Digital Commons Network^™

Prevalence, Determinants, And Objective Risk Of Unintentional Therapeutic Duplication Among Adults In Saudi Arabia, Yosra Alhindi

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Background: Unintentional therapeutic duplication represents an underrecognized yet preventable contributor to medication-related harm, particularly in settings characterized by widespread over-the-counter (OTC) medicine use and self-medication practices. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of unintentional therapeutic duplication among adults in Saudi Arabia and identify sociodemographic and behavioral predictors associated with increased therapeutic duplication risk. Methods: A national crosssectional study was conducted between February 10 and April 28, 2025, using a structured, self-administered online questionnaire distributed via social media platforms. The survey assessed sociodemographic characteristics, medication-use behaviors, active-ingredient literacy, and duplication risk using both self-reported measures and scenario-based assessments. Multivariable logistic regression was …

Examining The Influences Of Citizen Factors On The Co-Creation Behaviors Of Online Public Services In A Smart City, Ratih Dyah Kusumastuti, Nurmala Nurmala, Juliana Rouli

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

As smart cities increasingly rely on digital platforms to deliver public services, citizen participation becomes essential for ensuring effective and sustainable service delivery. However, limited research has examined which citizen-related factors drive co-creation behaviors in smart city contexts, particularly in emerging economies. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the co-creation behaviors of online public services in five smart cities in Indonesia through the city’s digital platform and online social network (OSN). This study analyzes whether citizen factors, namely, perceived benefits over the city and OSN friends, trust in the city and OSN friends, and self-efficacy, affect co-creation …

The Impacts Of High Protein Diet On Sleep And Mood In Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos), Lily G. Hiegel

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective of this study is to determine whether adherence to a high protein diet over a sixteen-week period leads to improvements in sleep quality and mood in women with PCOS. It is hypothesized that individuals following the high protein diet will demonstrate significantly better sleep quality and more favorable mood profiles compared to individuals not following the high protein diet. By targeting insulin resistance and dietary carbohydrate intake, this intervention may influence multiple pathways involved in PCOS symptomatology, including hormonal regulation, metabolic function, sleep physiology, and psychological wellbeing.

The Cobalt Curse: Cobalt’S Role And Risks, Marley Jackowitz

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper examines the hidden environmental, geopolitical, economic, and social costs of the cobalt supply chain. Fueled by the demand for battery technology and electric vehicles, cobalt has become an essential element to the green energy transition. With the largest share of global cobalt deposits, the Democratic Republic of the Congo bears a disproportionate share of the industry’s harms. Cobalt mining in the DRC is marked by environmentally degrading practices and inhumane working conditions, compromising Congolese health, safety, and well-being. Chapter 1 discusses the environmental impacts of DRC cobalt mining and its adverse effects on public health. Environmentally degrading mining …

Consumerism In The Digital Age: Environmental And Cultural Consequences, Danielle Andrea Montoya

Student Theses 2015-Present

Overconsumption has emerged as a significant environmental problem, characterized by persistent patterns of buying, using, and discarding goods at rates that exceed ecological limits. In the digital age, these patterns of consumption are reinforced by economic systems, technological advancements, and cultural norms that make constant consumption feel normal and convenient. While consumption is necessary for everyday life, consumption beyond basic needs contributes to increased waste, resource depletion, pollution, and climate change. Overconsumption is embedded in daily habits such as online shopping, food consumption, and frequent product replacement. Therefore, understanding and addressing overconsumption is crucial for achieving environmental sustainability and social …

An Investigation Of Entamoeba Histolytica Chitin Synthases And Other Encystation Factors In Early Encystation, John N. Talledo

All Theses

Entamoeba histolytica is a food-and-water-borne human protozoan pathogen that relies on a two-stage life cycle for successful proliferation outside of the host. E. histolytica exists in its dormant cyst form while outside of its host and converts to the motile trophozoite (amoeba) form in the small intestine. The trophozoites colonize the large intestine to cause symptomatic disease in ~10% of infections, resulting in ~100 million cases of amoebic dysentery each year. Trophozoites can convert back to the cyst form, which is shed in feces to continue the infection cycle.

Currently, there is a lack of understanding of the exact molecular …

Understanding Variability In Geographic Isolate Of Rotylenchulus Reniformis Across The Us Cotton Belt, Sagar Gc

All Dissertations

Management of the reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford and Oliveira) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a challenge since the resistant cultivars lack uniformity in nematode suppression when tested across multiple geographical regions. The central hypothesis of this study was that regional variability in performance of resistant cotton cultivars is associated with unique reproduction biology (reproduction and virulence) of R. reniformis from distinct geographic origins. Greenhouse studies were conducted to assess differential reproduction biology among nine geographic population of R. reniformis originated from South Carolina (SC), Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Arkansas (AR), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Texas (TX), …

How Does Five Days Of Tapering Effect Rates Of Fatigue And Recovery In Collegiate Male Swimmers?, Riley Yerks

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This study was conducted on the members of the 2025-26 St. John's "Johnnies" swim and dive team. This study used both subjective surveys and objective HRV readings that the swimmers took before and after practice. The first day of testing occurred on the last day of the regular training season, and the second day of testing occurred on the last day of tapered training. Results of the surveys and HRV readings were compared between pre and post-practice, and pre and post-taper. The subjective surveys showed how the swimmers themselves felt in terms of physical and mental energy and fatigue, and …

Species Distribution Modeling Of Parasitic Corpse Flower Rafflesia Arnoldii Var. Arnoldii R. Br Related To Host’S Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation In Tanggamus, Sumatra, Indonesia, Andriwibowo Andriwibowo, Suyud Utomo

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Corpse flower, or scientifically known as Rafflesia arnoldii var. arnoldii R.Br, is one of the species that is endemic to Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java Island. As a parasitic plant, this species depends on its tree host species. While the host species depends on environmental variables include Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR), forest covers, and elevation for its growth. Then those variables were important to develop the Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) of R. arnoldii using the MaxEnt technique. One of the important regions for R. arnoldii in Sumatra is Tanggamus in Lampung, and currently, information about suitable habitats for R. arnoldii …

The Status Of The Endangered Rafflesia And Conservation Efforts In Java Island, Indonesia, Bahana Aditya Adnan, Purnomo Purnomo, Suwarno Hadisusanto

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Rafflesia species (Rafflesiaceae) is a small endo-holoparasitic South-East Asian plant genus known for its exceptionally large flowers, rare species, and high island endemism. Three species of Rafflesia, i.e. R. patma, R. rochussenii, and R. zollingeriana, are known from Java, Indonesia. All three species are threatened with extinction due to human activities that cause habitat loss and fragmentation. Our literature review revealed that currently, factors influencing the existence of this genus, including its life cycle and environmental factors that support its life, are still not well understood. In particular, studies of the distribution and population of Rafflesia on the …

Influence Of Pruning And Organic Fertiliser On 9-Month-Old Ginger Productivity In An Acacia Auriculiformis Agroforestry, Yuda Vatra Erlangga, Arom Figyantika, Cintya Nurul Apsari, Rizki Bagus Indratmoko, Muhammad Syahru Ramadhan, Anastasya Clara Srinila Tampubolon, Fanny Elisabeth Panjaitan

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Acacia auriculiformis (formis) offers various advantages that can be integrated with agricultural crops like ginger (Zingiber officinale var. amarum) through agroforestry systems. Pruning and fertilisation are potential strategies to optimise this approach. However, existing research remains limited. Further quantification and analysis are required to elucidate the effects of pruning on the growth of 7-year-old formis trees 11 months after treatment. In addition, more comprehensive studies are needed to examine the combined effects of pruning and organic fertiliser on the growth, productivity, and gingerol content of 9-month-old ginger plants. This research employed a Split-Plot Randomised Complete Block Design, examining the …

Shark Immunology And Its Biomedical Potential: Evolution, Innovation, And The Imperative Of Conservation, Reesha Bhagat

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This review aims to shed light on a significant ecological deficit and its implications for the future of science and medicine. Sharks possess a uniquely adaptive, cancer-resistant, and evolutionarily refined immune system with transformative biomedical potential, making their conservation a scientific and medical imperative. We are losing something medically irreplaceable, and we don’t even fully understand it yet. Shark conservation is a pressing scientific imperative because sharks are ecologically essential and represent an irreplaceable biomedical resource.

Exploring Google Trends In Assessing Personal Finance Needs For Cooperative Extension Service Programming, Megan Wells

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) relies on systematic needs assessments to guide program development; yet, traditional approaches often depend heavily on stakeholder input and professional judgment, offering limited insight into consumer level needs. This mixed methods study explored Google Trends as a complementary, consumer driven data source for assessing Family Resource Management (FRM) needs within the Arkansas CES. Grounded in Witkin and Altschuld’s three level needs assessment framework and Uses and Gratifications Theory, the study integrated three data sources representing stakeholders, service providers, and consumers: (1) Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) advisory committee reports, (2) survey of Family Consumer Science …

At The Intersection Of Science And Sustainability: A Qualitative Study Of Food Scientists' Personal And Professional Perspectives, Srushti Parikh

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Sustainable food systems require not only technological innovation but a more profound understanding of the professionals involved in the field. Even though the topic of sustainability is currently gaining importance throughout the food industry, the real expertise of food scientists is under-researched. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore food scientists' perspectives on sustainability, how these perceptions influence the way they pursue their careers, and how they view their impact in the larger sustainability agenda of the food industry. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study captured detailed insights of 22 food scientists’ perspectives through qualitative methods. Food scientists in …

Clinical And Demographic Characteristics Of Hospitalized Patients With Xylazine-Related Wounds, Elizabeth Novick, Nikhil Seval, Dagan Coppock, Mollie Tucker, Daniel Taupin, John Zurlo, Carolyn Kramer

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the demographic and clinical features of patients with xylazine-related wounds. We sought to characterize hospitalized patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and xylazine-related wounds seen for infectious diseases consultation.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 193 patients diagnosed with SUD at 3 Philadelphia hospitals between October 2023 and January 2024. Patients were identified as either being diagnosed with (n=73) or without (n=120) xylazine-related wounds. We compared the demographic and clinical features between the 2 groups.

RESULTS: Patients diagnosed with wounds were younger ( P < 0.001), more likely to be White or Hispanic and less likely to be Black/AA ( P < 0.001), more likely to have tested positive for fentanyl ( P < 0.001), amphetamines ( P < 0.001), and cocaine ( P 0.001), more likely to acknowledge injection ( P < 0.001), and more likely to leave the hospital by patient-directed discharge (PDD) ( P < 0.001). Most patients had multiple wounds (75%), and more than half (53%) had at least one wound greater than 10 cm at its widest dimension. Although most patients diagnosed with wounds received antibiotics, many did not have symptoms or signs of infection.

CONCLUSIONS: Xylazine-related wounds are highly associated with illicitly manufactured …

Identification, Pathogenicity, And Fungicide Sensitivity Of Itersonilia Perplexans Associated With Petal Spot Of Gerbera Cut Flowers In Colombia, Matheus Beger

All Theses

Petal diseases significantly affect gerbera cut flower production, as minor visual damage renders flowers unmarketable. Among those pathogens causing petal spots, Itersonilia perplexans affects some Asteraceae plants. However, this pathogen's impact on Colombian gerbera remains poorly studied. This study was designed to fill four gaps: molecular identification of Colombian isolates, confirmation of pathogenicity, standardized culture media, and fungicide sensitivity data. Four objectives were pursued: (i) isolate and identify the causal agent through sequencing the Internal Transcribed Spacer, Small Subunit and Large Subunit from the rDNA; (ii) evaluate pathogenicity on detached gerbera petals; (iii) identify optimal culture media for I. perplexans …

Developing Aero-Floating Treatment Wetland (Aeroftw) Scaffolds: A Non-Plastic Alternative To Conventional Plastic-Based Ftws, Ada C. Montoya Gomez

All Theses

This research was conducted to explore the possibility of constructing floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) without using plastic materials. FTWs are floating platforms that hold plants on the water’s surface, letting roots dangle within the water column, to help remove contaminants from contaminated water, especially in stormwater ponds. Many conventional FTWs are made with plastic components, such as mats and plastic cup containers, which can release microplastics into the environment over time. The goal of this project was to design and test a new type of FTW that does not depend on plastics to support FTW flotation. The study took place …

Dissecting The Complex Genomic Landscape Underlying Oxidative Stress Resistance Using Natural Variation In Yeast, Sonali Lakshika Anne Lenaduwe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stress is experienced across the tree of life. Survival in fluctuating environments depends on a robust genetic architecture. This dissertation examines the genetic and metabolic determinants underlying one such adaptive response: cross-protection. Leveraging natural variation in the stress responses of budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, I examine the genetic variation contributing to ethanol-induced cross-protection against oxidative stress. Acquired stress resistance, in which mild pre-exposure improves survival to subsequent stresses, is prevalent across diverse organisms and can involve both same-stress and cross-protection. Using high-throughput bulk segregant analysis (BSA-seq) and advanced intercross mapping populations derived from natural yeast isolates, I identify quantitative trait …

Mechanisms Of Bacterial Glucokinase Inactivation Through Site-Specific Lysine Modification And Chemical Inhibition, Joseph Robert Will Andrews

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Glycolysis and related metabolic pathways are controlled by various post-translational modifications (PTMs) that affect enzyme activity and metabolic flow. In E. coli, glucokinase (GLK) sits at the crossroads of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway and carries out the first committed step of glycolysis: ATP-dependent phosphorylation of glucose. While it's known that glucose binding causes GLK to close its domains, how phosphate binding, lysine modification, and small-molecule inhibitors regulate GLK's shape and function is still not fully understood. Here, I combine structural biochemistry and enzymology to figure out how phosphate binding, specific mutations, and chemical inhibitors affect E. coli GLK. …

The Role Of Floodplain Connectivity In Shaping The Abundance, Size-Class Distribution, And Schooling Behavior Of The Associated Fish Assemblage, Adam H. Quade

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The life histories of many Louisiana fishes are closely tied to the timing, magnitude, and duration of the Mississippi River flood pulse, which regulates the ecological connectivity and productivity of adjacent floodplain habitats. Anthropogenic modifications such as levee construction and water-control structures have disrupted these natural hydrologic linkages, altering habitat quality and community structure across the Lower Mississippi River Basin. This dissertation used high-resolution imaging sonar to investigate how fish assemblages, species, and collectives respond to changes in floodplain connectivity within the Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area prior to hydrologic restoration. In the first chapter, I applied imaging sonar …

Characterization Of Snrk1 Signaling In Rice Growth, Reproduction, And Stress Responses Using Phenotypic And Omics Analysis, Maria Clara Faria-Bates

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

SnRK1 is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase belonging to the SNF1/AMPK family that is composed of a catalytic subunit (α) and two regulatory subunits (β and βγ), and it has a major role in adjusting growth in response to the energy status. SnRK1 phosphorylates and alters the activities of enzymes involved in metabolism and regulates gene expression by altering the activity of chromatin-remodeling enzymes or transcription factors. Rice contains three functional paralogs of SnRK1α: OsSnRK1αA (Os05g0530500), OsSnRK1αB (Os8g0484600), and OsSnRK1αC (Os03g0289100). Although SnRK1 is known to play a central role in plant growth and stress responses, the functional specialization of …

Assessing The Potential Of Taming Chicken Gut Commensal Bacteria Using Random Transposon Mutagenesis, Arjun Chapagain

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The chicken gut microbiome comprises hundreds of bacterial species whose functional roles remain largely unknown, in part because the tools needed to experimentally manipulate these organisms in their native community context have not been systematically developed or validated. This dissertation addresses the gap through three connected research chapters that progressively build a framework for transposon-based genetic delivery in the chicken cecal microbiome, moving from community-wide accessibility mapping to vector optimization to library preparation refinement. In Chapter 2, we established the community-level insertion landscape in chicken cecal metagenome using Himar transposon delivery via RP4 conjugation and aligned Tn-seq reads to a …

Genome-Wide Phenotypic Characterization Of Mycobacteriophage Mercurio, Tyler Downs

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Bacteriophages, or phages, are being piloted as a supplemental or alternative therapeutic to antibiotics against drug-resistant Mycobacterium pathogens, such as M. tuberculosis, which pose a global public health crisis.  Characterizing bacteriophage genomes can provide insights into efficacy in phage therapy before implementation or elucidate new targets to manipulate bacterial growth.  Overexpression of individual phage genes is useful to study a gene product’s function independent of others.  Here, the results of phage Mercurio plasmid library overexpression in plate-based assays are described.  Mercurio infects nonpathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis and is genetically related to bacteriophages infecting pathogenic Mycobacterium species.  Eleven gene products of …

Identifying The Role Of Human Dna Polymerase Delta During Human Cytomegalovirus Genome Synthesis, Rachel Laree Dansereau

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a large double stranded DNA virus and member of the Herpesviridae family. Like all herpesviruses, HCMV presents with characteristics of persistent, lifelong infections that transition between lytic and latent states. The replication of the viral genome is traditionally thought to occur by a rolling circle mechanism, but this model is supported by little evidence. It is known that HCMV actively recruits several host proteins to viral replication compartments (RCs), including proteins involved in the DNA damage response (DDR). The exact mechanisms of how these proteins are used and in what ways they help the virus remain …

Hormonal, Cytokinetic, And Skeletal Response To A Single Weighted Vest Exercise Treatment: A Pilot Study To Determine Weighted Vest “Rucking” Treatment For Osteoporosis In Post-Menopausal Women, Eleanor Pell

Master's Theses

Osteoporosis is characterized by a deteriorating of bone tissue leading to brittleness and increased fracture risk that affects both men and women as they age. Postmenopausal women are of particular interest due to high risk of declining bone density, a characteristic of this population. Treatments for osteoporosis range from menopause hormone therapy, bisphosphonates, biologics, nutritional changes, and exercise. Load bearing exercise interventions have shown effectiveness for stimulating bone growth, but many factors such as lack of access, motivation, self-confidence or knowledge, prevent long term compliance. “Weighted vest rucking” refers to a variation of rucking, which is a form of exercise …

2026 Workshop On Bridging The Gaps: Tackling Microplastics And Nanoplastics Challenges In Coastal Ecosystems, Shenghua Wu, Kaushik Venkiteshwaran, Melike Dizbay-Onat, Alexandra Stenson, Jinhui Wang, Tina Miller-Way, Ebenezer Nyadjro, Bhuvnesh Bharti, John Weinstein, Yi Bao, Shihui Shen, Valerie Longa, Shenghua Zha, John Cleary, Marty Lind

Workshops

This report presents the findings from the 2026 Workshop on Tackling Microplastics and Nanoplastics (MNPs) in Coastal Ecosystems, which took place in Mobile, Alabama. More than 140 experts from universities, government, industry, and community organizations gathered to address the increasing issue of MNPs in coastal regions.

The Genetic Basis Of High Transformation Efficiency In The Model Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Mary Kathryn E. Cheek

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Transformation, a type of horizontal gene transfer, describes the uptake, maintenance, and integration of environmental DNA by cells. Despite the known effects of transformation on evolutionary processes, little is known about the genetic basis of this phenomenon. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a eukaryote able to transform at quantifiable rates when made chemically competent and treated with a heat shock. S. cerevisiae also has variation in transformation efficiencies between various strains, and high recombination rates allow for sufficient allele “shuffling” in intercross populations. This project utilizes a bulk segregant analysis approach to compare sequencing data between transformant pools and non-transformant pools of …

Exploring Exercise Motivation And Mental Well-Being In College Students, Elaine M. Lindesmith, Anqi Deng Dr

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examined the relationship between physical activity, exercise motivation, and mental well-being among 48 undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, the study used survey data to measure depression, anxiety, physical activity, and open-ended exercise motivation responses. Motivation responses were coded as autonomous or controlled.

Results showed that physical activity was weakly and negatively related to depression and anxiety, but these relationships were not statistically significant. There were also no significant differences in mental health between autonomous and controlled motivation groups, and motivation did not significantly predict mental health outcomes in regression analyses. Overall, the …

Cross-Facility Reliable Deep Learning Based Beef Marbling Assessment Via Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Regression, Samuel Vinson

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Inconsistent quality grading in beef production leads to inefficiencies, economic disparity, and consumer mistrust. While USDA meat grading traditionally relies on skilled visual inspectors, these human evaluations suffer from cross-facility variability and subjectivity. This paper introduces the first known application of unsupervised domain adaptation regression for cross-facility beef marbling score prediction—an innovation that improves generalization across diverse environments in the beef supply chain. Utilizing numerical scores ranging from 100-900, the research employed convolutional neural networks (CNNs), including ResNet, VGG, and AlexNet architectures. The study specifically introduced and validated a unified unsupervised domain adaptation regression method using the ResNet-50 architecture to …

Historical Comparison Of Bridal Fashion Symbolism: Contrasting Queen Elizabeth Ii, Princess Diana, And Catherine, Princess Of Wales, Rebecca O'Dea

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to gain understanding and insight into the profoundness behind the practice of dress. Throughout history, royal attire has been used to demonstrate aspects about the individual and regency. Royal fashion served as an excellent area to narrow in on, due to the influential status, and high standards expected of their appearance and actions. This research project studied members of British royal family, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, and analyzed fashion elements of their wedding dresses. The examination of bridal fashion was conducted through thematic framework determining if the concepts …