Digital Commons Network^™

Ashwagandha And Sexual Health In Women With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: Exploring Extent Of Adaptogenic Properties, Rhea Chatterjee

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) affects 40% of women and potentially decreases their quality of life. Currently, the primary treatment for HSDD is Flibanserin, which is a serotonergic agonist and an antidepressant. However, the limited efficacy of Flibanserin encourages the exploration of the utilization of traditional drugs such as Withania somnifera, otherwise known as Ashwagandha, as an alternative treatment for HSDD. Minimal studies examine ayurvedic medications or the symptoms of illnesses that traditional Western medicines are unable to treat. This comprehensive literature review investigated the efficacy of Ashwagandha in improving sexual function in women with HSDD. The paper evaluated …

Science, Physiology, And Nutrition For The Nonscientist, Judi S. Morrill

Open Educational Resources

A wonderful blend of physiology, nutrition, biochemistry, genetics, biology, evolution, chemistry--what we all need to know as informed citizens. A basic knowledge of the life sciences and how our bodies work--to promote our own good health, especially as we're bombarded with misleading advertisements, soundbites, and the like. DNA fingerprinting, calorie requirements, dietary advice, genetic engineering (including gene editing with CRISPR cas9)--all in an easy-to understand book.

“What’S Supp” Developing An In Vitro Model For Healthy Oral Biofilms, Alex Labossiere

Open Access Dissertations

The study of oral plaque has largely been influenced by the study of pathogens. Here in Chapter 1, I will discuss how this pathogenic focus has been dominant until the onset of microbiome research and begin to explain microbiomes in the context of supragingival plaque in homeostatic communities. From there we will then discuss the possible roots where dysbiosis may arise from plaque to cause disease and ways in which we can study healthy supragingival plaque by in vitro models.

In chapter 2, I will discuss molecular commensalism and how it can be viewed as a tool to further understand …

Distracted But Still Listening: How Cognitive And Perceptual Load Affect Multisensory Integration, Eddie Lee

Honors Theses

There is an ongoing debate about whether multisensory integration (MSI) occurs automatically and before attention is allocated or if multisensory integration occurs after attention is allocated and is subject to top-down attentional control. A recent study investigated this by manipulating the availability of attentional resources in a dual-task paradigm, finding that when the demands of the secondary task increased, susceptibility to the Sound-Induced-Flash-Illusion, a non-speech audiovisual illusion, also increased (Michail & Keil, 2018). This was taken as evidence for the role of post-attentive, top-down control during MSI. In the present study, we extend this logic to explore the role of …

Understanding Food Insecurity Among International Students At Ohio University, Kyle Butler, Joshua Osondu

Sustainable Living Hub Reports and Publications

Recently, food insecurity has emerged as a concern among the student body of Ohio University (OHIO), particularly among its international graduate students. This survey study was undertaken to provide data to inform OHIO’s response to food insecurity among its international graduate students.

The Effects Of A History Of Child Trauma On Breastfeeding Outcomes, Emily Flynn

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for both parent and child, yet many parents discontinue earlier than recommended. While childhood sexual abuse has been associated with breastfeeding difficulties, limited research has examined the broader effects of other forms of childhood maltreatments on breastfeeding outcomes. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between a history of childhood trauma and breastfeeding outcomes, with social support explored as a potential moderator. Participants (n = 194) were birthing parents of children under the age of five, recruited from online parenting communities. Measures included the Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), a breastfeeding duration item, and a …

René Dubos: An Annotated Bibliography, Carol L. Moberg

René Dubos: An Annotated Bibliography

René Dubos (1901–1982), a prominent 20th century scientist, humanist, and philosopher, was a prolific author. Affiliated for more than 50 years with The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research/The Rockefeller University, his studies ranged from antibiotics and the role of bacteria in human diseases to formulating broad ecological and environmental questions affecting human health and disease. His seminal writings explore a lifelong belief that a living organism—whether microbe, human being, society, or the Earth itself—could be understood only through its relationships with everything else.

This comprehensive bibliography of more than a thousand works by René Dubos includes brief annotations for each …

Floral Encounters: Examining The Role Of Experience Goods And Promoters In Specialty Cut Flower Workshops, Savannah L. Columbia

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

This thesis provides insight for any farmer interested in agritourism, specifically, specialty cut flower workshops, by investigating consumer behavior related to specialty cut flower workshops as an experience good. It investigates which experience good cues may be important for a consumer’s decision-making process. It introduces a Specialty Cut Flower Workshop Experience Map, which explains how potential participants move from first learning about a specialty cut flower workshop to their long-term behaviors as consumers. These findings help to provide marketing support for smaller-scale specialty crop farmers, specifically, specialty cut flower farmers.

Occupational Exposures To Chemicals In Dentistry: A Scoping Review, Geneviève Picard, Tisha Prakash, France Labrèche, Sabrina Gravel

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

The dental workforce comprises a variety of professions, most of which are predominantly occupied by women. Dental workers can be exposed to numerous toxic chemicals such as mercury, methacrylate polymers, and silica. This scoping review aims to synthesize the scientific literature on quantified chemical exposures and to identify research gaps in occupational chemical hazards faced by dental professionals. This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute approach and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, using three concepts to search PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science: workers, dental care, and chemicals. Studies from high-income countries, published in French or English between 2000 and 2024 and reporting …

Resveratrol Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects On Human Thp-1 Macrophages, Valeria B. Martinez

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses - Archive

Inflammation is a natural biological response to harmful stimuli. It initiates a series of reactions that prompt defensive and curative mechanisms, ridding the body of offending agents and healing remaining injuries. Inflammation involves the intricate communication between cells, requiring complex signaling that mediates various pathways. This acute form of inflammation is vital for our survival, promoting a myriad of mechanisms that function to defend and heal. However, if this inflammatory response is not resolved, it results in a prolonged condition referred to as chronic inflammation. This persistent inflammatory state is incredibly harmful, damaging the host's healthy cells, tissues, and organs. …

Examining Educational And Career Transition Points Among A Diverse, Virtual Mentoring Network, Erika L Thompson, Toufeeq Ahmed Syed, Zainab Latif, Katie Stinson, Damaris Javier, Gabrielle Saleh, Jamboor K Vishwanatha

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Given the differences in trajectory for under-represented minorities in biomedical careers, we sought to explore how a virtual mentoring program, the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN), and its platform (MyNRMN), may facilitate transitions in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) pipeline. The purpose of this study was to describe how the size of an MyNRMN member’s mentoring network and level of engagement correlate with academic and career transitions. We examined MyNRMN platform user data from March 2020 to May 2021 (n = 2993). Logistic regression estimated the odds of a career or academic transition related to NRMN …

Rank Aggregation Methods And Tools In Genomic Data Analysis, Wenping Zou, Savannah Mwesigwa, Sayed-Rzgar Hosseini, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rank aggregation (RA) is the process of consolidating disparate rankings into a single unified ranking. It holds immense potential in the field of genomics. RA has applications in diverse research areas, such as gene expression analysis, meta-analysis, gene prioritization, and biomarker discovery. However, there are many challenges in the application of the RA approach to biological data, such as dealing with heterogeneous data sources, rankings of mixed quality, and evaluating the consolidated rankings. In this review, we present an overview of the existing RA methods with an emphasis on those that have been tailored to the complexities of genomics research. …

Session Introduction: Translating Big Data Imaging Genomics Findings To The Individual: Prediction Of Risks And Outcomes In Neuropsychiatric Illnesses, Peter Kochunov, Li Shen, Zhongming Zhao, Paul M Thompson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This PSB 2025 session is focused on opportunities, challenges and solutions for translating Big Data Imaging Genomic findings toward powering decision making in personalized medicine and guiding individual clinical decisions. It combines many of the scientific directions that are of interest to PSB members including Big Data analyses, pattern recognition, machine learning and AI, electronic health records and others.

Interleukin-38 Serum Level In Nonsegmental Vitiligo Patients And Its Correlation With Disease Activity And Disease Severity, Aya Adel, Mohammed El- Kamel, Manar Ali Hassan

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Vitiligo is a multifactorial disease in which autoimmunity plays a central role. Interleukin (IL)-38, an innate immune cytokine secreted by keratinocytes and other cells, is believed to have a role in vitiligo progression. Aim To assess the serum levels of IL-38 in cases with non-segmental vitiligo and to examine its correlation to disease severity and disease activity. Methods This case control study included 60 patients with vitiligo and 20 healthy subjects as a control group. According to the disease severity, the cases were allocated into three groups: mild, moderate and severe. Each group included 20 patients. The affected body …

The Association Between Stress-Related Disorders And Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome In Males: A Narrative Review, Abdinur Jama Farah, Mohammed Hegazy Abdulhalem, Wafaa Abdel-Hakim El-Bahaey, Ahmed Sobhy El Hefnawy

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) in males is a multifactorial clinical syndrome with significant impact on quality of life (QoL). Objective To explore the link between psychological stress and chronic pelvic pain in males through reviewing the relevant articles in CPPS literature. Review summary CPPS in males is a complex condition marked by persistent pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, and sexual dysfunction without identifiable infection or pathology. Its unclear etiology and significant impact on quality of life make it a challenging clinical problem. Growing evidence suggests that psychological stress plays a key role in symptom onset and persistence by …

Low-Carbohydrate, Low-Fat, And Balanced Diets In Weight Reduction Among Obese Adolescents., Ashraf A. Elsharkawy, Gihan Fouad Ahmad, Ahmed El-Husseiny, Amany K. Elhawary, Ola Shawky Ahmed, Asmaa Taha Zaher Taha, Fatma El-Zahraa M. Hashish

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Obesity in adolescents is a major public health concern, leading to early onset of metabolic abnormalities. This study aimed to compare the effects of the Low- Carbohydrate Diet (LCD) and Low-Fat Diet (LFD) in comparison with the balanced calculated diet (BCD) on weight reduction in obese adolescents and their impact on metabolic health markers. Patients and methods: 75 obese adolescents aged less than 18 years were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, controlled study and were randomly assigned to either LCD group, LFD group, or BCD group. Anthropometric and laboratory measures were collected before and after a 10-week intervention. Results: …

Pain Phenotyping Indicators In Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Secondary Analysis Of A Randomized Controlled Trial, Katrina R Hamilton, Nada Lukkahatai, Wanqi Chen, Hulin Wu, Jennifer Kawi, Constance M Johnson, Paul J Christo, Claudia M Campbell

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: A multimodal approach to clinical care is often recommended for chronic low back pain (cLBP); however, treatment responses are highly variable. Phenotyping could help determine subgroups of patients, allowing for targeted and tailored interventional approaches.

Patients and methods: 263 (Mage=69.8 (7.2); 64.6% female) individuals with cLBP participated in the parent study, a 3-arm, randomized clinical trial examining auricular point acupressure treatment outcomes. Parent study participants were randomized (1:1:1) to APA ear points targeted to cLBP (T-APA, n=92), non-targeted to cLBP (NT-APA, n=91), or education control (n=89). The current study used latent class analysis to identify clustering for pain severity …

Principles Of Biomedical Research, Faina Linkov, Matthew C. Kostek

Open Education Materials

HLT 430/530

CC BY-NC-SA

An Analysis Of Htt Involvement In Huntington’S Disease, Elaine Vanterpool, Micah Andrews

Student Posters

Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of striatal neurons. These striatal neurons are essential in cognition, motor function, decision-making, motivation, reinforcement, and reward perception. Affected individuals may show symptoms such as isolation, lack of motivation, depression, mood swings, and personality changes. This study’s purpose is to analyze and highlight the variants of the HTT gene in the pathogenesis of Huntington’s disease.

Influences Of Sex, Alcohol, And Stress On Conditioned Fear Responses, Heyam K. Mayberry

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Learned fear responses are acquired through the identification and association of threatening stimuli with aversive outcomes. Fear responding and the proper maintenance of defensive behaviors is integral to survival. However, without the homeostasis of such systems, fear responses can become maladaptive and lead to dysregulated behavioral responding. Psychological conditions such as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often lead to impairments in fear learning, deficits in fear memory, and heightened fear responses. While there are clear sex differences in the prevalence of both AUD and PTSD, development of either disorder increases the risk for comorbid AUD/PTSD, leading …

Impacts Of School-Based Agricultural Education On The Resilience Of Senior Appalachian High School Students Living In Economically Disadvantaged Counties In Kentucky And Virginia, Ruth D. Toole

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Students in Central Appalachia, particularly those in economically disadvantaged (ED) counties, may face unique risks related to their geographic and socioeconomic circumstances. However, school-based and youth development programs have been shown to foster resilience among youth. This convergent mixed-methods study aimed to explore whether involvement in School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) can enhance youth resilience. Data were collected through a resilience questionnaire and semi-structured focus group interviews, which were analyzed, interpreted, and integrated to uncover key findings. Results indicated that participants living in ED areas exhibited relatively high resilience scores. Focus group discussions revealed that, despite the challenges they face, participants …

Genetic Property Rhetoric And The Public Domain, Dave Fagundes

Texas A&M Journal of Property Law

Among the many themes that illuminate Jorge Contreras’s The Genome Defense, this Essay focuses on property. It considers the rhetorical role played by property in convincing both courts and the public that patenting genetic data was legally and ethically objectionable. This Essay begins by locating property—and public property—as a major theme in the dialogue surrounding the Myriad litigation. It then situates this rhetorical move in the context of property-talk generally, highlighting the distinctiveness of leveraging public rather than private ownership as a means of accessing moral intuitions. Finally, this Essay reflects on what the use of public property rhetoric …

Force Matters: An Exploration Of Manual Therapies Effects On Passive Tension Properties Of The Lower Extremity., Loran D. Wade Jr

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Musculoskeletal dysfunction is a leading cause of pain, functional limitation, and disability worldwide, necessitating the exploration of non-invasive therapeutic strategies. Manual therapy, which encompasses massage, stretching, and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), has long been used to address musculoskeletal dysfunction, yet its mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy remain inconsistently defined within the literature. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the historical foundations, physiological effects, and current applications of manual therapy techniques in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Emphasis is placed on how these interventions influence key musculoskeletal properties, including tissue stiffness, joint range of motion, neuromuscular function, and …

Atorvastatin Alters Neuronal Morphology Data Set, Carolyn L. Pytte

Publications and Research

Statins are highly effective and widely prescribed cholesterol lowering drugs. However, statins cross the blood-brain barrier and decrease neural cholesterol in animal models, raising concern that long-term statin use may impact cholesterol-dependent structures and functions in the brain. Cholesterol is a fundamental component of cell membranes and experimentally decreasing membrane cholesterol has been shown to alter cell morphology in vitro. In addition, brain regions that undergo adult neurogenesis rely on local brain cholesterol for the manufacture of new neuronal membranes. Thus neurogenesis may be particularly vulnerable to long-term statin use. Here we asked whether oral statin treatment impacts neurogenesis …

Examining Purkinje Cell Modulation Of The Vor: An Optogenetic Study, Ben Davis, D Garcia, B Haack, J Lewis, J Jackson, C Worthington, Trace Stay

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is coordinated eye movement to maintain a stable gaze during head rotation. This reflex can be adapted in behavioral training by using repeated head movements and shifting visual stimuli.

Previous research (Kimpo et al., 2014) implicates cerebellar output as critical to VOR adaptation, but it is unclear whether Purkinje cell (PC) output paired with a vestibular or visual stimulus is sufficient for driving reflex adaptation.

We hypothesize that PC output is sufficient for driving gain up behavioral VOR adaptation when paired with peak ipsiversive head movement in mice. Stimuli include a rotating vestibular environment or visual …

German Cockroach Allergen Mitigation, Olivia Katz

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

German cockroaches (Blatella germanica L.) remain one of the most challenging indoor pests to manage, due in large part to their cryptic nature, rapid reproduction, and resistance to insecticides. Because of their close proximity to humans, they also pose several serious health threats, including the production and dissemination of several potent allergens linked to asthma development and exacerbation. Given the risks associated with cockroach allergens, we examined the longevity of two distinct cockroach allergens (Bla g 1 and Bla g 5) in the home environment and the efficacy of cleaners at removing these allergens. Our findings show that Bla …

The Power Of Plate & Knowledge: Nutrition’S Role In Pcos Management For Asian American Women, Cassandra Curameng Diego Curameng

Nursing | Senior Theses

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common metabolic endocrine condition with symptoms that severely impair women's physical and reproductive health. However, individuals with PCOS, especially Asian American women, lack sufficient understanding of non-pharmacological symptom management options, such as dietary and lifestyle modifications. This research proposal explores whether culturally appropriate nutrition education can help manage PCOS symptoms and lessen the need for medical management. The literature critique focuses on addressing the knowledge gap regarding treatment management among women diagnosed with PCOS, health risks related to PCOS, ethnic differences, and nutrition. This proposal investigates the impact of a dietary education program tailored …

Effects Of Educational Intervention On Asthmatic Children, Zoe Coggins

Nursing | Senior Theses

Abstract

Children are more vulnerable to asthmatic symptoms due to the physiological immaturity of their respiratory systems. Therefore, irritants are deemed more hazardous for the pediatric population. Pollution is a growing health concern, and within the literature review, several approaches to the measurement of the impact of low air quality and educational interventions are discussed. The themes identified in the literature review are increased risk of pollution-induced exacerbation due to age, behavior, and residential proximity to emission-producing facilities. The review of the literature demonstrated how pollution is a growing public health concern, especially among the pediatric population. Interventions, reviewed in …

Swosu Research And Scholarly Activity Fair 2025, Swosu Office Of Sponsored Programs

SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair Programs

On behalf of the members of the University Research and Scholarly Activity Committee (USRAC) and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) — welcome to the Thirty-Third SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair!

This year’s event features 99 poster presentations and 9 oral presentations, showcasing the work of over 170 student and faculty researchers, writers, presenters, artists, collaborators, and faculty sponsors. These presentations represent a wide array of scholarly and academic activity from across SWOSU’s academic community, including the Departments of Art, Communication, and Theatre; Allied Health Sciences; Biological Sciences; Business; Chemistry & …

Introductory Biology Ii Lab Manual, Melissa A. Storm

OER Collection

Explore the diversity of life on the planet Earth with a focus on organisms found in the Southeast of the United States, examine the evolutionary relationships between organisms and the ways in which scientists are currently expanding their understanding of those relationships every day through this BIO 102 Lab Manual

How to use this book: 

Each unit of this book represents the information you will learn during a week of lab class. Within each unit you will find types of information to help you learn the content.

At the beginning of each unit, you will find lists of reinforced skills …