Med OCR teknologier kan innehållet av ett formulär läsas in, positionen av varje ord och dess innehåll kan extraheras, dock kan relationen mellan orden ej förstås. Denna rapport siktar på att lösa problemet med att berika data från ett strukturerat formulär utan någon förinställd konfiguration genom användandet utav klustring. Detta görs med en kvantitativ metod där mätning av en utvecklad prototyp som räknar antal korrekt klustrade textrutor och en kvalitativ utvärdering. Prototypen fungerar genom att mata en bild av ett ofyllt formulär och en annan bild av ett ifyllt formulär och en annan bild av ett ifyllt formulär som innehåller informationen som ska berikas till en OCR-motor. Utdatan från OCR-motorn körs genom ett efterbearbetningssteg som tillsammans med en modifierad euklidisk algoritm och en oskarp strängsökningsalgoritm kan klustra fältnamn och fältvärden i den ifyllda formulärbilden. Resultatet av prototypen för tre olika formulärstrukturer och 15 olika bilder vardera gav en träffsäkerhet från 100% till 92% beroende på formulärstruktur. Denna rapport kunde visa möjligheten att grupper ihop fältnamn och fältvärden i ett formulera, med andra ord utvinna information från formuläret / With OCR technologies the text in a form can be read, the position of each word and its contents can be extracted, however the relation between the words cannot be understood. This thesis aims to solve the problem of enriching data from a structured form without any pre-set configuration using clustering. This is done using the method of a quantitative measurement of a developed prototype counting correctly clustered text boxes and a qualitative evaluation. The prototype works by feeding an image of an unfilled form and another image of a filled form which contains the data to be enriched to an OCR engine. The OCR engine extracts the text and its positions which is then run through a post-processing step which together with a modified Euclidean and fuzzy string search algorithm, both together is able to cluster field names and field values in the filled in form image. The result of the prototype for three different form structures and 15 different images for each structure ranges from 100% to 92% accuracy depending on form structure. This thesis successfully was able to show the possibility of clustering together names and values in a form i.e., enriching data from the form.

Thesis advisor: Alyssa Goldman / People’s needs for social engagement vary over the life course. Social engagement for individuals residing in memory care facilities is an important topic to research because this population benefits greatly from active participation in the communities in which they reside. This study examines the following research questions: To what extent does the facility in which adults with Alzheimer’s disease reside impact their social ties? How do the facilities differ in facilitating social engagement? I interviewed ten memory care facility employees across seven facilities in Massachusetts and found patterns in visitation for family members and friends of Alzheimer’s residents and social engagement for residents in memory care. Individual factors that affect visitation include family dynamics and disease progression. Structural factors that affect visitation include geographic location and religion. These findings are useful to inform policy and recognize increased opportunities for social engagement as an opportunity for facilities to slow disease progression. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2023. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Sociology.

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The objective of this study was to measure the effects of both a nutritional (water nipple) and social (partner calf) enrichment on calf body weight, grain intake, water intake, behavior and learning. The enrichments included 1) water provided from a nipple vs. a bucket (nutritional) and 2) visual and tactile access to a partner vs. isolated rearing with no visual or tactile access to a partner calf (social). A total of 72 Holstein and Jersey dairy calves were pseudo-randomly distributed into 4 treatments at birth [Individual/Bucket (IB), Paired/Bucket (PB), Individual/Nipple (IN), Paired/Nipple (PN)]. Socially and nutritionally enriched calves drank more water than non-enriched calves (Social: 5.02 ± 0.27 kg/d vs 3.723 ± 0.27 kg/d respectively; P = 0.0009; Nutritional: 4.93 ± 0.27 kg/d vs. 3.81 ± 0.26 kg/d respectively; P = 0.004). No difference in daily grain intake was found between individual or pair reared calves except during wk 8 (1.31 ± 0.07 kg/d vs 1.60 ± 0.07 respectively kg/d; P= 0.04). There were no differences in average body weight among treatments (P > 0.20). Pre-milk delivery, calves reared on a water bucket spent more time standing (P= 0.03) and when paired, less time non-nutritively suckling compared to water nipple reared calves (P = 0.05). Grooming time was highest during period 2 (wk 3, 4, 5; P = 0.01)) pre-milk delivery. Post-milk delivery, calves reared on a water bucket spent more time drinking milk (7.13 ± 0.40 vs 5.37 ± 0.39 min; P = 0.005)and grooming (P= 0.05), and less time drinking water (P < 0.001)and lying (6.17 ± 1.02 vs 9.19 ± 0.97 min, respectively; P= 0.04)than water nipple reared calves. Water nipple calves when paired exhbited longer drinking times (P = 0.04)..The most notable behavior was cross suckling post-milk delivery, as the weeks progressed water bucket reared calves increased time spent cross-suckling while water nipple calves maintained the amount of time spent cross-suckling. At wk 8 a subset of 24 calves (6 from each treatment) were trained over 14-d period to differentiate between an “X” and “O” cue to receive a milk reward (visual discrimination task). Learning (% correct choices) was compared using a Wilcoxon-signed rank test. Calves individually reared had greater overall correct choices than pair reared calves (0.63 ± 0.02 % correct/total choices vs 0.57 ± 0.02 % correct/total choices respectively: P = 0.05), while calves reared with a nutritional enrichment (water nipple) had greater overall correct choices compared to water bucket reared calves (0.64 ± 0.02 % vs 0.56 ± 0.02 %, P = 0.02). These results indicate that social and nutritional enrichments positively influence calf cognitive performance, water intake, and lying, cross-sucking, grooming behaviors.

<p dir="ltr">Risk assessment involves analyzing potential accident scenarios to identify hazards and assess associated risk factors. Nuclear safety and security share the common goal of protecting against radiation exposure. However, they have developed separately, each with their own distinct risk assessment methodologies. As a result, there is a need for a comprehensive risk assessment method that covers both safety and security aspects. This thesis proposes a methodology that integrates risk assessment approaches for nuclear safety and security to address the gap in the current development of their risk assessment methodologies.</p><p dir="ltr">The proposed methodology applies the existing probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) methodology to the PFRI (Potential Facility Risk Index), originally developed to evaluate quantitative nuclear security risks, to enable the inclusion of safety risks in the assessment. The PFRI framework and methodology are modified to ensure that the PFRI score accurately reflects the overall risk of the facility for both nuclear safety and security. The facility-based approach of the existing PFRI is maintained to ensure a comprehensive assessment of the research reactor.</p><p dir="ltr">To achieve the goal of developing a comprehensive risk assessment method, the traditional PRA tools, such as event tree analysis (ETA) and fault tree analysis (FTA), are utilized in combination with the modified PFRI methodology. In addition, the consequence analysis method of PFRI is changed using the MACCS, which is commonly used for consequence analysis in PRA. The modified methodology is then used to conduct a risk assessment for the PFRI by setting safety and security scenarios at a hypothetical nuclear facility. The results demonstrate that the modified PFRI can provide a reasonable traditional risk unit and enable the comparison of risks from both safety and security aspects.</p><p dir="ltr">The final goal of this study is to develop the PFRI to determine the overall risk of the facility, considering both nuclear safety and security aspects. The PFRI score is utilized as a quantitative measure to show the total risk associated with hypothetical nuclear facility, providing a comprehensive understanding of its safety and security. By developing a methodology that integrates risk assessment approaches for nuclear safety and security, this thesis contributes to the improvement of the risk assessment methodology for nuclear facilities.</p>

<p>  </p> <p>Environmental enrichments have been investigated to determine impacts on turkey health and welfare; however, there is limited data to determine the impact of these enrichments on fresh or processed turkey meat quality. One hundred and forty-four turkeys were randomly assigned to six enrichment treatments: control (C), pecking block (PB), platform (P), platform + straw bale (PSB), straw bale (SB), and tunnel (T). Each treatment was replicated within two rooms in the same barn, with 24 pens total (n = 4 pens/treatment). At 19 weeks of age, turkeys were weighed (live weight, kg), and harvested over two days, with three birds from each pen per day (n=144). A subset of 96 turkeys were fabricated into wings, boneless thighs, drumsticks, and boneless breasts at 24 h postmortem in order to determine carcass cutting yields. From the breast and thigh, three, 1.25 cm samples were taken for pH, proximate analysis, and drip loss. From the breast, three, 2.54 cm samples were taken for instrumental color and sensory analysis, with all remaining breast sample used for further processed boneless turkey breast. Breast portions were pumped with a commercial brine (water, salt, brown sugar, sodium phosphate, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite) to 110% by weight. Brined breast was then vacuum sealed and vacuum tumbled (9 rpm for 90 min, stopping every 15 min for 10 min). Tumbled breast was stuffed into a cellulose casing, thermally processed (internal temperature 68.3oC), and smoked to produce boneless turkey logs. From each log, eight, 1.25 cm slices were taken for packaged purge loss, expressed moisture, instrumental color, and texture and sensory analysis. All treatment levels were analyzed using PROC GLM (SAS 9.4, SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Statistical significance level was set at <em>P≤</em>0.05. For fresh turkey, results showed significant differences in live weight by treatment. SB turkeys weighed the least, PB turkeys weighed the most, and T, PSB, C, and P were intermediate in weight (<em>P=</em>0.008). Treatment did not impact the cut-out values for breasts (<em>P=</em>0.387), thighs (<em>P=</em>0.985), wings (<em>P=</em>0.211), and drumsticks (<em>P=</em>0.575). Treatment did not impact breast L* (<em>P=</em>0.777), a* (<em>P=</em>0.247), or b* (<em>P=</em>0.366) or thigh L* (<em>P=</em>0.936) and a* (<em>P=</em>0.067), but PSB thighs displayed the highest b* values and PB thighs displayed the lowest (<em>P=</em>0.037). Finally, for fresh turkey, treatment did not impact breast drip loss (<em>P=</em>0.766), thigh drip loss (<em>P=</em> 0.933), breast pH (<em>P=</em>0.197), or thigh pH (<em>P=</em>0.385). For processed turkey quality, treatment had no effect on a* (<em>P=</em>0.498) or b* (<em>P=</em>0.831) but was significant for L*. SB, T, P, and PSB had lighter color values, C had darker color values, and PB had intermediate values (<em>P=</em>0.024). Finally, for processed turkey quality, treatment did not impact processing yield (<em>P=</em>0.058) or packaged purge loss (<em>P=</em>0.581), but treatment impacted expressed moisture (<em>P=</em>0.041). PB, PSB, C, and T had higher expressed moisture loss, P had the lowest, and SB had intermediate expressed moisture loss (<em>P=</em>0.041).</p>

Limnephilidae is a large family within Trichoptera, consisting of 4 subfamilies (Dicosmoecinae, Ecclisomyiinae, Limnephilinae, and Philocascinae), 98 genera, and 1178 species. It is among the most diverse families within Trichoptera. It is also ecologically diverse, occupying more habitats than any other family in the order. There are currently no published generic phylogenies of Limnephilidae based on molecular data. Here we used anchored hybrid enrichment to capture and sequence 922 loci for 57 species taken from what have been considered the full range of genera in the family. We expanded the taxon sampling by adding supplementary species with DNA barcodes, 28S sequences, or containing both from other sources. We present a favored tree from the collected data. We examine the evolutionary patterns associated with larval habitat transitions and highlight instances where our preferred evolutionary tree is incongruent with current limnephilid classification.

<p>    Injurious pecking, aggression, footpad dermatitis and leg abnormalities have been identified as major welfare issues in commercial turkey production, which lead to culling and mortality, downgraded carcass value and economic losses due to decreased productivity and carcass damage. Injurious pecking includes aggressive pecking (head pecking), feather pecking, and cannibalism. Aggressive pecking is related to aggression and is more prevalent in males than females. Feather pecking consists of non-damaging gentle feather pecking and severe feather pecking that can cause feather, skin and tissue damage, and even death in extreme cases. Common methods to control injurious pecking include infrared beak treatment and reduced light intensity, but those methods can result in inconsistent effects on feather condition and negative affect eye development. Footpad dermatitis and leg abnormalities can lead to lameness and an inability of turkeys to access feed and water. </p> <p>    Environmental enrichment, which is the modification of the environment of captive animals to improve their biological functioning, is one alternative way of reducing injurious pecking and potentially improving turkeys’ walking ability. In meat-type poultry production, five types of environmental enrichment are usually used, which include social enrichment, occupational enrichment, physical enrichment, sensory enrichment and nutritional enrichment. For turkeys, some types of physical enrichment such as foraging and pecking enrichment have been found to be most effective in reducing injuries caused by injurious pecking and elevated structures (e.g. platform or straw bale) were effective in promoting locomotive exercise. </p> <p>    To address some of the gaps in the knowledge regarding the effects of environmental enrichment on turkey behavior, welfare and walking ability, this study examined 1) age-related changes in welfare and gait when turkeys are provided with different types of environmental enrichment; 2) the effects of different types of environmental enrichment on enrichment usage and injurious pecking behavior; 3) specific behaviors and relative location of turkeys when they interact with different types of environmental enrichment.</p> <p>    Data were collected from a total of 420 beak-trimmed tom turkeys housed in 24 littered pens located in two rooms within the same barn. Birds were randomly assigned to six treatment groups with 4 replicate pens per treatment group, including five enrichment groups (straw bale, platform, platform + straw bale, pecking block and tunnel) and a control group (no additional enrichment provided). Welfare measures (wounds on the head, neck, snood, back and tail; beak abnormalities; feather quality; feather cleanliness; and footpad condition) and walking ability (gait) were assessed at 8, 12, 16 and 19 wk. Postmortem footpad condition was assessed at 19 wk. Behavior of turkeys was video recorded at 8, 12 and 16 wk and analyzed using scan sampling. The proportions of turkeys performing target behaviors were determined every 15 min (07:00 h - 22:00 h). Welfare and gait data were analyzed using PROC LOGISTIC with Firth bias-correction. Behavior data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX.</p> <p>    Better wing feather quality with age was observed in turkeys in the straw bale and tunnel groups. Footpad condition worsened with age for turkeys in all treatment groups except for the straw bale group. Gait worsened with age in all treatment groups while earlier onset of gait problem was observed in turkeys provided with a tunnel or no enrichment (control group). The average proportion of turkeys using the enrichments declined with age. Turkeys provided with a platform + straw bale had the highest levels of enrichment usage, followed by the platform group. Preening and severe feather pecking behavior did not change with age and were unaffected by the type of enrichment provided. Aggressive pecking and gentle feather pecking were not influenced by the type of enrichment provided. Higher average proportions of turkeys were observed performing environmental pecking in the control group than in the platform + straw bale group. Turkeys’ usage of enrichments mainly included resting on top, locomotion, pecking and remaining under the enrichment when they had access to platforms; resting on top, locomotion and pecking when they had access to straw bales or pecking blocks; and remaining in the tunnel and pecking when they had access to a tunnel.</p> <p>    In conclusion, environmental enrichment showed beneficial effects on turkey wing feather quality, footpad condition and walking ability. Providing tom turkeys with straw bales and tunnels as environmental enrichment can help improve wing feather quality with age and providing straw bales may reduce the development of footpad dermatitis under suboptimal litter conditions. Providing enrichments that can help increase turkey activity and locomotion, including enrichment that can satisfy turkeys’ pecking and foraging needs (straw bale or pecking block) and elevated structures (bale or platform), may be beneficial for turkey walking ability. Multi-functional environmental enrichments, especially a combination of enrichment objects, can promote turkeys’ natural behaviors. Turkeys had the highest enrichment usage when provided with a combination of different enrichment objects (e.g., platform + straw bale) that can serve multiple functions to fulfill their different behavioral needs. Providing a platform only can also achieve high enrichment usage. Turkeys gradually lost interest in interacting with enrichments over time, which may be associated with habituation, destruction of some enrichment objects (e.g. straw bale and pecking block) and fecal contamination on the surface of enrichments. </p> <p>    Future research will be valuable in examining the effects of different types of environmental enrichment in various commercial facilities and across different flocks and seasons. Research is needed to examine the effect of enrichments on turkey activity levels and whether there is a relationship between increased activity level and turkey walking ability. In addition, the effectiveness of making periodic changes to the enrichment objects and using unpredicted schedules of presenting the enrichments on habituation will need to be examined.</p>

<p> Nutrient enrichment through pollution causes intense aquatic growth in many of our lakes, which results in their deterioration for man's use. Phosphorus is suspected as possibly the most important element in this problem since it often is the limiting nutrient for growth. Condensed phosphates from detergents in wastewater are a major supply of phosphorus to surface waters. They hydrolyze to orthophosphate, the form most readily available to plants and organisms. The removal of phosphorus in treatment plants has therefore been suggested. </p> <p> The chemical industry has carried our many studies on the rate of hydrolysis of condensed phosphate in distilled water. However few investigations have been made on this effect in natural water and wastewater. This work concentrates on studies on the rate of hydrolysis of condensed phosphates in wastewater and lake water under conditions of temperature, pH and concentration levels actually occurring in the environment. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Annex 2 of the Great Lakes Water Quality Protocol calls for the collaborative development of a ‘nearshore framework’, but does not provide guidance with respect to nearshore governance. This thesis bridges this gap with a series of studies on the determinants for adaptive governance that will inform implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Protocol 2012. The principal focus of this work is on eutrophication, which is essentially a nearshore issue. The methodology includes a comprehensive literature review and 35 key informant interviews using a standardized questionnaire. The results assess Great Lakes governance, examine the strengths of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Protocol 2012 and evaluate the effectiveness of the International Joint Commission. A major product of the research is the development of a framework for assessing adaptive capacity based on six determinants: public participation, science, networks, leadership, flexibility and resources. The framework is validated in the case study of eutrophication in Lake Erie and used to identify gaps in adaptive capacity for current eutrophication governance of Lake Erie. The framework was then tested on two additional case studies, the Chesapeake Bay and the Baltic Sea Region. These systems are both eutrophic and are similar in many other ways to the Great Lakes. This allowed exploration of issues of scale, from local (Chesapeake Bay) to binational (the Great lakes) to transnational (the Baltic Sea). The most important finding of this work is that the key barrier for building adaptive capacity for eutrophication governance in the Great Lakes is the lack of adequate leadership and resources. A key recommendation is therefore that the IJC be strengthened in its role to function as a collaborative leader to foster adaptive capacity. The findings from this research can inform the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Protocol 2012. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)