Master of Landscape Architecture, The Ohio State University, 2012, Landscape Architecture

Under current recommendations for ecological restoration by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER- b, 2004), the critical elements of post construction monitoring and management are all but eliminated. This study addresses the question: Can monitoring inform management actions in to support of restoration viability, using existing resources? “Comprehensive criteria for biodiversity evaluation in conservation planning“ (Regan et al, 2007), shows that restoration landscapes are not valued highly or rated as ecologically viable landscapes, as most restorations do not achieve full biological diversity. Another factor is the degradation which often continues, limiting the ability to achieve fully restored biological function. Monitoring and Management (M & M) were integral parts of restoration process until 2002; however, monitoring and management are no longer supported as part of scope of services included in implementation of restoration designs. M & M services are expected to be provided by the owner agency without any plan for the ongoing monitoring and management necessary to support the full restoration of the ecosystem (Higgs, 2003). Goebel (2011) claims that restored ecosystems should be capable of being self-maintaining and should be self-sustaining. Until such a condition exists, restorations need monitoring and management to continue mitigation of the degradation forces that damaged the original ecosystem. This investigation applies the standards for monitoring and management to a case study of the existing Phase 1 riparian restoration at Clover Groff Ditch, Columbus, Ohio completed in 2010 by City of Columbus Recreation and Parks funded by an OEPA grant. The restored area is constructed using vegetative and structural restoration treatments; however, there is no active monitoring or management plan in place to assess and mitigate continuing degradation forces. This study provides guides and methods for monitoring by volunteers to inform the owner of ne (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Landscape Architecture, The Ohio State University, 2013, Landscape Architecture

An increase in the understanding of anthropogenic impacts related to our waterways has spurred much interest in ecological stream restoration. Billions of dollars are entering this field as societal and regulatory pressures are exerted upon municipalities and developers. Research suggests that stream restoration projects only consider aesthetics and economic growth as key goals rather than thinking of how the stream functions holistically or ecologically. Additionally, research suggests that these funds are greatly misused, funding only stream restoration projects where space, politics, and infrastructure allow (Nilsson et al 2003, and Niezgoda and Johnson 2005). These projects cater toward a naturalized condition. A variety of techniques and strategies are deployed to achieve both project goals and objectives. These techniques and strategies support the notion of a naturalized stream condition through their effective use and aesthetics. Furthermore, research shows that goals and objectives for these projects can be lumped in to four main categories: bank stabilization, erosion control, stormwater management, and re-vegetation (Bernhardt and Palmer 2007). However, little is being done by way of research and design study in the most severely degraded portions of these streams—those that are concretized. The goal of this study is to show how restoration might occur in concretized waterways where a naturalized condition cannot fully accommodate the degree of changes and demands that have been placed on the watershed by urbanization. Objectives within this study focus on improvements to water quality and in-stream habitat as well as accessibility and connectivity for communities. Through the review of traditional stream restoration techniques, their hybridization, and deployment in concretized streams this project shows how a highly degraded stream condition can be augmented to perform similarly, ecologically, to its naturalized counterpart. A catalo (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science (M.S.), University of Dayton, 2024, Biology

Ecological restoration of degraded lands, such as abandoned agricultural fields, often requires establishing native species in challenging environmental conditions. The interruption of this process by invasive species poses a significant obstacle to native plant reestablishment. Woody invasive species like Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) outcompete native plants, creating favorable conditions for invasion and rendering post-agricultural fields unsuitable for native species establishment. Traditional methods for controlling invasive species require consistent upkeep and observation, but in tallgrass prairies, increasing the diversity and abundance of plants has shown some ability to decrease the number of invasive species in the area. In collaboration with community partners at Five Rivers Metroparks, our laboratory initiated an experiment on a 30-acre parcel of post-agricultural land in Trotwood, Ohio. Twenty 50 x 50m plots were established, each receiving one of four prairie seed mixes with varying levels of species diversity and legume content (n = 5 / seed treatment). These plots were further subdivided and treated with one of four soil amendments: mulch, whole soil, mulch & whole soil, and a control with no amendment. In this thesis I describe the findings of my botanical assessment of prairie establishment that was based on a vegetation survey conducted in the summer of 2023. I found that there is still a significantly smaller presence of invasive species compared to native species. The site is comprised of mainly native species (~80%), although this is mainly driven by species that were not seeded on the site. There is also a higher species richness in the higher diversity seed mix plots than the lower diversity seed mix plots, which shows some success in the different seed mixes. There was no correlation in the presence of legumes and the applied seeding treatments or soil amendments, and the legume species were primarily spontaneous species such as Trifolium (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2015, Environment and Natural Resources

The Forest Service's $40-million dollar Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) provides grants to National Forests seeking to improve forest resiliency, maintain ecosystem services, and reduce wildfire risks while providing local economic benefits. Several previous studies have examined ecological aspects of forest restoration such as historic conditions and the effectiveness of treatment methods; however, limited research has considered how restoration is conceptualized by those involved in making restoration decisions. These conceptualizations can have meaningful implications for the development of restoration goals, the level of agreement or conflict among participants, and how restoration activities are carried out on the ground. Of particular interest given the broad focus of the CFLRP are the degree to which restoration activities are based on current scientific literature and how participants weigh the relative importance of social, economic and ecological factors when creating restoration goals and deciding on an implementation approach. The studies presented here were designed to help address this knowledge gap by using a mental model approach to identify and compare participant conceptualizations of forest restoration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 25 participants at three ecologically distinct CFLRP sites. Sampling was conducted from a consistent set of USDA Forest Service employees involved in the CFLRP at each site as well as representatives from key, non-Forest Service members of the collaborative groups in each location. In Chapter 2, the research team developed a technical model of forest restoration based on an extensive review of the literature and a peer review by content experts. Participant responses were coded and then compared to the technical model. Our research design enables comparison of responses to best practices as described in the scientific literature, as well as assess the similarit (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2023, Environmental Studies (Voinovich)

As stream restoration is performed, riparian vegetation should be considered during any required construction. Since riparian inputs affect the carbon budget and the biogeochemistry of aquatic ecosystems, it is critical that carbon dynamics are examined when replanting is necessary. Floodplain reconstruction was implemented within the Robinson Fork catchment in Western Pennsylvania requiring widespread replanting. With future restoration to occur at Ryerson Station State Park and growth in stream and wetland restoration, it is imperative to ensure that the constructed riparian zones meet the restoration targets. This study asks if floodplain reconnection restoration including change in riparian vegetation impacts the amount of total organic carbon available in water and sediment. I measured aquatic total organic carbon alongside carbon sources, such as woody debris, leaf litter, and riparian vegetation, to analyze this relationship. With streams in Ryerson Station State Park representing a pre-restoration or unrestored condition, this thesis compares the the effects of the construction on carbon in the ecosystem. Statistical analysis showed that, when compared to total organic carbon, woody debris, leaf litter accumulation, soil organic matter and area weighted mean coefficient of conservatism were found not statistically different between restored and unrestored conditions, however the change in soil organic matter and area weighted mean coefficient of conservatism calculated from vegetation analysis were found to be statistically different between restoration statuses. It can be concluded from this study that after floodplain reconnection restoration as implemented in Robinson Fork, the replanted riparian vegetation does not differently affect the aquatic total organic carbon at Ryerson Station State Park and Robinson Fork.

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2023, Environmental Studies (Voinovich)

Leaf litter breakdown rates are frequently employed as functional indicators of health in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. I deployed coarse mesh litter bags to measure organic matter processing during summer in three forested stream channels and three stream-wetland complexes constructed as part of a floodplain reconnection restoration project in western Pennsylvania. I predicted that in stream-wetland complexes, leaf litter breakdown would occur at a faster rate based on warmer temperatures, higher nutrient availability, and sunlight from the open canopy. Contrary to our expectations, litter decomposition over 56 days occurred at a slower rate at the stream-wetland complexes compared to the forested stream channels. Water chemistry, temperature, and the composition of macroinvertebrate communities in leaf litter bags differed between forested stream channels and stream-wetland complexes but was not correlated with leaf breakdown rates. I was unable to determine the role of Chl a on leaf litter breakdown in stream- wetland complexes due to the shade station not providing consistent shade. Macroinvertebrate communities differed significant between the forested unrestored sites and the stream-wetland complexes. The water chemistry indicated that the habitat was suitable for macroinvertebrates at all sites and nutrient availability was not significantly different.

Master of Science, Miami University, 2022, Geology and Environmental Earth Science

Stream restoration is a method used to try to return function to impaired streams and has become a billion-dollar industry in the U.S. A key limitation to stream restoration success, however, is an insufficient understanding of what streams in the Midwest were like prior to European settlement. By combining historical maps and aerial imagery with surficial geologic mapping; past stream channel pattern, controls on channel pattern, channel migration zones, and changes in fine sediment loads were identified for Four Mile Creek in southwestern Ohio. Gravel-bed, laterally active anabranching or meandering streams were dominant prior to European settlement. Wetland deposits, which are associated with some types of anabranching streams, were not prevalent in the mapping area during pre- or post-European settlement time periods. Channel migration rates appear to have declined by around 50% since the early 1800s and the percentage of mud in stream channels significantly increased after European settlement (p=0.010). This study and the associated map provide a baseline understanding of what the natural stream channel pattern and fine sediment loads were in the Midwest prior to anthropogenic disturbances in order to help inform stream restoration project designs.

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2019, Engineering and Applied Science: Computer Engineering

As a result of the increasing design complexity, validating the designs at the pre-silicon design stage to capture all the bugs has become nearly impossible. Bugs escaped at pre-silicon verification are identified at the post-silicon validation stage making it an important step in the implementation flow of digital integrated circuits. Limited observability is the key challenge in post-silicon validation and can be improved by using an on-chip trace buffer which monitors and captures the response of certain selected signals during run-time. Use of on-chip trace buffers for debug introduces area overhead along with increased power consumption. Thereby, a constraint is imposed on the number of signals selected to be traced. The number of signals to be traced is limited by the width of the trace buffer. The number of samples of each signal traced is limited by the depth of the trace buffer. Hence, it is important to select a set of critical signals to be traced such that number of instances of other signals restored is maximized. In this work, we review some trace signal selection algorithms proposed in the literature and propose several new heuristics. Given constraints on the width and depth, these algorithms attempt to select the best set of signals to maximize the state restoration ratio. We evaluate and the quality and performance of these signal selection algorithms using two different techniques for state restoration: the forward propagation and backward justification (FB) method and the satisfiability (SAT) based method using the standard benchmarks from the literature.

Master of Science, University of Akron, 2019, Biology

Stream restoration is widely used as a tool to remediate a degraded channel in an area of ecological interest. Small headwater streams are frequently targeted for these restoration activities due to their impact on downstream aquatic health. In Ohio, the smallest subsections of these headwater streams are designated with particular regulations including separate processes for evaluating stream characteristics, such as diversity. We can use several tools to measure water quality of headwater streams, but the most pragmatic option is macroinvertebrate diversity. To determine if stream restoration has an effect on water quality, 19 streams (10 non-restored and 9 restored) were sampled per EPA methodology and the macroinvertebrate diversity was evaluated using both the designated presence/absence method outlined by the Ohio EPA, along with Shannon diversity index. The two metrics of diversity were significantly correlated, potentially supporting the Ohio EPA methodology as an accurate representation of diversity. In addition, stream restoration was shown to have a significantly positive impact on macroinvertebrate diversity, highlighting the importance of restoration in these small, degraded waterways of Ohio.

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2015, History

During the 1950s and 1960s the Menominee were casualties of the Federal Termination Policy; stripped of all ties to the U.S. government, the Menominee people, economy, and environment suffered great consequences. In 1970, Determination of Rights and Unity for Menominee Shareholders (DRUMS) emerged as an activist organization in opposition to Termination and the Menominee governing elite controlling Menominee Enterprises Inc. (MEI), the tribe's political voice, and its assets. In similar fashion to the American Indian Movement (AIM), DRUMS protested, published newsletters, and spoke out against MEI. In contrast to AIM, DRUMS struggled for cultural preservation through reform of federal policy and was lead primarily by women. Three women: Ada Deer, Sylvia Wilber, and Shirley Daly aided in devising and executing a diplomatic strategy of federal lobbying, democratic election, and public protest. DRUMS formed inter-organizational linkages, and infiltrated institutional establishments to affect change through democratically representative channels. Research of extensive primary material available on this subject including news clippings, meeting minutes, financial documents, legislative studies, personal correspondence, and referendums, confirms that DRUMS, while similar to AIM, was composed of a distinct grassroots demographic of women who re-constructed methods of resistance utilized by the dominant society to ensure survivance. Furthermore, evidence should explicate DRUMS as a noteworthy activist group led publicly and politically by women such as Ada Deer, Sylvia Wilber, and Shirley Daly, and that the women of DRUMS deserve credit for their contribution to the end of the termination era in federal Indian policy in the 1970s.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2010, Natural Resources

Throughout the American Midwest, headwater streams flowing through agricultural fields have been extensively modified to accommodate subsurface drainage systems, normally resulting in deepened, straightened, and widened headwater streams. Some of the most dense drainage and riparian ecosystem alteration in the world have occurred there. This dissertation includes three studies that investigate the design and analyses of stream restoration in the Midwest, USA. A segment of Grave Creek on The Ohio State University's Marion campus in Ohio, USA, with its lack of riparian ecosystems, illustrates the transformation of a natural fluvial ecosystem to an unstable and “simplified” aquatic environment that requires continued maintenance and provides little value to the surrounding landscape or to the university. To restore the natural ecological stability of OSU Marion's “back yard” and to provide habitat improvement to Grave Creek and its surrounding landscape on the OSU Marion campus, we designed a restoration of 1.1 km of Grave Creek meandering to the east of an existing sewer line, using a two-stage channel technique, and about 0.6–0.8 ha of adjacent wetland. We estimate that restoration on this scale would cost about US$ 200,000–300,000, not including monitoring of the results. To evaluate the feasibility of connecting streams and rivers to a riparian diversion wetland, a small-scale bioreserve pond/wetland (0.07 ha) created in 2002 at the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park was connected at its inflow to an adjacent stream. This research investigated the biological and water quality connection of the diversion wetland and adjacent stream. Before the flow-through conditions were established in 2009, we demonstrated with mark-recapture techniques that the wetland already was a biorefuge for fish under extreme conditions; two species (Centrarchidae) captured in the stream before a total drawdown of the stream were found in the wetland a year later. In addition, the 4 °C (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2007, Environmental Studies (Arts and Sciences)

Forests are preferred as a post-mining land use in the eastern United States. In Ohio, early reforestation included Pinus spp. monocultures which may not conserve the flora and fauna of historic hardwood communities. American Chestnut, Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh., is an historic keystone species of eastern deciduous forests. We evaluated the growth and survival of 1-year-old Castanea dentata seedlings in field and garden conditions representing mine spoil from previously strip mined lands in eastern Ohio. Pure and hybrid bareroot seedlings were grown at three selected field sites ranging in mean pH from 3.6 to 7.7. Hybrid seedlings were inoculated with the mycelium Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch, (‘Pt'). Soil was analyzed for Al, Mn, Fe, and S, as well as base nutrients and other edaphic qualities. A garden experiment supplemented field analysis with a controlled mycorrhizae x pH x nutrient interaction. Field growth variables were measured for 2005 and 2006. Garden seedlings were harvested and biomass allocation was measured for 2006. Field parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) accelerated by Pt inoculation, except for height. Pure non-inoculated seedlings displayed tall slender stems, while hybrid inoculated seedlings showed bushier growth with greater stem diameter, and lower branching. Field sites displayed significant (P < 0.05) differences, with overall seedling performance being best on bare, un-reclaimed spoil, compared to grass or forb cover. This may be consistent, based on prior studies, with historic disturbance regimes. Growth was lowest in association with herb cover, suggesting that aggressive grasses and legumes such as those used in modern reclamation practices, may inhibit establishment of seedlings early-on. Garden controls revealed that in contrast to prior studies of container grown Fagaceae, chestnut growth was not positively influenced, and showed ca. 70% mortality from addition of controlled release fertilizer (CRF) into (open full item for complete abstract)

BA, Oberlin College, 2008, Biology

In order to characterize water quality, plant community diversity, and invasive species management at a restored wetland, I have analyzed data collected from June 2004 to August 2007 at the George Jones Memorial Farm in New Russia Township, Ohio. The Jones wetlands site is comprised of six emergent, herbaceous marshes that were restored on an old-field site in 2003. The six cells were constructed using a uniform physical restoration treatment, managed uniformly for invasive species, and replanted using three planting treatments. Each planting treatment was applied to two wetlands; treatments included two designer plantings of native taxa and one self-designing control. Water quality data was collected weekly during the growing seasons of 2004-7 and plant diversity data was collected each summer. Restoration at the Jones wetlands has engendered the development of six stable, diverse marshes. Wetlands planted with native species have higher macrophyte diversity than unplanted wetlands and may show signs of different ecosystem functioning. Phalaris arundinacea displaced cattail (Typha sp.) as the most troublesome invasive taxon, although management of invasive taxa was progressively less time-consuming each year of the study. Continued post-restoration monitoring at the Jones wetlands is of great importance. Additional management recommendations are also offered.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2007, Graduate School

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Environment and Natural Resources

Strip-mining has extensive impacts on vegetation and soil. Reclaimed mineland soils are often highly compacted and depleted of plant-available nutrients and organic matter. Such sites are often revegetated with low-diversity mixtures of non-native grasses and forbs. The combined effects of competitive non-native species and poor quality soils often creates challenges for restoration. Nevertheless, there is significant interest in enhancing the ecosystem function of former minelands to enhance biodiversity and carbon sequestration. We studied a reclaimed coal mine in eastern Ohio to determine whether prairie restoration in such settings would affect the recovery of key soil health indicators. Four prairies and adjacent unrestored grasslands were sampled along 100m transects that intersected perpendicular to the prairie patch boundary. We surveyed vegetation cover and aboveground biomass within eight 1m2 quadrats spaced along each transect. Soil cores were collected at each quadrat along with penetrometer readings to measure soil carbon content, bulk density, and compaction. Contrary to our expectations, soil percent carbon was greater in the upper horizons of unrestored grasslands. However, root and aboveground biomass carbon stocks were greater in restored prairies, with elevated biomass carbon being associated with a high percent cover of C4 prairie grasses. Bulk density was not significantly different between restored and unrestored areas, although greater root biomass was associated with reduced bulk density. Penetrometer resistance also saw no significant spatial trends, but was lower in the upper horizons where C4 grasses were dominant. Results suggest that, while prairies yielded larger carbon stocks in biomass, effects on soil carbon and compaction were minimal. Future research should examine what site-specific factors may determine whether prairie restoration yields significant effects on soil health.

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Arts and Sciences: Biological Sciences

Urbanization is associated with increased erosion and habitat homogenization in stream ecosystems. This habitat degradation often has biological consequences, such as decreased species richness. Conventional stream restoration practices are costly, and projects are limited to small areas with easy access. A scalable, low-cost method of stream restoration is needed to address the widespread degradation occurring in urban streams. Large woody debris (LWD) is an important element in stream ecosystems which is typically abundant in forested watersheds and low in urban streams. LWD can reduce water velocities, generate pool habitat, decrease erosion, and provide cover for aquatic organisms. In this study, we performed experimental LWD installations to assess the capacity of LWD restoration to improve habitat and reduce sediment transport in an urban headwater stream in Cincinnati, OH. We tracked the geomorphic effects of these installations using a before-after-control-impact study design in four 60-meter reaches, two treatment and two control, over a 1.5-year period to investigate the following questions: (1) will unanchored LWD additions remain stable in a flashy urban stream, (2) will LWD additions increase the availability of pool habitat, and (3) will wood additions increase bed stability and modify sediment size distributions. We found that LWD installations rapidly increased pool habitat availability (size) around stable jams, but a majority of the LWD jams were frequently mobilized and reconfigured by high-flow events. LWD additions had no significant impact on the probability of stream bed mobilization, likely due to the instability of LWD, however, the distance particles traveled once mobilized significantly decreased. While LWD additions can increase the availability of pool habitat in urban headwater streams, further investigation is needed to understand the stability of such structures and the environmental context where these additions will be most benefici (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2024, Pharmacology

Characterized as chromatin with repressive transcription, heterochromatin has been shown to protect DNA from damage and maintain genome integrity. However, due to its compact nature, how heterochromatin is maintained and plays its functions remains poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that several heterochromatin factors, such as HP1α, KAP1, and SUV39H1/2, could drive the soluble heterochromatin into a phase-separated droplet, called liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). This property limits the components necessary for heterochromatin function accessing the droplets. In this study, we found P53 binding protein 1 (53BP1), a multiple-domain protein facilitating DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, to be one of the heterochromatin factors with LLPS properties. 53BP1 is critical in maintaining heterochromatin via LLPS, independent of its DSB repair function. In addition, we found that 53BP1 interacted with factors involved in DNA replication and epigenetic modification in heterochromatin condensates through a special crosslinking coupled mass spectrometry. 53BP1 deficiency impaired heterochromatin mark restoration post-replication, delaying the overall S phase progression. We then directed our attention toward one of the critical factors, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). We carried out a detailed analysis of the interaction between PCNA and 53BP1 and figured out the role of such interaction in 53BP1 LLPS, DSB repair, and heterochromatin replication. These findings reinforce that 53BP1 governs heterochromatin replication by restoring epigenetic modifications in condensate states. Our studies provide a foundation for future investigations targeting 53BP1 LLPS to fulfill the therapeutic need for heterochromatin-related diseases.

Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Biological Sciences

Fertilizers rich in nitrogen and phosphorus have been implicated in toxic algal blooms and the eutrophication of Lake Erie. One method for mitigating nutrient runoff is the use of wetlands. Wetlands sequester and process nutrients via biogeochemical processes, decreasing the concentrations of nutrients that eventually reach a large body of water. Research on nutrient cycling in aquatic systems has mainly focused on the sediment, the plants, and the water. Few consider the potential impacts of animals in the system despite the evidence that animals play an important role in nutrient cycling in freshwater systems. Animals can directly move nutrients in and out of aquatic systems, as well as indirectly affect the nutrient budget by altering the ecosystem. The combined direct and indirect effects of animal-mediated nutrient cycling in a wetland system have not been adequately assessed. A few wetland mesocosm experiments have examined the influence of animals on wetland nutrient cycling, but most focus on one functional feeding group. In this study, I evaluated the role of aquatic macroinvertebrates from two functional feeding groups in wetland nutrient sequestration using in-field mesocosms containing macrophytes, in the recently constructed H2Ohio wetland at Oakwoods Nature Preserve (Findlay, OH, USA). Nitrogen and phosphorus content of the water column was measured over six days in response to the presence of each invertebrate. Six replicates of three treatments (snails, crayfish, or control) were installed for a total of 18 mesocosms. A nutrient pulse was added to mesocosms at the end of the experiment to mimic natural nutrient dynamics in an agricultural-adjacent wetland system and nutrient uptake was measured. The results suggest that the crayfish treatment altered nutrient cycling, increasing total nitrogen and total phosphorus iv levels and a decreasing light transmission. These changes could be attributed to bioturbation as the crayfish cre (open full item for complete abstract)

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2023, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

This dissertation investigates the regulatory challenges faced by large-scale ecosystem restoration (LSER) projects by exploring the perspectives of practitioners and regulators. Focusing on the federal regulatory permitting process, the study aims to understand its impact on LSER projects and proposes the application of adaptive regulation for improvement. Employing Q methodology, participants expressed their views on 34 statements related to wetland permitting for LSER projects. Factor analysis revealed two distinct perspectives: Factor 1 emphasizes the reorganization of the permitting process within existing regulations, advocating for more documentation and structured processes. Factor 2 highlights the need for restructuring both the permitting process and current regulations, emphasizing ongoing monitoring and specialized processes for LSER projects. Results highlight the participants' perceptions of the permitting process's effects on LSER projects and contribute valuable insights into the complexities of the process, offering implications for policy and practice. The research provides evidence supporting the negative impact of the current regulatory process on LSER projects and advocates for adaptive regulation implementation. This study contributes valuable insights, addressing a literature gap on adaptive regulation specific to wetland permitting for LSER projects, and employs a novel application of using Q-methodology in environmental permitting in the United States.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of Dayton, 2023, Electrical Engineering

We present two novel multiframe image super-resolution (SR) algorithms that employ convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to generate high-resolution (HR) images from mul- tiple low-resolution (LR) input frames. The first algorithm, named Fusion of Interpolated Frames Network (FIFNET), utilizes motion-based multiframe SR by fusing multiple input frames in a single CNN based on Random and Fixed shifts. The second algorithm, called the Exponential weighted Fusion of Interpolated Frames Network (EWF-FIFNET), presents two variations, Externally Exponential Weighted Fusion-FIFNET (EEWF-FIFNET) and Inter- nally Exponential Weighted Fusion-FIFNET (IEWF-FIFNET) based on affine motion. A custom layer called the Exponential Weighted Fusion (EWF) layer is developed to combine input frames using a technique inspired by the fusion interpolation frame SR framework within the IEWF-FIFNET model. The EWF-FIFNET network utilizes a modified Residual Channel Attention Network architecture with residual in residual (RIR) structures. The proposed algorithms are trained and tested using a realistic observation camera model that incorporates optical and sensor degradation. Affine motion is also incorporated to address a challenging degradation problem. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithms outperform the existing state-of-the-art methods using both simulated and real camera data. It is noteworthy that the real data is not artificially downsampled or degraded, making the proposed algorithms a promising solution for practical applications. This research contributes significantly to the field of multiframe image SR, particularly in motion-based and exponentially weighted fusion approaches using CNNs.