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S4 E2: Problems Of Practice, Rebecca Hines, Lisa Dieker

Practical Access Transcripts

Today, Drs. Rebecca Hines and Lisa Dieker answer their first question from a listener. Tune in to hear their tips on ways to connect with students during virtual learning.

We are still accepting questions from teachers to ask problems they would like some renewal ideas on. We look forward to receiving your questions on our Google Phone (407) 900- 9305, Facebook (Practical Access), Twitter (@AccessPractical), or Instagram (@Practical_Access).

Why We Need To Account For Human Behavior And Decision-Making To Effectively Model The Non-Linear Dynamics Of Livestock Disease, Scott C. Merrill, Gabriela Bucini, Eric M. Clark, Christopher J. Koliba, Luke Trinity, Asim Zia, Ollin Langle-Chimal, Nicholas Cheney, Trisha R. Shrum, Timothy L. Sellnow, Deanna D. Sellnow, Julia L. Smith

International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference

Animal disease costs the livestock industries billions of dollars annually. These costs can be reduced using effective biosecurity. However, costs of biosecurity are steep and benefits must be weighed against the uncertain infection risks. Much effort has gone into determining efficacy of different biosecurity tactics and strategies. Unfortunately, the variability in human behavior and decision-making when confronted with risk information has largely been overlooked. Here we show that use of the human behavioral component is necessary to understand the patterns of infection incidence in livestock industries. Using an agent-based model developed with a foundation of supply chain and industry structural …

Navigating Troubled Waters: Applying The Idea Model To The Flint Water Crisis, Monica Mayer

International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference

This study examines the instructional crisis communication surrounding the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Although pre-crisis government communications were widely criticized for their failure to adequately warn the public about dangerous levels of lead and other carcinogenic chemicals in Flint’s water, instructional messaging during the crisis has not received the same level of attention. This study employs qualitative content analysis to examine the website content from the EPA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan governor’s office, Genesee County Health Department, and Flint mayor’s office through the lens of the IDEA model during the height of the crisis. The …

Multifactorial Media Analysis Via Design Of Experiment For Type Ii Collagen In Primary Rabbit Chondrocytes, Javier A. Velez Toro

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent disease that affects the articular cartilage of the joints. Millions of people suffer worldwide and it is a major cause of disability in the United States. Current research for treatments of osteoarthritis are studying tissue-engineered cartilage in vitro generated by articular chondrocytes. A challenge faced in vitro for cartilage tissue engineering is the failure of chondrocytes to produce adequate expression of type II collagen. Surprisingly, the media commonly used in vitro lacks 14 vitamins and minerals present in the physiological environment of chondrocytes. Therefore, studying the interactions between micronutrients and chondrocytes may help in potentially increasing …

Prevalence Rates Of Antisocial Behaviors In Generation Z, Adrianna J. Valencia

Honors Undergraduate Theses

A review of the scholarly literature suggests that mental health struggles in Generation Z have escalated in recent years. However, there is a lack of psychological research that examines antisocial behaviors in Generation Z. This study aims to determine the prevalence rates of antisocial behaviors in Generation Z. It was hypothesized that our sample of Generation Z students would show higher prevalence rates of antisocial behaviors than previous generations. We examined the data collected from our survey, which was composed of demographic and antisocial personality disorder questions. A one-way ANOVA, revealed significant differences in the categories of age, gender, school …

Linking Magnetoreception To Cacna1d Homolog Protein Insertions In Vertebrates, Annabelle S. Levin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

It is well-established that numerous animals can perceive the geomagnetic field. This ability, called magnetoreception, has been studied extensively but the mechanisms for how animals perceive the geomagnetic field remain unclear. Understanding magnetoreception is vital for characterizing the navigational abilities of animals and how biological systems interact with magnetic fields. Recent research examining pigeons, an animal is known to exhibit a magnetic sense, identified two interesting genes that may be involved in magnetoreception. One of these genes, calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 D (CACNA1D), contains a short amino acid insertion (designated by the amino acids -KKER) in animals known to …

Developing A Targeted Ultrasound-Responsive Nanobubble-Based Gene Delivery System For Osteoporosis Treatment, Angela Shar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The overall goal of this project was to develop, optimize, and test an ultrasound-responsive targeted nanobubble for delivering osteoporosis-related silencing genes such as Cathepsin K small interfering RNA (CTSK siRNA) for osteoporosis treatment. The nanobubbles were synthesized using an in situ sonochemical method. The nanobubble (NB) is composed of a gas core made from perfluorocarbon, stabilized with albumin, encapsulated with CTSK siRNA, and embedded with alendronate (AL) for bone targeting (CTSK siRNA-NB-AL). Following its development, the responsiveness of CTSK siRNA-NB-AL to a therapeutic ultrasound probe was examined. The results of biocompatibility tests with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells proved …

The Impact Of Art Style On Video Games, Eric Sarver

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The focus of this thesis is to explore the impact of art styles on video-games. This was done so that I could contribute something more to the digital media industry regarding this topic, and show people unique data sets that may help guide them in the right direction if they are looking for answers to questions they may have about art styles and their impact on the success of games. This was done through a study that was conducted via an online survey, where results were taken from student participants over the age of 18 in the GAIM program at …

Technology Or Taboo?: An Analysis Of Emerging Technology Weapons And Weapon Taboos, Mia R. Wilson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Technology tends to evolve over time, leading over things to evolve with it. One example may be the evolution of weapons with technological advancement. When these weapons change, it changes how war is conducted. This paper seeks to delve into the specifics of this phenomena. With technological advancement, the world has seen new threats such as lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs) and cyber weapons. New weapons have been, at times, too threatening. They have created so much stigma around themselves the international community ultimately decided against their use. These weapons may then receive a weapon taboo, discouraging their use. This paper …

Evaluating The Nutritional Adequacy Of Peruvian-American Children, Delainey Dietz

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As people move and integrate cultures, nutritional trends may change from those of their native country to those of their new country. With today's increasing global immigration, studies have only scratched the surface of the impact of acculturation on children's health and nutrition. Specifically, the Peruvian-American diet is one that has garnered minimal research. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the common foods and drinks that Peruvian-American children consume, assess the children's physical health, and discuss the possible causative factors of any diet trends. The population sampled is children under 18 years living in the United States whose …

Exploring Interleukin 21 And Its Role In Humoral Immunity In The Mouse Model Of Influenza Infection, Samantha E. Gallahan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In summary, this study will be focused on Il-21 and its implications in the antibody response in influenza. The isotype classes primarily involved in this process will also be examined. This will be accomplished by looking at the serum of mice and analyzing the present influenza specific antibodies using ELISA. Another goal was to optimize the ELISA in order to make it sensitive enough to catch small differences in the results. This topic is important due to its implications for improving influenza vaccinations and preventions as current vaccines are not 100% effective. Influenza contributes to significant disease and death around …

Unpacking Perceptions Of Play And Literacy In Early Childhood Education: Creating Home Literacy Bags As A Guide To Parental Support, Delaney C. Knapp

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This paper takes a deeper look into how children's literacy development can be supported at home. Specifically, the paper examines the use of home literacy bags that are directed towards the students' specific needs by exploring their family background and home literacy environment. First, I explored the research on family perceptions of literacy, children's perceptions of literacy, home literacy practices, and home-school literacy partnerships in a literature review. Next, I created a literacy-based curriculum consisting of ten home literacy bags. This paper outlined a home-school literacy intervention in my future classroom. The information was obtained from my junior and senior …

Impact Of Systemic Pathologies On Increased Risk Of Endodontic Disorders, Jayla Mercer

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study is to evaluate possible factors that have the potential to contribute to increased risk for endodontic disease. Some of the factors that were analyzed in this study include current diagnosis with systemic disease, particularly diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Association between these factors, treatment outcome, and prognosis have also been analyzed. Since the topic of endodontic medicine and its association with systemic disease is not fully explored in the literature, it is critical to conduct studies to further contribute to this topic. This study analyzed clinical data from patients who received treatment for endodontic disease between …

The Girlhood Double-Standard, Juliet J. Cahow

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Due to the patriarchal and racial hierarchies that structure education, girls, and specifically girls of color, occupy a marginalized space within it. This is in contrast to boys, who are considered more intellectually gifted, yet held to lower academic and behavioral standards. This study explores the impacts of gender, racial, and ethnic stereotypes perceived by 30 white, Black, and/or Latinx women (ages 18-22) during their experiences in U.S. public middle schools (grades 6-8). Participants were surveyed to ascertain general information about them and their middle school experiences, then invited to participate in focus groups to share their individual narratives. In …

A Finite Difference Model For Induced Hypothermia During Shock, Dylan S. Lyon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The modified Fiala model from Westin was implemented with conditions for circulatory shock and hypothermia. The purpose is to model Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation (EPR), a procedure for inducing hypothermia in patients. Cold tissue temperatures reduce metabolism exponentially, greatly extending the window of anaerobic metabolic activity before permanent deoxygenation damage. EPR in patients undergoing hypovolemic shock can preserve the patient until primary surgical care and blood transfusions are attainable., thereby increasing survival rates. The main applications of EPR are military in-situ stabilization for transit to clinical care and extending the survivability of patients requiring prolonged surgery before blood transfusion. The …

The Effects Of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy On Irritability In Menopausal Women, Giavana Hanna

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The start of the menopausal transition involves the introduction of various somatic, urogenital, and psychological symptoms; of the symptoms, irritability is one of the main complaints reported by women. The use of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has become more prevalent in society, specifically treating the somatic and urogenital symptoms of the menopausal transition. This study aims to determine the effects of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) on irritability in menopausal women. To test the hypotheses, an online survey was distributed to women via social media and word-of-mouth. Participants were asked to respond to various questions, which were then analyzed based …

Exploring Factors Of Acceptance Of Chip Implants In The Human Body, Radha D. Chebolu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The technology and telecommunication industries have made significant progress in the past few decades leading to several inventions and designs that have significantly improved efficiency in all aspects of human life. These innovations in science and technology improve our quality of life. Modern technology enables us to access vast amounts of information and services through a network of interconnected computers and machines. Recently, various technologies have been proposed to incorporate the human body into this incorporated network. One of these proposed technologies are chip implants meant to be inserted into the human body at various suitable body parts, such as …

Complementary And Alternative Medicine (Cam) For Individuals With Epilepsy, April Detrick

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Individuals with epilepsy manage the clinical manifestations of the condition, primarily seizure-related activity, with daily use of pharmacologic agents, making it one of the most common neurological conditions treated with drug therapy for symptom management. Pharmacologic agents for epilepsy, also known as anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), are commonly prescribed to treat seizures and neurologic conditions associated with epilepsy but can lead to a reduced quality of life and many unwanted side effects. Complementary and alternative treatments can also provide relief from seizures associated with epilepsy. The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate the effectiveness of complementary and alternative treatments …

Relationship Between Cannabis Use And Immediate, Delayed, And Working Memory Performance Among Older Adults, Madison H. Maynard

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cannabis is increasingly accessible in the United States for recreational and/or medical use. Additionally, the Baby Boomer birth cohort exhibits a greater prevalence of cannabis use than prior generations of older adults. Past research has most frequently addressed the potential cognitive effects of cannabis use in populations of adolescents and young adults. Some of these studies suggest that cannabis use is chronically associated with worse performance on tasks of verbal working memory and executive functioning, however, due to methodological variation and a wide variety of potential confounds including duration of abstinence and frequency of use, results are still inconclusive. Through …

The Role Of Ms-818 In Altering Age-Related Characteristics Of An In Vitro Model Of Senescence In Neural Stem Cells, Sandeep Sreerama

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Aging of the brain is the leading risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancers and has deleterious effects on brain functions. It follows that attempts to reverse the aging process may be therapeutically valuable. Neural stem cells (NSC) have been shown to play a critical role in maintaining brain functions, and their number is severely decreased with age. The development of senescence-like characteristics and declining functions in NSCs have been proposed to be responsible for brain aging and tumorigenesis. MS-818 is a pyrrolopyrimidine that has been shown to increase the NSC population and reverse the decline of behavioral function …

Cares, Labors, And Dangers: A Queer Game Informed By Research, Amy Schwinge

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Queerness as a quality has a permanent fluidity. Videogames as a medium are continually evolving and advancing. Thus, queer games have a vast potential as an art form and research subject. While there is already a wealth of knowledge surrounding queer games my contribution takes the form of both research paper and creative endeavor. I created a game by interpreting the queer elements present in games research. My game reflects the trends and qualities present in contemporary queer games, such as critiques on empathy and alternative game-making programs. This paper details what research inspired elements of my game as well …

Relating The Big Five Personality Factors And The Method Of Dog Obtainment In Female Dog Owners, Julia Rifenberg

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Dog ownership is highly common in the United States and has a large impact on the U.S. economy due to dogs' required expenses. Thus, it is important to assess dog owners' method of dog obtainment, as it is the first step to canine companionship. Dog owner personality traits and their relationship with where dogs are obtained has not yet been studied. To assess this relationship, we reached current dog owners through an online survey containing the Donnellan et al. (2006) Mini-International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) scale and asked participants where they obtained their dog. Results indicated 90% of participants were …

History, Ideology, And Evolution Of Criminal Profiling, Gayatri M. Ramesh

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Criminal profiling is the art of using evidence and crime scenes to deduce who the criminal is and where the criminals might be going next. In addition, criminal profiling is also used to link cases together with like victims. While its usage in law enforcement is relatively new, forms of the art have been around for decades. This thesis researches the history, ideology, and evolution of criminal profiling from the early 1870s to its current state. Cesare Lombroso and his research founded criminal profiling by examining how criminals and their minds vary from law-abiding citizens. Following Lombroso, various forms of …

Targeting T Cell Glycolysis To Mitigate Graft-Versus-Host Disease, Kevin Ezhakunnel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Hematological cancers account for nearly ten percent of cancer cases diagnosed annually in the United States. Patients who fail to respond to chemotherapy or radiotherapy must often undergo a bone marrow transplant to treat their malignancy. A significant complication following this procedure is Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), which occurs when donor T cells mount an immune response against recipient tissues. Immunological research has highlighted the role of aberrant T cell metabolism, specifically a shift toward aerobic glycolysis, as a key driver behind the occurrence of this condition. The transcription factor FoxK1 has been revealed to be a key regulator …

Targeting T Cell Metabolism To Ameliorate Graft-Versus-Host Disease, Karin Zikra

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an important form of therapy for hematological genetic disorders and malignancies, particularly hematological cancers. However, common usage of this procedure is obstructed by graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), in which transplanted donor T cells wage an attack on recipient antigens, causing severe tissue damage and mortality. GvHD prognosis remains poor, and current treatment methods continue to be insufficient, especially for patients with more advanced and severe GvHD. T cells have been identified as the fundamental force behind GvHD, and their cellular metabolism is deemed vital to their fate and function, especially in pathogenic environments. A hallmark …

Interactive Coast, Manuela Monsalve

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Interactive Coast is a moving-image art installation that will mix 16mm film and digital footage. Inspired by the cyclical nature of the biological concept of succession, this installation will focus on human interactions with nature and architecture, specifically at the beaches on the East Coast of Florida. In its biological definition of the word, “Succession is the gradual transformation or creation of a biological community as new species move into an area and modify local environmental conditions” (Rehkopf 1581). The coast, once with its undeveloped tract of mangroves and sand dunes is now interspersed with construction, oil spills, and …

Mechanical Behavior Of Bioceramic Materials: Case Study Of The Skeleton Of The Staghorn Coral, Acropora Cervicornis And The Tibia Of The Laboratory Mouse, Mus Musculus, Mahmoud Omer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

I studied two types of bioceramics: (A) the aragonite CaCO3 skeleton of the staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis and (B) the hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 bones of the laboratory mouse, Mus musculus. The research aimed to analyze coral deformation behavior and study dietary and estrogen depletions effects on bone strength. I compared the mechanical and structural properties of staghorn coral skeletons cleaned by chemical bleaching and biological processes. Optical microscopy and computed tomography (CT) revealed a sophisticated microstructure of non-homogenously distributed pores. Staghorn coral skeletons showed ''gracious" fracture, where the unique pore arrangements resisted catastrophic crack growth and prevented instantanous failure. Elastic moduli …

Critical Modding: A Design Framework For Exploring Representation In Games, Kenton Howard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In this project, I created a framework for exploring problems with representations of marginalized characters in video games called "critical modding." The main goal of this project was to provide a method for addressing issues with portrayals of queer characters in video games through modification of a game's narrative and gameplay systems. I also created a video game prototype called Life in the Megapocalypse as a digital tool for engaging in critical modding. In addition, I created classroom assignments based on the game prototype aimed at helping people learn more about problems with portrayals of queer characters in games through …

The Motuporamines Act Through Rho1 And Rac To Control Actin Dynamics In Drosophila, Corey Seavey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Given that most cancer patients die from metastatic disease, there is an urgent need to develop drugs that inhibit the spread of tumors. Studies show that the motuporamines activate the small GTPase RhoA to prevent cancer cell migration, but little is known about the mechanism of action of dihydromotuporamine C (Motu33) and its synthetic derivative Motu-(CH2)-33. In the present study, I investigated the biomolecular processes of these compounds in Drosophila by reducing the gene dose of positive and negative regulators of actin dynamics. Consistent with previous findings, reduced gene dose of Rho1 (the Drosophila RhoA ortholog) attenuates motuporamine activity confirming …

The Effect Of Polyelectrolyte Modification Of Ultrafiltration Membranes On Fouling Resistance And Rejection Of Contaminants Of Emerging Concern, Kunal Olimattel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This research attempted to leverage the unique properties of poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) bilayer coatings to enhance antifouling and antimicrobial properties of a commercially available ultrafiltration (UF) membrane as well as the removal of PFOA and PFOS—the two CECs that most frequently represent the class of PFAS. The effects of selected water matrix components (humic acids [HA] and cations) on PFOA and PFOS removals were also investigated when using the functionalized membrane. PAH/PAA films were first deposited on the membrane using a fluidic layer by layer (LbL) technique and then crosslinked, followed by embedding of the silver …