Digital Commons Network^™

Adaptive Divergence, Neutral Panmixia, And Algal Symbiont Population Structure In The Temperate Coral Astrangia Poculata Along The Mid-Atlantic United States, Hannah E. Aichelman, Daniel J. Barshis

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Astrangia poculata is a temperate scleractinian coral that exists in facultative symbiosis with the dinoflagellate alga Breviolum psygmophilum across a range spanning the Gulf of Mexico to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Our previous work on metabolic thermal performance of Virginia (VA) and Rhode Island (RI) populations of A. poculata revealed physiological signatures of cold (RI) and warm (VA) adaptation of these populations to their respective local thermal environments. Here, we used whole-transcriptome sequencing (mRNA-Seq) to evaluate genetic differences and identify potential loci involved in the adaptive signature of VA and RI populations. Sequencing data from 40 A. poculata individuals, including 10 …

Biomechanical And Biophysical Properties Of Breast Cancer Cells Under Varying Glycemic Regimens, Diganta Dutta, Xavier-Lewis Palmer, Jose Ortega-Rodas, Vasundhara Balraj, Indrani Ghosh Dastider, Surabhi Chandra

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Diabetes accelerates cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, particularly for cancers of the pancreas, liver, breast, colon, and skin. While pathways linking the 2 disease conditions have been explored extensively, there is a lack of information on whether there could be cytoarchitectural changes induced by glucose which predispose cancer cells to aggressive phenotypes. It was thus hypothesized that exposure to diabetes/high glucose alters the biomechanical and biophysical properties of cancer cells more than the normal cells, which aids in advancing the cancer. For this study, atomic force microscopy indentation was used through microscale probing of multiple human breast cancer cells (MCF-7, …

Identification Of Planktothrix (Cyanobacteria) Blooms And Effects On The Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Community In The Non-Tidal Potomac River, Usa, Joshua Henesy, Jennifer L. Wolny, John E. Mullican, Detbra S. Rosales, Joseph S. Pitula, Joseph W. Love

Virginia Journal of Science

Using transverse cross-sectional transects, a survey of 31 km of the non-tidal Potomac River was conducted from White’s Ferry, Virginia to Brunswick, Maryland, USA, between June and September in 2013 through 2015 to assess a recurring benthic cyanobacteria bloom. Abundant benthic cyanobacteria blooms were detected during the 2014 and 2015 sampling seasons and the primary taxon was identified morphologically and molecularly as Planktothrix cf. isothrix. When present, P. cf. isothrix blooms were concentrated from river center to the Maryland shoreline. This pattern was correlated with significantly greater benthic chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin concentrations. In an apparent response to …

Monarch Science Observer, Volume 6, College Of Sciences, Old Dominion University

College of Sciences Newsletter

October-Fall 2020 issue of Monarch Science Observer, ODU College of Sciences Newsletter.

Circulation,Volume 26, No.1, Center For Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University, Sönke Dangendorf

CCPO Circulation

Fall 2020 issue of CCPO Circulation featuring the article, "Understanding the Causes and Impact of Sea Level Rise," by Sönke Dangendorf.

Agent-Based Modelling Of Values: The Case Of Value Sensitive Design For Refugee Logistics, Christine Boshuijzen-Van Burken, Ross J. Gore, Frank Dignum, Lamber Royakkers, Phillip Wozny, F. Leron Shults

VMASC Publications

We have used value sensitive design as a method to develop an agent-based model of values in humanitarian logistics for refugees. Schwartz’s theory of universal values is implemented in the model in such a way that agents can make value trade-offs, which are operationalized into a measure of refugee wellbeing and a measure of public opinion about how the refugee logistics is being handled. By trying out different ‘value scenarios’, stakeholders who are responsible for, or involved in refugee logistics can have insights into the effects of various value choices. The model is visualized and made usable as a platform …

The Forgotten Students: Covid-19 Response For Youth And Young Adults Aging Out Of Foster Care, Mauriell H. Amechi

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

[First paragraph]

In March 2020, the coronavirus pandemic upended American higher education and shuttered campus doors across the country. As the opening vignette illustrates, many college students reported severe housing and food insecurities as a result. Nevertheless, not all college students experienced COVID-19’s effects and consequences equally. For example, Ivory, a current student enrolled at Concordia University Texas who spent 17 years in foster care, illuminated some of the difficulties she has personally faced in the wake of COVID-19. College students impacted by foster care make up approximately 5% of all undergraduates, and many are struggling to have their basic …

Biomanufacturing Organized Collagen-Based Microfibers As A Tissue Engineered Device (Tend) For Tendon Regeneration, Yas Maghdouri-White, Nardos Sori, Stella Petrova, Hilary Wriggers, Nathan Kemper, Amrita Dasgupta, Kelly Coughenour, Seth Polk, Nick Thayer, Mario Rodriguez, Bill Simon, Anna Bulysheva, Kevin Bonner,, Steven Arnoczky, Samuel Adams, Michael Francis

Bioelectrics Publications

Approximately 800,000 surgical repairs are performed annually in the U.S. for debilitating injuries to ligaments and tendons of the foot, ankle, knee, wrist, elbow and shoulder, presenting a significant healthcare burden. To overcome current treatment shortcomings and advance the treatment of tendon and ligament injuries, we have developed a novel electrospun Tissue ENgineered Device (TEND), comprised of type I collagen and poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) solubilized in a benign solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). TEND fiber alignment, diameter and porosity were engineered to enhance cell infiltration leading to promote tissue integration and functional remodeling while providing biomechanical stability. TEND rapidly adsorbs …

Sea-Ice Production And Air/Ice/Ocean/Biogeochemistry Interactions In The Ross Sea During The Pipers 2017 Autumn Field Campaign, S. F. Ackley, S. Stammerjohn, T. Maksym, M. Smith, J. Cassano, P. Guest, J.-L. Tison, B. Delille, B. Loose, Peter N. Sedwick, L. Depace, L. Roach, J. Parno

OES Faculty Publications

The Ross Sea is known for showing the greatest sea-ice increase, as observed globally, particularly from 1979 to 2015. However, corresponding changes in sea-ice thickness and production in the Ross Sea are not known, nor how these changes have impacted water masses, carbon fluxes, biogeochemical processes and availability of micronutrients. The PIPERS project sought to address these questions during an autumn ship campaign in 2017 and two spring airborne campaigns in 2016 and 2017. PIPERS used a multidisciplinary approach of manned and autonomous platforms to study the coupled air/ice/ocean/biogeochemical interactions during autumn and related those to spring conditions. Unexpectedly, the …

Monarch Science Observer, Volume 5, College Of Sciences, Old Dominion University

College of Sciences Newsletter

August-Summer 2020 issue of Monarch Science Observer, ODU College of Sciences Newsletter.

Testing A Model Of Sexual Minority Orientation In Individuals With And Without The Broad Autism Phenotype, Lydia Ruth Qualls

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) are more likely than individuals with typical development (TD) to report a sexual minority orientation (e.g., Bejerot & Eriksson, 2014; DeWinter et al., 2017; Qualls, Hartmann, & Paulson, 2018). There has been no research on how existing theories of sexual orientation might explain the development or increased likelihood of sexual minority orientation in these individuals. The aim of this study was to operationalize and test the fit of an existing model of sexual orientation (Worthington, Savoy, Dillon, & Vernaglia, 2002) in individuals with TD, BAP, and ASD.

Participants …

Morally Injurious Experiences, Trauma-Related Guilt, And Substance Use Among Iraq And Afghanistan Combat Veterans, Allison T. Battles

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Exposure to morally injurious experiences (MIEs), or stressors that transgress deeply held moral beliefs, are risk factors for hazardous alcohol use and drug abuse among combat veterans. Guilt following a traumatic event also has a negative impact on veteran’s mental health and is conceptualized as a core symptom of moral injury that may elicit secondary outcomes, including substance use. Significant gaps remain in our understanding of the way MIEs and trauma-related guilt relate to hazardous alcohol use and drug abuse symptoms. Most prior research on MIEs and substance use have been limited to veterans sampled from the general population and …

Structural Characterization Of Organic Matter In Oil Shales Using Multiple Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Techniques, Wenying Chu

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Oil shale is a promising source of hydrocarbon fuel that is distributed throughout the world. The petroleum generating potential of oil shale is related to the molecular structure of the organic matter in source rock. The major fraction of organic matter of oil shale is termed kerogen, and due to its insolubility in organic solvents, ¹³C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the best ways to directly measure the insoluble organic matter without changing its chemical structures. This dissertation investigated oil shale samples using advanced solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy techniques and high resolution magic angle …

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Counselors’ Experiences With Clients Affected By Problematic Internet Pornography Use, Kendall R. Sparks

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The primary researcher conducted a phenomenological study examining the experiences of licensed professional counselors (n = 8) who have worked with clients affected by problematic Internet pornography use. There were five female participants with an average age of 49 and three males with an average age of 63. All eight participants identified as Christian. Four participants reported their highest level of education was a Master’s degree, three participants reported holding a Ph.D. and one participant reported holding an Ed.S. Through semi-structured interviews, the primary researcher of this study sought to gain an understanding of how counselors were experiencing and navigating …

Innovative Approaches In The Discovery Of Aquatic Mycobacteriophages, Janis H. Doss

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect bacteria, have many applications in medicine, agriculture, molecular biology, and other fields. As antibiotic resistance becomes an increasing problem, interest in phages has grown. The traditional techniques of phage discovery are successful for some phages, but others require modified procedures to achieve detectable host infection.

Mycobacterium is a diverse bacterial genus characterized by a unique cell wall containing mycolic acids, which aids in survival and pathogenesis. The aims of the present research were to isolate mycobacteriophages, use bioinformatics techniques to analyze mycobacterial prophages, and combine genetic analysis with multi-well plate host range studies to identify …

Automatic Linear And Curvilinear Mesh Generation Driven By Validity Fidelity And Topological Guarantees, Jing Xu

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Image-based geometric modeling and mesh generation play a critical role in computational biology and medicine. In this dissertation, a comprehensive computational framework for both guaranteed quality linear and high-order automatic mesh generation is presented. Starting from segmented images, a quality 2D/3D linear mesh is constructed. The boundary of the constructed mesh is proved to be homeomorphic to the object surface. In addition, a guaranteed dihedral angle bound of up to 19:47^o for the output tetrahedra is provided. Moreover, user-specified guaranteed bounds on the distance between the boundaries of the mesh and the boundaries of the materials are allowed. The …

Possible Self Dynamics Of Community College Students Engaged In 3d Printing In Informal Environments, Lawrence Ralph Nightingale Jr.

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The overall number of students from diverse backgrounds and women that graduate from community college with degrees in high paying Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines is unacceptably low. The number of opportunities to gain exposure to STEM-based expressions of technology to overcome the dearth of exposure in high school is limited in community college. 3D Printing uses computer-controlled machines to build physical objects one layer at a time starting from the bottom up. The computer-controlled nature of 3D Printing provides a low risk, low cost platform to exercise elements of computer programming and engineering.

This study was a …

Validation Of Nanosecond Pulse Cancellation Using A Quadrupole Exposure System, Hollie A. Ryan

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) offer a plethora of opportunities for developing integrative technologies as complements or alternatives to traditional medicine. Studies on the biological effects of nsPEFs in vitro and in vivo have revealed unique characteristics that suggest the potential for minimized risk of complications in patients, such as the ability of unipolar nsEPs to create permanent or transient pores in cell membranes that trigger localized lethal or non-lethal outcomes without consequential heating. A more recent finding was that such responses could be diminished by applying a bipolar pulse instead, a phenomenon dubbed bipolar cancellation, paving the way …

A Framework For Adaptive Capacity In Complex Systems, Abdulrahman Alfaqiri

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Complex systems are characterized by their high level of inter-connectivity, ambiguity, and emergence. Therefore, a failure in one element of a system (e.g. cyber layer) due to external or internal disturbances can lead to a cascade effect that may influence all elements of the system. Consequently, the complex system will not be able to perform its functional performance. Threats related to complex systems are very dynamic, fast, complex and damage can be severe. Thus, to respond to the dynamic and unpredictable nature of these threats, complex systems need to be highly adaptive to survive and thrive in the face of …

Benthic Biological Monitoring Of The Elizabeth River Watershed (1999 And 2019), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

A study of the macrobenthic communities of the Elizabeth River watershed was conducted in summer 1999 and again in summer 2019 – a 20-year span. The primary objective of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program of the Elizabeth River watershed was to characterize the ecological condition of regional areas of the tidal waters of the Elizabeth River watershed as indicated by the structure of the benthic communities. These characterizations are based upon application of the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (BIBI) developed for the Chesapeake Bay to five primary strata - the Mainstem of the river, the Lafayette River, …

Bonnet Carré Spillway Freshwater Transport And Corresponding Biochemical Properties In The Mississippi Bight, Sabrina M. Parra, Virginie Sanial, Adam D. Boyette, M. Kemal Cambazoglu, Inia M. Soto, Adam T. Greer, Luciano M. Chiaverano, Angie Hoover, Michael S. Dinniman

CCPO Publications

Large freshwater pulses to coastal ecosystems change local hydrologic regimes and alter biogeochemical processes. The Mississippi Bight coastal ecosystem, located in the northern Gulf of Mexico shelf, is influenced by extensive freshwater inputs: the Mississippi River (MSR) and several smaller rivers to the east. Under river flood conditions, MSR waters flow through the Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS) to relieve pressure on levees in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2015, mild wintertime temperatures and heavy rainfall throughout the MSR watershed led to extreme flooding and prompted an unusually early BCS opening on January 10, 2016 for 23 days. This study examines the …

The Determinants Of Physical Activity, Self-Monitoring Of Blood Glucose, And Poor Glycemic Control Among Individuals Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes In Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study Based On The Saudi Health Interview Survey (Shis), Mohammed Abdulrahman S. Alsuliman

Health Services Research Dissertations

The prevalence of diabetes and poor glycemic control in Saudi Arabia has increased that contributed to the growing number of deaths in Saudi Arabia. It is known that type 2 diabetes (T2DM) can be prevented but there is a lack information about the magnitude of the of diabetes at national level as well as the risk factors for physical activity (PA), self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), and poor glycemic. Thus, through utilizing Health promotion model (HPM), the aims are to examine the personal factors, cognitive-perceptual, and behavioral determinants of three outcomes; physical activity, SMBG, and poor glycemic control. A secondary …

Assessment Of Coordination And Proprioception In Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Taylor Kristina Jones

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social and communicative delays. It is known that those with ASD exhibit lower activity levels and decreased proprioception to some extent. The biomechanics of movement in ASD has not been assessed thoroughly enough to provide information on ASD specific movement patterns, and no studies have been performed examining work and recovery. The purpose of this study is to examine whether 1) inter-limb and intra-limb coordination patterns during walking and running differ between youth with ASD and neurotypical sex, age, and BMI-matched controls. Youth with ASD (N=8) and their BMI, age, and sex matched …

D-Vine Pair-Copula Models For Longitudinal Binary Data, Huihui Lin

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Dependent longitudinal binary data are prevalent in a wide range of scientific disciplines, including healthcare and medicine. A popular method for analyzing such data is the multivariate probit (MP) model. The motivation for this dissertation stems from the fact that the MP model fails even the binary correlations are within the feasible range. The reason being the underlying correlation matrix of the latent variables in the MP model may not be positive definite. In this dissertation, we study alternatives that are based on D-vine pair-copula models. We consider both the serial dependence modeled by the first order autoregressive (AR(1)) and …

Model-Based Approach For Diffuse Glioma Classification, Grading, And Patient Survival Prediction, Zeina A. Shboul

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The work in this dissertation proposes model-based approaches for molecular mutations classification of gliomas, grading based on radiomics features and genomics, and prediction of diffuse gliomas clinical outcome in overall patient survival. Diffuse gliomas are types of Central Nervous System (CNS) brain tumors that account for 25.5% of primary brain and CNS tumors and originate from the supportive glial cells. In the 2016 World Health Organization’s (WHO) criteria for CNS brain tumor, a major reclassification of the diffuse gliomas is presented based on gliomas molecular mutations and the growth behavior. Currently, the status of molecular mutations is determined by obtaining …

Quasi-School Leaders: The Lived Experiences Of High School Counseling Directors And Their Role In Schools, Andrea Cherice Simon

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The aim of this study is to explore the lived experiences of high school counseling director’s and how their principal and district school counseling supervisor shape their experiences as leaders. The role of high school counseling director’s is increasingly complex, unique, and oftentimes misunderstood. They are often viewed as leaders and change agents in student’s overall success due to their unique skill levels in advocacy and collaboration (Kaffenberger, Murphy, & Bemak, 2006; McMahon, Mason, Daluga-Guenther, & Ruiz, 2014; Young, Millard, & Kneale, 2013). However, principal’s and district school counseling supervisors are key players in defining the role and responsibilities of …

Aging, Gait Variability, And Adaptability, Collin Douglas Bowersock

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this work was to study the relationships between age, measures of gait variability, and locomotor adaptability. Measures of gait variability are used to identify maladapted locomotor behavior, motor disease, and risk of falls. The first aim was to determine the relationships between age and measures of gait variability. Thirty-four participants (23-71 years old) walked on a treadmill for 6 minutes at their preferred speed. Variability of stride times and lengths was computed via linear measures (standard deviation and coefficient of variation) and nonlinear measures (sample entropy and detrended fluctuation analysis). Movement trajectory variability of the dominant knee …

A Novel Non-Enzymatic Glucose Biofuel Cell With Mobile Glucose Sensing, Ankit Baingane

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Herein, we report a novel non-enzymatic glucose biofuel cell with mobile glucose sensing. We characterized the power generation and biosensing capabilities in presence of glucose analyte. This system was developed using a non-enzymatic glucose biofuel cell consisting of colloidal platinum coated gold microwire (Au-co-Pt) employed as an anode and the cathode which was constructed using a Gas diffusion electrode (GDE) with a platinum catalyst. The non-enzymatic glucose biofuel cell produced a maximum open circuit voltage of 0.54 V and delivered and a maximum short circuit current density of 1.6 mA/cm2 with a peak power density of 0.226 mW/cm2 at a …

Human Supremacy As Posthuman Risk, Daniel Estrada

The Journal of Sociotechnical Critique

Human supremacy is the widely held view that human interests ought to be privileged over other interests as a matter of ethics and public policy. Posthumanism is the historical situation characterized by a critical reevaluation of anthropocentrist theory and practice. This paper draws on animal studies, critical posthumanism, and the critique of ideal theory in Charles Mills and Serene Khader to address the appeal to human supremacist rhetoric in AI ethics and policy discussions, particularly in the work of Joanna Bryson. This analysis identifies a specific risk posed by human supremacist policy in a posthuman context, namely the classification of …

Career Pathways Program Annual Report, 2019-2020, Wie Yusuf

Career Pathways

Career Pathways launched in August 2017 as the university-wide initiative to provide graduate student professional development. It encompasses both the Preparing Future Faculty program and the Preparing Future Professionals Certificates. The Preparing Future Faculty Certificate was an existing program, started in 2007, while the Preparing Future Professionals Certificate was launched in 2017 concurrently with Career Pathways. The Career Pathways program prepares graduate students for successful transition into thriving careers. With the Preparing Future Professionals Certificate, specifically, the emphasize has been on filling the existing gap in career and professional development for master’s students and doctoral students with career plans outside …