There is a growing interest in robust and nonparametric methods with engineering applications, due to the nature of the data. Here, we study two power systems engineering applications that employ or recommend robust and nonparametric methods; topology error identification and voltage calibration. Topology errors are a well-known, well-documented problem for utility companies. A topology error occurs when a line's status in a power network, whether active or deactive, is misclassified. This will lead to an incorrect Jacobian matrix used to estimate the unknown parameters of a network in a nonlinear regression model. We propose a solution using nonlinear regression techniques to identify the correct status of every line in the network by deriving a statistical model of the power flows and injections while employing Kirchhoff's Current Law. Simulation results on the IEEE-118 bus system showed that the methodology was able to detect where topology errors occurred as well as identify gross measurement errors. The Friedman Two-Way Analysis of Variance by Ranks test is advocated to calibrate voltage measurements at a bus in a power network. However, it was found that the Friedman test was only slightly more robust or resistant in the presence of discordant measurements than the classical F-test. The resistance of a statistical test is defined as the fraction of bad data necessary to switch a statistical conclusion. We mathematically derive the maximum resistance to rejection and to acceptance of the Friedman test, as well as the Brown-Mood test, and show that the Brown-Mood test has a higher maximum resistance to rejection and to acceptance than the Friedman test. In addition, we simulate the expected resistance to rejection and to acceptance of both tests and show that on average the Brown-Mood test is slightly more robust to rejection while on average the Friedman test is more robust to acceptance. / Ph. D.

Mutations in the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) are the most frequent cause of monogenetic forms of human obesity. Despite its importance, the MC4R signaling pathways and transcriptional regulation that underly the melanocortin pathway are far from being fully understood. The transcription factor Nescient Helix Loop Helix 2 (Nhlh2), is known to influence the melanocortin pathway. It regulates the transcription of genes by binding to the E-Box binding sites present in the promoter region. Here in this dissertation, Nhlh2's role as a transcriptional regulator of Mc4r and the effects of deletion of Nhlh2 on peripheral energy expenditure, glucose homeostasis and fatty acid oxidation are reported. To investigate the transcriptional mechanisms of Mc4r and the involvement of Nhlh2, gene expression analysis, DNA-protein binding, transactivation assays, and SiRNA induction were used. We show that Nhlh2 regulates the transcription of Mc4r by binding to the three E-Boxes present on the promoter at -553, -361 and +47. Further, SiRNA knockdown of Nhlh2 in the N29/2 cell line depresses Mc4r expression which suggests the requirement of Nhlh2 for Mc4r transcription. Development of adult onset obesity in the absence of evident hyperphagia questions the ability of mice which lacks Nhlh2 (N2KO) to utilize energy substrate efficiently. To test the effect of deletion of Nhlh2 in N2KO, body composition analysis, tissue specific characterization, fatty acid oxidation and glucose and insulin homeostasis were assessed. N2KO mice have a higher fat content than WT at the age of 12 weeks. There are architectural differences in adipose tissue of N2KO. White adipose tissue (WAT) shows infiltration of macrophages, and increased mRNA and serum levels of interleukin 6 which suggests the presence of a systemic inflammatory state in the N2KO mice. Sympathetic nervous system tone is reduced in both brown adipose tissue (BAT) and WAT, as evidenced by gene expression analysis, and this may be because of overall reduced melanocortinergic tone in N2KO mice. N2KO mice have an impaired glucose tolerance on the basis of their late glucose clearance on glucose (non-significant) and insulin (significant) challenges. Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is higher in red fibers of skeletal muscle, and the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) is lower in N2KO, which is indicative of using fat as a preferential energy source. Increased expression of genes involved in the lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle and liver supports the RER and FAO, and are indicative of high turnover of lipids in N2KO. Findings from these studies implicate Nhlh2 as a transcriptional regulator of Mc4r which has a direct relevance to the ever increasing epidemic of obesity. Characterization of N2KO mice sheds light on the adult onset obesity phenotype. Knowledge gained from these findings will help us understand the monogenetic form of obesity more completely and could lead to the design of improved pharmacological therapies that target Nhlh2 or Mc4r or modify physical activity behavior. / Ph. D.

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), an invasive agricultural pest from Asia, has established in much of the USA, where it has had significant, deleterious impacts on the production of various specialty crops. Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is the predominant egg parasitoid of H. halys in Asia and considered a potential agent for classical biological control. Adventive T. japonicus populations have been detected in 15 US states since 2014 and its continued spread is anticipated, creating the impetus for developing optimized sampling methods for it that are informed by its foraging ecology. Yellow sticky cards (YSC) deployed in the lower and mid-canopy of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle trees in Virginia captured statistically equivalent numbers of T. japonicus. Season-long monitoring of T. japonicus and H. halys over two seasons resulted in significant correlations between captures of T. japonicus and H. halys adults, second instar nymphs, and all life stages combined, revealing spatiotemporal synchrony between the parasitoid and its host. Inspection of felled pheromone-baited and non-baited A. altissima showed no effect of baiting with the H. halys aggregation pheromone on H. halys egg mass abundance. Similarly, captures of T. japonicus in pheromone-baited and non-baited trees were not significantly different. Augmenting YSC with H. halys egg masses or n-tridecane did not improve T. japonicus captures. Together, these results should improve the efficiency of T. japonicus surveillance efforts and provide important guidance for future research toward enhancing the sensitivity of sampling tools for it and the interpretation of its impacts on H. halys. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), an invasive species from Asia, has become widely distributed throughout the United States as a serious pest of many important crops. Parasitic wasps that develop on eggs are often key natural enemies for reducing stink bug populations. The samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), is the primary parasitic wasp of BMSB in Asia and is under evaluation for potential use in biological control programs. Populations of samurai wasps have been detected in the United States since 2014 without intentional introduction. Its continued spread is anticipated, creating the need for effective sampling methods to track its establishment. Yellow sticky cards (YSC) deployed in the lower and mid-canopy of tree of heaven in Virginia captured similar numbers of samurai wasps. Season-long monitoring of samurai wasps and BMSB over two seasons resulted in significant correlations between captures of samurai wasps and BMSB adults, second instar nymphs, and all life stages combined, revealing spatiotemporal overlap between the wasp and its host. Inspection of felled pheromone-baited and non-baited tree of heaven showed no effect of baiting with the BMSB aggregation pheromone on numbers of BMSB egg masses. Similarly, captures of samurai wasps in pheromone-baited and non-baited trees were not significantly different. Combining YSC with BMSB egg masses or n-tridecane did not improve samurai wasp captures. Together, these results provide important guidance for future research toward enhancing the sensitivity of sampling tools for samurai wasps and the interpretation of its impacts on BMSB.

Brown patch, caused by <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> Kuhn, is an important disease on tall fescue (TF, <i>Festuca arundinacea</i> Schreb, synonym <i>Schedonorus phoenix</i> (Scop.) Holub). <i>Rhizoctonia zeae</i> Voorhees, a related pathogen, causes similar symptoms. Confusion over which <i>Rhizoctonia</i> species is causing symptoms and subjective visual evaluations of disease severity may contribute to variability in observed BP resistance of TF cultivars at multiple locations. The objectives of this study were to develop an objective digital image analysis (DIA) method for evaluating disease and to use DIA to screen tall fescue plant introductions (PIs) for resistance to <i>R. solani</i> and <i>R. zeae</i>. There was a strong correlation (r² = 0.97) between actual disease severity, measured by applying lesioned tissue of a known area to healthy leaves, and DIA calculated disease severity using scanned images of individual leaves (DIA-IL). The accuracy and precision of visual evaluations and DIA evaluations of entire plants (DIA-WP) were evaluated using DIA-IL as a standard of accuracy. Accuracy of DIA-WP was not significantly different from visual evaluation accuracy. Precision was significantly higher for DIA-WP. Evaluation of PIs and putatively BP resistant TF cultivars for resistance to <i>R. solani</i> and <i>R. zeae</i> using DIA-WP identified clones within each PI that ranked high for resistance to <i>R. solani</i> or <i>R. zeae</i>. No clones were identified with high resistance to both <i>R. solani</i> and <i>R. zeae</i>. Improved precision of DIA evaluation methods and inclusion of <i>R. zeae</i> in BP resistance breeding may decrease variability of TF cultivar performance across locations. / Master of Science

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål), has resulted in increased use of insecticides on horticultural crops in the Mid-Atlantic US, which has diminished integrated pest management (IPM) programs that worked well otherwise. The research herein explored the use of three new tools in the development of BMSB management strategies. In one study, a BMSB pheromone lure was placed on insecticide-incorporated mesh netting to be used in an attract-and-kill strategy to protect bell peppers. The pheromone and netting deployed within a pepper field resulted in more BMSB feeding on plants within 6.1 m to the attract-and-kill screen than in further peppers or peppers in the weekly insecticide treatment. In another study, the insecticidal netting used as a row cover reduced stink bug damage to peppers, but also caused significant yield losses, possibly due to lack of light and/or pollination. The BMSB pheromone lure was also utilized in a sticky trap-based action threshold for insecticide application decisions. The trap and lure predicted densities of bugs on pepper plants and the use of an action threshold of 5 bugs per trap per week to trigger an insecticide spray reduced insecticide applications by 50% at one location, however population densities were lower at the other two locations and significance was not found among treatments. Lastly, BMSB is a nuisance pest to homeowners so we tested the exclusion efficacy of repellents on overwintering shelters and found an 8-fold reduction in BMSB that entered shelters treated with geranyl cyclopentanone (apritone). The use of BMSB pheromones paired with insecticide netting for attract-and-kill of BMSB, the development of action thresholds using captures in pheromone-baited sticky cards, and the use of apritone as a repellent are all promising IPM strategies worth refining in future studies. / MSLFS / The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has become a serious household nuisance and agricultural pest in the US. BMSB feeds on and damages a large variety of crops including, fruits, vegetables, and field crops. Most growers of high value crops have increased their insecticide usage to battle this bug; thus, more sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) approaches need to be established. One main vegetable crop that BMSB damages is bell peppers. One study tested the efficacy of an attract-and-kill approach involving a BMSB pheromone lure paired with insecticide-impregnated mesh netting. When deployed in pepper fields, it was found that BMSB stayed on plants rather than receiving a lethal dose from the netting. Another study tested the netting as a row cover or as a fence between peppers and found that it did little at preventing damage. Furthermore, pepper yields were significantly lower under the row cover treatment. In another study, a clear sticky panel placed on a stake and paired with a BMSB pheromone lure was used to assist in making management decisions based on relative densities of bugs in plots. This can help determine if insecticide applications are needed. Not only is BMSB a pest of agriculture, but it is also a nuisance pest to homeowners when adults seek winter shelter during their fall dispersal period, sometimes entering homes by the thousands. The tactile repellent, geranyl cyclopentanone (apritone), was found to elicit an 8-fold reduction in the number of overwintering BMSB in overwintering shelters.

This paper includes a re-examination the coeval, multiple dwarf system Glies 569 in order to resolve the contradictory findings in the area of age. Absolute magnitudes in the f I and K bands are calculated, and are analyzed along with newly obtained dynamic mass estimates for the B components as well as other attributes of this system that have been well established in the literature. Ages are inferred by the placement of these objects on a variety of HR diagrams_ using the evolutionary models of Baraffe et al. These results strengthen the case for a possible third member of the Bab component of Gliese 569. The system's age is probably in the range of 100 to 500 million years; however, a more specific age estimate cannot yet be concluded. Because of the uncertainty associated with the dynamical mass estimates for the B component, the error bars associated with the age estimates are considerable. Finally, future research is suggested to better understand this hierarchical multiple system.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / This study is an historical analysis of Brown University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty engagement with network-based courseware development between 1983 and 2003. Specifically, the research focused on how and why faculty engaging in work with Intermedia and Project Athena undertook their projects, what pedagogical models they employed, and what factors contributed to the success and longevity of their courseware. Data collection models included interviews with faculty, project coordinators and technical staff, review of the courseware applications, and examination of internal and external documentation about each project. The findings indicated that faculty tended to utilize the same pedagogical methods in software as they already did in regular teaching, turning to the computer primarily for areas that were difficult to teach or learn; that continued faculty commitment to expanding and updating the software was necessary for sustainability; that faculty perceived their projects as having been successful in increasing student learning and communication despite the fact that formal evaluation was rarely undertaken; and that faculty in the Humanities were more likely to use the network to foster communication and collaboration, while Science and Engineering faculty used the network as a means of disseminating modelling and simulation applications. / 2999-01-01

2024 / Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), a key molecular component of brown adipose tissue (BAT), is pivotal to the process of non-shivering thermogenesis (NST). This dissertation provides a comprehensive investigation of UCP1 gene evolution in primates, spanning three distinct levels of analysis. I first examine the phylogenetic history of UCP1 in 41 primate taxa, in which I observed functional divergence between strepsirrhines and haplorhines with significant structural variation including clade-specific intronic insertions and duplications. This underscores the shifting patterns of directional selection on UCP1 in response to ecological pressures across primate lineages, potentially reflecting thermoregulatory challenges posed by varying body sizes and climatic habitats. I then explore population-level genetic variation in the UCP1 gene of wild savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.), which ~450 kya expanded from equatorial to cold southernmost Africa. I identified several SNPs showing positive selective sweeps, for which derived allele frequencies were primarily associated with the strength of solar irradiance and winter precipitation; this was strongest in a population in the southern coastal belt of South Africa (isolated by the Drakensberg Mountains and the Nama Karoo). I suggest that reliance on sunbathing for warmth coupled with reduced solar irradiance potentially increases thermal stress in this coastal corridor, leading to selection on UCP1 due to increased reliance on NST. These SNPs are predominantly non-coding, suggesting the importance of UCP1 expression as a target of selection. Finally, I developed a novel method for converting archived wild savanna monkey fibroblast cell lines into chemically-induced brown adipose (ciBA). UCP1 expression via immunofluorescence staining, oil-red O stain confirming lipid formation, and mitochondrial activity shown by MitoTracker all indicate successful conversion into ciBA. The success of this method represents a critical step towards the validation of the functional significance of SNPs identified as having undergone recent selective sweeps in wild savanna monkeys. Overall, this research highlights the importance of NST as an adaptive trait in primates, while also underscoring the importance of convergent evolution in UCP1 expression as a vital adaptive response to colder environments in our own genus.

A avicultura brasileira assumiu nos últimos anos importante papel dentro do PIB nacional, e a produção de ovos dentro do setor vem tomando cada vez maior importância. No decorrer dos últimos anos vários avanços foram observados no que se refere ao melhoramento genético de poedeiras comerciais, no sentido de maiores produtividade e longevidade. Ambos parâmetros podem ser afetados pela atuação de radicais livres e nutrição adequada. Embora o organismo vivo apresente mecanismos fisiológicos que visam diminuir os danos causados por radicais livres, a suplementação destes pode promover benefícios, desde a reprodução da ave até o desempenho produtivo de poedeiras oriundas de matrizes suplementadas com substâncias antioxidantes, dentre elas a cantaxantina. Recentemente vários estudos têm sido feitos para a nutrição adequada das aves com utilização adequada de aminoácidos, energia, fontes minerais, enzimas, etc., para que atinjam o máximo potencial produtivo. Porém, os níveis vitamínicos têm sido pouco estudados, e normalmente com foco em frangos de corte e/ou níveis mínimos a serem trabalhados para que o animal não entre em deficiência, trabalhos com níveis vitamínicos visando produtividade máxima em poedeiras comerciais não foram encontrados na literatura pesquisada. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar poedeiras comerciais modernas, da linhagem Hisex Brown, em duas situações: origem de matrizes suplementadas com cantaxantina e 25 hidroxicolecalciferol, e níveis vitamínicos altos contra níveis vitamínicos praticados comercialmente. O experimento foi inteiramente casualizado e ocorreu nas dependências da granja experimental da USP de Pirassununga. As aves foram alojadas com 1 dia de idade e mantidas até as 70 semanas, passando pelas fases de cria, recria e produção, em que tiveram os parâmetros zootécnicos observados e comparados. Como resultados, observou-se no trabalho quanto à suplementação das matrizes: melhor peso corporal aos 35 dias, e daí até o final da recria (p<0,05), não apresentando maiores consumos de ração em relação ao grupo controle. Na fase de produção observou-se melhor peso dos ovos e espessura da casca para o grupo tratado e maior resistência da casca para o grupo controle (p<0,05). Quanto aos níveis vitamínicos observou-se: vantagem em peso aos 35 dias, o que não se observou às 17 semanas, e observou-se menor conversão alimentar no grupo controle. Durante a fase de produção, o grupo tratado apresentou resultados melhores em peso de ovos e resistência da casca (p<0,05) / Brazilian poultry has been taken an important part on brazilian economy on the past few years, and the egg production has been taken an important part on brazilian poultry. During the last years, several improvements has been done on the way of better production and longer lifetime of the layers. Both parameters are influenced by free radicals action and the correct use of nutrition. Although life animals have system to avoid damages caused by free radicals, suplementation with antioxidants can bring them benefits, since the reproduction of the breeder, until the production of the layer provided from light breeders suplemented, one of these substances is cantaxantin. Recently, studies have been conduced to determine the appropriate levels of aminoacids, energy, minerals, enzymes, etc., everything to permit the animal, the maximum production. However, vitamin levels haven´t been studied that much, and normally, the goal of theses studies are broilers and/or the minimum necessary to don´t let animals be deficient. This study had the goal to evaluate layers of Hisex Brown lineage, on two situations: the suplementation of the light breeder with cantaxantin and 25 hidroxicolecalciferol, and optimum vitamin nutrition against the ones comercially used. The experiment was entirely randomized designed, and occurred on the experimental houses of USP of Pirrasununga. The day old pullet were housed and maintained there for 70th weeks old, going throw rearing and production period, on which had its parameteres evaluated. As the results, on the work with breeders suplementation better body weight at 35 days old, and than until the end of rearing period (p<0,05), without higher feed consumption then control group. On the production period it was observed higher egg weight and thickness of the shell (p<0,05) for the suplemented breeder group, but better shell resistance for the control group. For the work wtih optimum vitamin nutrition results it was observed improvement of body weight at 35 days old (p<0,05) on the OVN group, but it was not observed until the end of rearing period. During the production time it was not observed any improvement but the weight and resistance of eggs on OVN group (p<0,05)

The use of common species as surrogates for those that are threatened or endangered is best conducted using species that are biologically related. If the two species are fairly dissimilar then conclusions based on data collected from surrogates may be misleading. The abundant little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) has been suggested as a suitable surrogate for the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) due to their close morphological similarities. In order to examine the suitability of little brown bats as surrogates in ecological based research and management, research was conducted on the roosting ecology, foraging home ranges, foraging habitat selection, and diets of both species. While research is available on Indiana bats in these subjects, there is a paucity of information on little brown bat roosting ecology and foraging ecologies. Therefore, data were collected concerning these ecological factors to determine the similarity between the species. There was enough research on little brown bat and Indiana bat diets available to compile data and compare them without conducing additional research. Roosting ecology and foraging ecology data were collected during the summers of 2003, 2007, and 2009-2011 from 2 study areas in the Shawnee National Forest, IL, and 2 study areas in south-central Indiana. Bats of both species were tracked during the day to record maternity roost characteristics and again at night to record foraging locations. A total of 67 Indiana bats and 31 little brown bats were tracked during our study. Our results show that while the species are similar in some ecological characteristics (roosting habitat, roost tree species) they are also different in several other characteristics (roost type, home range, and habitat selection). Therefore, little brown bats may be suitable surrogates for some research and management projects and unsuitable for others, depending on the objectives of the project. However, holistically little brown bats are unsuitable surrogates for Indiana bat summer habitat management. / Introduction and literature review -- An examination of the characteristics of little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) natural tree roosts within the central portion of the species' range -- Horizontal resource partitioning between sympatric populations of the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and the little brown bat (M. lucifugus) -- Suitability of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) as surrogates for Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) summer research and management. / Department of Biology