesser extent, the Spanish tradition. Prada‘s Catholic essence is more easily identifiable in his opinions as a journalist than as a writer of fiction, where his Catholicity is more subtle and even at times, appears to be absent. Yet Prada‘s Catholic sensitivity neither in his journalism nor in his fiction is simple but rather complex and rich.

Committee: Samuel Amell PhD (Advisor); Ignacio Corona PhD (Committee Member); Lucia Costigan PhD (Committee Member); Salvador Garcia PhD (Other) Subjects: Foreign Language; Literature; Modern Literature; Religion; Romance Literature; Spirituality

Specialist in Education (Ed.S.), University of Dayton, 2021, School Psychology

Anxiety is a normal and appropriate response to a variety of situations. However, long-term effects of anxiety can impede daily life activities and disrupt an individual's overall well-being; this can be amplified when the child is also academically or intellectually gifted. The present study examined the effectiveness of the Brief Coping Cat, implemented in a school setting with three students who were identified gifted and demonstrated elevated levels of anxiety. Students participated in an eight-week intervention designed to increase their understanding of anxiety and teach effective coping skills through cognitive strategies and exposure tasks. Each student completed the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children 2nd Edition Self Report before and after the intervention period and completed a Subject Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) during each session, to measure the efficacy of the intervention. Results indicated that the brief intervention was effective in reducing anxiety for students who were academically and intellectually gifted. Implications for school-based supports for students who are gifted and experience anxiety are discussed.

Committee: Elana Bernstein Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Sawyer Hunley Ph.D. (Committee Member); Layla Kurt Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Educational Psychology; Mental Health; Psychology; School Counseling

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2021, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

Objectives: The rise in antibiotic resistance amongst urinary tract infections in both cats and dogs underscores the need for non-antibiotic approaches to urinary tract infections. The probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle-1917 has many benefits including antimicrobial activity against many human pathogens including uropathogenic E. coli. The aim of this study was to characterize uropathogenic E. coli in feline UTI cases and investigate the in vitro susceptibility of these isolates to Nissle-1917. Methods: Forty-one cats with positive E. coli urine cultures were included in the study. Samples used in this study were obtained from urine collected for routine evaluation of cats with urinary tract infections. Characterization of uropathogenic E. coli isolates was performed by PCR based phylotype analysis and serotyping. Nissle-1917 effectiveness against uropathogenic E. coli isolates was tested in vitro using microcin plate analysis. Results: Feline phylogroups were similar to those previously reported in human and feline UPEC studies, with most of the isolates belonging to phylogroup A (41.4%), B2 (39%), and D (14.6%). This group of feline uropathogenic E. coli isolates had a smaller percentage of B1 phylogroup isolates compared to other populations. Fifty-nine percent of isolates were found to be resistant to antimicrobials with 29.2% of those being multi-drug resistant. Eighty percent of isolates were susceptible to the EcN probiotic in vitro with 83.3% of the antimicrobial resistant isolates also showing in vitro susceptibility. The median zone of inhibition noted in vitro was 3.33 mm with a range of 1.67-10.67 mm. Thirteen isolates showed inhibition via overgrowth and 28 via microcin production. Conclusions and relevance: Uropathogenic E. coli isolates from feline patients were similar in phylogroup analysis to human and dog isolates. In vitro uropathogenic E. coli susceptibility to Nissle-1917 suggests the potential use of Nissle as a novel therapeutic to pr (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Adam Rudinsky DVM, MS, DACVIM (Advisor); Jessica Quimby DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Committee Member); Winston Jenessa DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Committee Member); Byron Julie DVM, MS, DACVIM (Committee Member); Howard James DVM, MS, DACVS (Committee Member) Subjects: Comparative; Veterinary Services

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2020, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: The initial chapters of this thesis will introduce the importance of evaluating cachexia and muscle loss in patients with chronic disease, definitions of terminology associated with muscle mass loss and disease, cellular pathways and mechanisms by which chronic kidney disease leads to loss of muscle, and current modalities by which skeletal muscle amounts can be quantified. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of epaxial muscle cross-sectional area measurement on feline CT images and to determine the relationship between normalized epaxial muscle area (EMA) and subjective muscle condition score (MCS). METHODS: Feline transverse CT images including the junction of the 13th thoracic vertebrae/13th rib head were retrospectively reviewed. Right and left epaxial muscle circumference and vertebral body height were measured and an average normalized EMA (ratio of epaxial area:vertebral height) was calculated for each image. Measurements were performed by three individuals blinded to the clinical data and were repeated 1 month later. Intra- and inter-rater reliability of EMA was assessed with concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and Bland-Altman analysis was performed to assess bias and limits of agreement (LoA) between and within observers at different time points. In cats for which MCS data were available, EMA was compared between differing MCSs via the Kruskal-Wallis test, with Bonferroni-corrected Wilcoxon rank-sum post-hoc analysis. RESULTS: In total, 101 CT scans met the inclusion criteria for reliability analysis, 29 of which had muscle condition information available for analysis. Intra-rater EMA CCC ranged from 0.84 to 0.99 with minimal bias (range -0.16 to 0.08) and narrow LoA. Inter-rater EMA CCC ranged from 0.87 to 0.94, bias was larger (range -0.46 to 0.66) and LoA were wider when assessed between observers. Median EMA was significantly lower in cats with severe (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jessica Quimby DACVIM (Advisor); Valerie Parker DACVIM, DACVN (Committee Member); Rachel Cianciolo DACVP (Committee Member); Julie Byron DACVIM (Committee Member); Eric Green DACVR (Committee Member) Subjects: Veterinary Services

Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2020, Geological Sciences

Glassy spherules from three Transantarctic Mountain sediments were geochemically analyzed and at two of these sites (Mt. Raymond (RY) in the Grosvenor Mountains and Meteorite Moraine (MM) in Walcott Neve, in the Beardmore Glacier region of Antarctica) Australasian microtektites were discovered. The microtektites were identified based on their pale yellow appearance and confirmed geochemically; they have high concentrations of silica (SiO2 = 60.0 +/- 6.9 wt%) and alumina (Al2O3 = 23.0 +/- 4.0 wt%) and all have K2O/Na2O > 1, characteristic of microtektites and distinct from spherules of meteoritic origin. Additionally, the trace element pattern matches the upper continental crust with enrichments in refractory elements and depletions in volatile elements, most likely as a result of melting and vaporization of the source material. The presence of Australasian microtektites in RY sediment confirms the recent Australasian strewnfield extension to Antarctica (Folco et al., 2008) and the presence of highly-depleted microtektites (Van Ginneken et al., 2018). In addition to microtektites, thousands of chondritic spherules and a few unique cosmic spherules were identified in RY, MM, and Jacobs Nunatak (JA) sediments. These sites are evidently successful cosmic dust and impact debris collectors, and thus their usefulness in recording influx events is explored.

Committee: Ralph Harvey Dr. (Committee Chair); James Van Orman Dr. (Committee Member); Steven Hauck II Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Geochemistry; Geology

PHD, Kent State University, 2019, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies

The development of technology since the last quarter of the 20th century has played a momentous role in shaping the translation process for most languages. The Arabic language, however, has encountered challenges and difficulties to catch up with the accelerated changes in computer-assisted translation tools. Those challenges have been examined and investigated extensively during the last decade. However, these tools evaluations made by Arabic language translators have not been adequately taken into consideration in the previous studies. The challenging morphological, syntactic, phonetic, and phonologic characteristics of Arabic language make it one of the most complicated languages for the use of developed translation technology, which can explain a potentially understandable negative assessment among Arabic language translators. This study examined Arabic language translators' evaluation of computer-assisted translation tools and investigated potential problems that can possibly complicate the use of the tools. Finally, the study discussed factors to take into consideration when developing computer-assisted tools to address Arabic language translators' needs. The study hypothesized that Arabic language translators would express concerns regarding language-specific issues during the use of the tools. Complications would occur for Arabic language translators while working with these applications, e.g. MT suggestions, segmentation, punctuation and script related issues etc. To test the study's hypothesis, a mixed methodological approach was pursued that combines the following: an online survey and an observational experiment. Arabic language translators were recruited to participate in the study. A mixed approach of quantitative and qualitative analysis of the collected data were conducted to demonstrate the responses and evaluation of the participants toward the tools. The results of the study reveal a strong inclination by Arabic language translators in this study (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sue Ellen Wright (Advisor); Said Shiyab (Committee Member); Eric Angelone (Committee Member); Michael Carl (Committee Member); Yesim Kaptan (Committee Member) Subjects: Computer Science; Language; Linguistics

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Cleveland State University, 2018, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

This thesis is a work of fiction. It includes the first half of a novel-in-progress and three short stories. The plot driven novel, Red Plane, is about a woman, Alexis, who discovers her hidden passion for murder, while dealing with and preparing for the homecoming of her mother, who has been in prison for fourteen years for murdering her husband, Alexis' father. The rest is a series of short stories: Breakfast at Mel's is a surreal tale of a man who wakes up in a bizarre dream and has to make a choice between good and evil; Smalltown Adjustments follows Prajan, an Indian man, on his trip to a grocery store in--the very caucasion--Smalltown, Ohio; The Escape Claws introduces us to Clem, a stray cat who wakes up in the hood and must fight to survive the mean streets of Cleveland until he finds a place to call home.

Committee: Imad Rahman (Advisor); Caryl Pagel (Committee Member); Michael Geither (Committee Member); David Giffels (Committee Member) Subjects: Language Arts

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2017, Anatomy

Computational modeling has long been used in neuroscience as a supplement to more traditional experimental techniques, as it provides some advantages in terms of the level and detail of control available over the system being studied. At the same time, modeling has significant disadvantages by virtue of adding additional uncertainty to results and forcing the definition of potentially unclear physiological mechanisms. Nevertheless, modeling can provide useful insights when carefully defined and constrained. In this thesis, a model of the a-MN pool innervating the cat medial gastrocnemius was constructed. This model was then used to address two major questions, one regarding modeling technique and the other physiological methods of motor control. Regarding modeling technique, the original pool model was developed with distinct properties representing the different physiological types of a-MNs. Properties of these types were spread such that significant overlap was present between them, as shown in experimental results. However, similar models are often developed without inclusion of this feature. By removing the overlap from this model, it was shown that inclusion, or lack thereof, of electrophysiological property overlap has significant impact on model results. Additionally, experimental evidence has shown that a-MNs of lower input resistance innervating muscles of the cat hind limb receive greater synaptic current from volitional input than do those of higher input resistance. To test the significance of this finding, a control scheme was adopted in which input to cells varied as IN, S < IN, FR < IN, FF. The results of this test seem to support assertions made by others, that the size principle, which is often considered in an AHP depth and duration dependent manner, is most applicable when comparing to in vitro electrical stimulation, and that an “onion-skin” pattern of recruitment, in which the fastest-firing units are recruited first, is more applic (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sherif Elbasiouny Ph.D., PE (Advisor); Mark Rich M.D., Ph.D. (Committee Member); Nasser Kashou Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Neurosciences

Specialist in Education (Ed.S.), University of Dayton, 2017, School Psychology

Anxiety is a common co-occurring symptom in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and contributes to the difficulties they experience at school. Unfortunately, few school-based interventions are considered well established and lack strong empirical data for successfully treating anxiety in children with ASD. The present study examined the effectiveness of a modified cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention, Brief Coping Cat, when implemented with (n = 3) students with co-occurring ASD and anxiety. Students participated in an eight-week intervention designed to teach children to recognize signs of anxious arousal and use learned strategies to manage the symptoms. Intervention outcomes were measured with weekly self-reported ratings of anxiety. The students' teacher was also interviewed before and after the intervention regarding each students' anxiety and progress with the intervention. Results indicated that the intervention demonstrates effectiveness and flexibility in a school-based setting, and with the unique population of participants, but requires further research to support the generalizability of the study's findings.

Committee: Elana Bernstein (Committee Chair); Susan Davies (Committee Member); Layla Kurt (Committee Member) Subjects: Cognitive Therapy; Counseling Education; Educational Psychology; Psychology; School Counseling; Special Education

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2015, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

Exenatide extended-release (ER) is a microencapsulated formulation of the GLP-1-receptor agonist exenatide. It has a protracted pharmacokinetic profile that allows a once-weekly injection with comparable efficacy to insulin and an improved safety profile in type-2 diabetic people. Here we studied the pharmacology of Exenatide-ER in 6 healthy cats. A single subcutaneous injection of Exenatide-ER (0.13 mg/kg) was administered on day 0. Exenatide concentrations were measured for 12 weeks. A hyperglycemic clamp (target = 225 mg/dL) was performed on days minus 7 (Clamp-I) and 21 (Clamp-II) with measurements of insulin and glucagon concentrations. Glucose tolerance was defined as the amount of glucose required to maintain hyperglycemia during the clamp. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was performed on weeks 0, 2 and 6 post-injection. Plasma concentrations of exenatide peaked at 1 hour and 4 weeks post-injection. Comparing Clamp-1 to Clamp-2, fasting BG decreased (mean [±SD] = -11 ± 8 mg/dL, P = 0.02), glucose tolerance improved (median [range] +33% [4-138%], P = 0.04), insulin concentrations increased (+36.5% [-9.9-274.1%], P = 0.02) and glucagon concentrations decreased (-4.7% [0-12.1%], P = 0.005). Compared to pre-injection values on CGM, glucose concentrations decreased and the frequency of readings < 50 mg/dL increased at 2 and 6 weeks post-injection of Exenatide-ER. This did not correspond to clinical hypoglycemia. No other side effects were observed throughout the study. Exenatide-ER was safe and effective in improving glucose tolerance 3 weeks after a single injection. Further evaluation is needed to determine its safety, efficacy and duration of action in diabetic cats.

Committee: Chen Gilor (Advisor); Christopher Adin (Committee Member); Ramiro Toribio (Committee Member); Valerie Parker (Committee Member) Subjects: Medicine; Pharmacology; Veterinary Services

Bachelor of Science, Ashland University, 2014, Biology/Toxicology

Animals that are kept in captivity need enrichment activities to live better lives. There are many types of enrichment such as cognitive, auditory, and visual. This study focuses on olfactory enrichment, which was chosen because cats use their olfactory sense in communication and in hunting. This means that olfactory enrichment has a profound effect upon them. This study was done to look at olfactory enrichment for cats that were housed communally in a rescue shelter. This experiment was novel because it looked at cats that were not housed individually as was done in previous studies. The study looked at four scents: lavender, rabbit, catnip, and silver vine. The cats were housed communally, which allowed them to constantly interact with the stimulus and each other. Another novelty of this experiment was the use of silver vine as an enrichment scent, which had been used previously with big cats but not with domestic felines. The experiment measured the behavior of the cats to look at the enriching effects of the scents. The cats were videotaped while they interacted with the cloth. The frequencies of behaviors were then quantified and analyzed. It was found that lavender had a significant effect on the frequency of sitting behavior, rabbit, and catnip had no significant effects on behavior, and silver vine had a significant effect on the frequency of sitting and playing. The results of the study show that it is possible to use enrichment for cats that are housed communally in a shelter and that silver vine is an effective enrichment scent because it increased play behavior. Future studies should focus on the other benefits of silver vine and other scents that could be beneficial for cats living in a communally housed shelter.

Committee: Mason Posner PhD (Advisor); Richard Stoffer PhD (Other) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Biology

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2014, Biomedical Engineering

Electric nerve block has many potential applications in the medical field for treating sensory (e.g. pain, constant tingling, paresthesia), motor (e.g. spasticity, dystonia or reflex over-activation of muscles) and autonomic disorders (e.g. reduction of blood pressure or heart rate) by reducing activity in neural pathways. Current medical treatments often involve the repeated injection of chemical agents (such as Phenol or Botox) or the surgical transection of nerves, muscles or tendons to provide symptomatic care. Electric nerve block, using the right waveform, can be initiated instantly for a controlled reduction of neural activity, which completely returns as soon as the block is turned off. There have been several acute studies exploring different forms of electric nerve block but only very few chronic studies, leaving the field with insufficient information regarding the safety and efficacy of this promising new technology. * * * Three studies are described here; one in-vitro and two preclinical. They provide descriptions of optimal waveforms and technological solutions to facilitate the translation of electric nerve block technology from research to clinical use. In the first study, we quantified the efficacy and reliability of kilohertz-frequency alternating current (KHFAC) block, enabling bladder voiding post chronic-stage spinal cord injury. In the other two studies, the feasibility and safety of using combined KHFAC and charge-balanced direct current (CBDC) waveforms for an onset-response free nerve block are investigated in-vitro and in-vivo. * * * We report how electric-only, daily bladder maintenance was successfully achieved in awake subjects at the push of a button and how the induction of an onset-response-free nerve block without nerve damage was achieved. Essential alterations to the block and/or stimulation waveform generation circuit necessary to avoid unintended DC contamination are also described in this thesis. The data from the three stud (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kevin Kilgore PhD (Advisor); Dominique Durand PhD (Committee Chair); Niloy Bhadra PhD (Committee Member); Kenneth Gustafson PhD (Committee Member); Jesse Wainright PhD (Committee Member); Narendra Bhadra PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Research; Neurobiology; Neurology; Neurosciences

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2014, American Culture Studies

Using Michel Foucault's notion of containment strategies, this dissertation argues that representations of the crazy cat lady, the reprehensible animal hoarder, the proud spinster, and the unproductive old maid negatively frame independent, single women as models of failed White womanhood. These characters must be contained because they intrinsically transgress social norms, query gender roles, and challenge the limitations of mediated womanhood. In order to explore the role of representation, this dissertation provides a suggestive history of the ways spinsters and old maids evolved into their current iteration, the cat lady. The research begins by tracing cultural representations of cats and women from 2000 BCE through the early modern period. After this retrospective, the research focuses on two particular points of cultural anxiety connected to changing gender roles: the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. During the former, the media characterized spinsters and old maids as selfish, proud, unnatural, unproductive, and childish in newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets. Rather than focusing exclusively on the negative coverage, this dissertation deeply analyzes three transgressive novels, Agnes Grey, An Old-Fashioned Girl, and Lolly Willowes: Or the Loving Huntsman, to contextualize the ways positive representations of spinsters and old maids could threaten patriarchal society. At the turn of the 21st century, spinster and old maid became outmoded terms, but the cat lady emerges as a postmodern version of the same cautionary tale. Fictional television characters like Eleanor Abernathy from The Simpsons and Angela Martin from The Office are deconstructed, revealing the ways the framing and editing contribute to narratives of failed femininity. Participants from reality TV shows like Hoarders and Confessions: Animal Hoarding and the documentary film Cat Ladies are analyzed to demonstrate the ways factual representations further pathologize the cat lady by associati (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Ellen Berry (Advisor); Vikki Krane (Committee Member); Sarah Smith Rainey (Committee Member); Marilyn Motz (Committee Member) Subjects: American Studies; Animals; Gender; Gender Studies; Mass Media

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2012, Mathematics

This thesis is divided into two parts. In chapter 2, we study two generalizations of the Kan-Thurston theorem. The Kan-Thuston theorem says that every complex X has the homology of some group G. As a combination of Hausmann and Leary, we prove that G can be taken as a CAT(0) cubical group if X is finite. We also prove that every finite complex is homotopy equivalent to the classifying space for proper bundles of a virtual Poincar ¿¿¿¿e duality group. Coxeter groups will be introduced to construct the virtual Poincar ¿¿¿¿e duality group. In chapter 3, we study algebraic rank of groups. It is specially interesting when groups act properly and cocompactly on CAT(0) spaces by isometries. Motivated by the strong relationship between geometric rank of CAT(0) manifolds and alge- braic rank of CAT(0) groups, we compute algebraic rank of some CAT(0) groups. They include right-angled Coxeter groups, right-angled Artin groups, groups acting geometrically on CAT(0) spaces with isolated flats and relatively hyperbolic groups.

Committee: Jean Lafont (Advisor); Ian Leary (Advisor); Michael Davis (Committee Member); Nathan Broaddus (Committee Member) Subjects: Mathematics

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2011, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

The human hippocampus has several unique attributes and is one of the more structurally discrete structures of the limbic system. Humans exposed to chronic stress or pain, most notably patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic pelvic pain syndromes, have detectably smaller hippocampal structures. Interstitial cystitis (IC) in humans is a recognized syndrome of chronic pelvic pain. Feline interstitial cystitis (FIC) is a spontaneous animal model for IC. Therefore, documenting volume changes in the hippocampus in cats may lead to further understanding of chronic pain in all species. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of measuring the volume of the feline hippocampus using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain MRI of 3 cats (2 nonsymptomatic cats from an FIC colony and 1 normal cat from an unrelated study) was performed using 3 Tesla (T) and 7T MR systems. T2w images were made with extremity coils designed specifically for each magnet, and a smaller surface coil in the 7T magnet. Transverse, sagittal, and dorsal plane images were acquired in each imaging session. Cats were imaged in vivo, post perfusion fixation, and at various durations (4-181 days) of immersion fixation of the brain in 10% formalin using both magnets. DICOM images were imported into ImageJ and each hippocampus was manually outlined on all images. The areas were then multiplied by the image thickness (including spacing) and the area from each slice was summed to obtain a volume. The average measured in vivo hippocampal volume was 277.2 + 18.9 mm3 on the transverse images of the 3T system which equated to 1% of the total brain volume (each hippocampus). The average volumes obtained in the 3T system in the other planes were 228.0 + 47.2 mm3 on the sagittal images and 207.0 + 47.5 mm3 on the dorsal images. Average volumes obtained in vivo in the 7T system were 286.8 + 47.1 mm3 on the transverse images, 221.5 + 41.0 mm3 on the sagittal images, and 273.5 + 9.5 mm3 on the d (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Wm Tod Drost DVM (Committee Chair); Petra Schmalbrock PhD (Committee Member); C.A. Tony Buffington DVM, MS, PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Veterinary Services

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2010, Veterinary Clinical Sciences

Sonography is useful for evaluating feline splenic pathology. Normal feline sonographic splenic measurements are not well characterized. Unlike the dog and Cheetah, sonographic response of the feline spleen to drugs and hemorrhage has not been established. The study aims included; evaluating normal splenic sonographic size, assessing the effect of sevoflurane and non-splenic hemorrhage on the sonographic appearance and size of the feline spleen, and correlating splenic findings with packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP), and regenerative response, as indicated by a complete blood count (CBC). Sixty healthy blood donor cats were enrolled in the study. Sevoflurane was used for anesthetic induction and maintenance. Transverse images of the splenic mid body (13 MHz) were made and splenic sonographic measurements (height, width and cross sectional area [CSA]), echogenicity relative to the left renal cortex and echotexture were recorded at four time periods. Sonographic evaluation was performed at baseline prior to anesthesia and blood donation, following anesthesia induction, following completion of blood donation while under anesthesia, and 7-10 days after blood donation. PCV, TP, and CBCs were obtained prior to blood donation and 7-10 days following blood donation, with PCV and TP evaluated in eight cats immediately following blood donation. Height, width, CSA, PCV and TP were compared across time periods using linear mixed effects models. The models included period as the primary factor, with additional covariates such as age, gender, and total blood donated. Differences in CBC values between days were assessed using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Holm's method was applied to adjust for multiplicity and control the overall Type 1 error rate at α=0.05. In these clinically normal cats, the means ± standard deviation for transverse splenic size at baseline were: height 8.2 ± 1.4 mm, width 26.7 ± 4.4 mm, and CSA 1.6 ± 0.5 cm2. The spleen was diffusely homogenous and (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Lisa Zekas DVM (Advisor); Guillermo Couto DVM (Committee Member); Phillip Lerche DVM (Committee Member) Subjects: Veterinary Services

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2008, Natural Resources

I conducted scent station surveys throughout northeastern Illinois to determine factors associated with a gray fox population decline, and to assess land cover associations of urban mesopredators. When detected, gray foxes were collared and radiotracked. Results of my study indicated that gray foxes may have been negatively affected by urbanization, intraguild competition with coyotes, and interspecific interactions with raccoons. Generalist mesopredators were found to interact with the landscape at spatial scales that were larger than those accomodated by remnant habitat patches. Mobile mesopredators were positively associated with a high degree of urban development whereas less mobile mesopredators were positively associated with a moderate degree of development. Domestic cats, however, were positively associated with a high degree of urban development, likely due to their association as a companion animal. Habitat associations of urban mesopredators are important to understand in order to manage and control the spread of disease, mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, and understand how mesopredators can influence the wildlife community existing within urbanized landscapes.

Committee: Stan Gehrt Ph.D. (Advisor); Robert Gates Ph.D. (Committee Member); Charles Goebel Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Ecology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2003, Electrical Engineering

In the latest years there have been extensive advances in the field of intelligent vehicle systems and virtual environment simulation technology has played an important role in these advances, enabling researchers to design, develop and test new technologies utilizing computer-based test-beds, without the standard problems associated with real world testing. In this thesis, developments on the Ohio State University Virtual Environment System (OSU-VES) will be presented, which is one such system being developed at The Ohio State University since 1996. First, two main components of the system, which are the Virtual Environment Builder RoadEZ, and the Virtual Environment Simulator VESim, will be discussed in detail. We will present the implementation details of the automation of the environment generation process, including the inputting of the environment data; function fitting to road data; detection and handling of intersections and merges; interpolation, population and triangulation of road, terrain and vehicle path data; placement and editing of 3D objects; and data and configuration generation for virtual simulation. Next we will discuss the advances on the virtual environment simulation process, including key concepts such as modular structure, generic modules for decoupling of module algorithms from simulation interface, triggering events and event trigger modules. This will be followed by three applications of OSU-VES to demonstrate the usefulness and power of the system for intelligent vehicle research: Synchronization of virtual environment simulations with actual sensor data, development of an emergency driver assistance system called the Control Authority Transition (CAT) System, and the building of the environments and scenarios for a human factors research on driver distractions.

Committee: Umit Ozguner (Advisor) Subjects:

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2007, Mathematics

Coxeter groups arise in many parts of mathematics as groups generated by reflections. They provide an important source of examples in geometric group theory, where "virtual" properties of infinite groups, that is, properties of subgroups of finite index, are of strong interest. This dissertation focuses on virtual properties of infinite Coxeter groups. The following results are proved: (1) The intersection of a collection of parabolic subgroups of a Coxeter group is a parabolic subgroup; (2) The center of any finite index subgroup of an irreducible, infinite, non-affine Coxeter group is trivial; (3) Any finite index subgroup of an irreducible, infinite, non-affine Coxeter group cannot be expressed as a product of two nontrivial subgroups. Then, a unique decomposition theorem for subgroups of finite index in a Coxeter group without spherical or affine factors is proved based on (2) and (3). It is also proved that the orbit of each element other than the identity under the conjugation action in an irreducible, infinite, non-affine Coxeter group is an infinite set, which implies that an irreducible, infinite Coxeter group is affine if and only if it contains an abelian subgroup of finite index. Besides these, new proofs are given for the statement that the center of an irreducible, infinite Coxeter group is trivial, and a stronger version of this statement.

Committee: Michael Davis (Advisor) Subjects: Mathematics