Digital Commons Network^™

Bacillus Megaterium And Papiliotrema Laurentii: Competing Roles In Polymer Coating Degradation?, Anna M. Blumberg

Honors Theses

The design of coating formulations that have material properties that can hinder the biodegradation of a protective surface without aggressive or environmentally harmful additives will require a detailed understanding of knowledge gaps at the biotic-abiotic interface involving a variety of microorganisms. This project focused on two isolates extracted from a biofilm which was found to degrade Air Force cargo aircraft topcoats. These organisms, Bacillus megaterium (gram-negative bacterium, non-hydrolytic but alkane oxidizing) and the hydrolytic yeast Papiliotrema laurentii were initially observed as individual cultures and then as a co-culture. The combination of these two organisms (under similar growth conditions) provided a …

Othering The Brother: Toward A Sibling-Oriented Ethics Of Care, William Bryant

Honors Theses

This project is an examination of issues of childcare, gendered responsibilities, and family identity informed by feminist and queer theory. As the second oldest in a family of eight, I have always understood myself primarily as a big brother. Rooted in this experience, this project is an exploration of feminist care ethics as they pertain to existing family structures. I review and build upon feminist conversations surrounding the family, especially concerning motherhood. Then, working with more recent queer and trans discourse, I explore how different familial care practices have been limited, reconfigured, or erased under dominant cis-heteronormative notions of care. …

Assistive And Augmentative Communication: Ethics And Possibilities In Music Therapy With Non-Speaking Clients, Amanda Bursch

Honors Theses

Music therapy is a healthcare field wherein music experiences and the myriad relationships formed between client(s), board-certified music therapist(s), and music activates health-oriented changes (Bruscia, 2014). Within this field there are multiple facets that directly impact the client’s experiences; these include: arrangement of the therapy environment, role and function of music experiences, therapeutic relationships, and communication in verbal and non-verbal forms. However, there is a gap in the education and training of music therapists concerning alternatives to verbal communication, and the use of these alternatives in therapy. Through interviews and analysis, this thesis presents findings regarding the experiences of one …

Effects Of Propionate On Macrophage Migration, Cian J. Callahan

Honors Theses

Macrophages are leukocytes that play an important role in the antibacterial responses by our body’s immune system. The activities and functions of macrophages are influenced by a variety of substances, such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) found in the gut. Currently, we know that SCFAs, such as propionate, induce directional recruitment of leukocytes. For intracellular bacterial pathogens, the movement of infected macrophages can contribute to the systemic dissemination of the pathogens. However, little is known whether SCFAs like propionate can modulate the movement of infected macrophages. To fill this knowledge gap, Listeria monocytogenes, a human pathogen capable of causing …

Cybersecurity Of The Cloud And Iot Devices, Caleb Cecil

Honors Theses

The next wave of computing is moving to the cloud. The cloud offers reliable, scalable, and cheap ways for companies to upgrade their business. It has revolutionized how we interact with each other today and is becoming an integral part of our everyday lives. However, when companies move to the cloud they need to set up their cloud architecture or data transmission securely. This leads to huge security risks in which sensitive data could be released. This project outlines the different threats and vulnerabilities that the cloud faces and the specifications needed for security. This research intends to evaluate the …

Determining The Role Of Propionate In Macrophage M1 And M2 Activation, Hannah M. Derespiris

Honors Theses

Macrophages are one of the many essential cells of the innate immune system that help to protect the body from dangerous pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can cause infections, especially in the elderly, immunocompromised, and pregnant women. The antimicrobial activities of macrophages that are utilized to respond to pathogens such as L. monocytogenes can include phagocytosis, inflammatory responses, and the production of antimicrobial compounds such as nitric oxide. These activities need to be regulated carefully to avoid causing unintentional damages. Typically, macrophages exist in a naive, unactivated state, or can be activated classically …

Skeletal Muscle Reactive Hyperemia Is Dependent On The Deoxygenation Stimulus In Young Healthy Humans, William Durbin

Honors Theses

Reactive hyperemia tests create mismatches in oxygen (O2 ) delivery and demand by occluding blood flow and O2 delivery in the face of stable quiescent skeletal muscle O2 demand. We tested the hypothesis that skeletal muscle reactive hyperemia is dependent on the specific deoxygenation stimulus. We hypothesized that the magnitude of deoxygenation (Δ=nadir-baseline) would correlate with the magnitude of the reactive hyperemic response (Δ=peak-baseline), whereas the total deoxygenation (O2 debt, calculated as the total area under the curve of deoxygenation, below baseline) would correlate with the total reactive hyperemic response (area under the reactive hyperemia curve, above baseline).

In six …

Understanding The Barrier To Integrating Empathy Education Into Pre-Medical Curriculum, Angela Galluzzo

Honors Theses

The overwhelming consensus in healthcare research over the past two decades supports that healthcare providers demonstrating empathy is an integral component of quality of care and health outcomes. The benefits of empathy in patient-provider relationships range from stronger immune responses from patients to a lowered burden on the healthcare system to fewer malpractice lawsuits against providers. Even with this research suggesting that providers should be empathetic throughout patient interactions, there are barriers to implementation. The barrier that my research will focus on is time–specifically how time constraints throughout professional schooling prevent a broad education that would teach providers how to …

A Sibling Comparison Study Exploring Effects Of Parenting On Self-Esteem In Adolescents, Molly K. Griffin

Honors Theses

Prior research has suggested a link between self-esteem in children and adolescents and the parenting styles and behaviors of their parents. Research has identified dimensions of warmth, control, autonomy support, trust, flexibility, and demandingness as potential variables explaining this relationship. Existing literature has been limited by confounding variables such as genetic influences, home environment, race, culture, and socioeconomic status, as well as by a lack of longitudinal data. The current study uses a sibling comparison design to control for the influence of these genetic and environmental variables and allow for a more accurate estimate of the link between parenting and …

Anaerobic Propionate Exposure And Its Effect On The Pathogenesis Of Listeria Monocytogenes, Allison Herceg

Honors Theses

Listeria monocytogenes is a prevalent food-borne pathogen, and a clear understanding of its pathogenesis can enhance our capability to treat infections. L. monocytogenes is ingested through contaminated foods, enters the intestinal lumen, and is able to spread throughout the rest of the body. The intracellular life cycle of L. monocytogenes requires the regulated expressions of a variety of virulence genes. We previously found that exposure to short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), fermentation byproducts present in the intestines, resulted in significant changes in L. monocytogenes pathogenesis. This research, divided into two major projects, aimed to understand the relationship between L. monocytogenes …

Boron Dipyrromethene (Bodipy) Dye Covalently Bound To Bovine Serum Albumin (Bsa), Amy Hess

Honors Theses

A new single molecule 4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) dye designed to conjugate to the peripheral amines of proteins has been synthesized. Detailed synthesis involving a new and simple two step technique is presented. Synthesis of the carboxylic acid substituted BODIPY dye is characterized by absorption and emission spectroscopy. The new dye is reacted with N- hydroxysuccinimide to give a reactive BODIPY dye toward amine groups of bovine serum albumin. The BODIPY-N-succinimide ester was evaluated by absorption and emission spectroscopy. Covalent attachment of the BODIPY-NHS-ester with bovine serum albumin was conducted in an eppendorf tube in a phosphate buffer at a pH of …

Mitigation Of Javascript-Based Fingerprinting Attacks Reliant On Client Data Generation, Nathan Joslin

Honors Theses

While fraud detection companies use fingerprinting methods as a secondary form of identification, attackers can exploit these fingerprinting methods due to the revealing nature of the software and hardware information collected. Attackers can use this sensitive information to target users with known vulnerabilities, monitor a user’s activity, and even reveal their identity without their knowledge or consent. Unfortunately, average users have limited options to opt out of or block fingerprinting attacks.

In this thesis, we propose a solution that enforces dynamic policies on web pages to prevent potential malicious device fingerprinting methods. We employed the Inline Reference Monitor (IRM) approach …

Cross-Cultural Educational Exchanges For Peace Through Common Humanity, Katelyn G. Jutras

Honors Theses

How do human connections from cross-cultural educational exchanges promote peace and understanding? Authentic personal connections can lead to deeper cultural understanding and awareness. This type of human connection can lead to peace. Many cross-cultural educational exchanges, such as Fulbright, were created to promote peace and understanding. Cross-cultural educational exchanges now take on more forms due to increases in the ability to share knowledge which supplies more opportunities for conflict and misunderstanding or peace and understanding. Due to this, it is important to have students participate in cross-cultural educational experiences to create personal connections to understand cultural differences better. This experience …

Efficient Synthesis Of Aromatic Quinoxaline Derivatives, Patrick D. Larosa

Honors Theses

Quinoxaline and its derivatives have many antimicrobial properties that make them possible substitutes for current medication, with abilities including antibacterial, anticancer, antiviral, and antifungal among others [1]. It is important to be able to quickly and effectively develop new compounds. Current methods to synthesize quinoxaline derivatives are cumbersome, with long reaction times, low yields, and required solvents that add hazards and costs. Microwave-assisted synthesis is a novel methodology to synthesize quinoxaline derivatives in only 5 minutes with no solvent. This study analyzes microwave irradiation as a synthesis technique.

The Impacts Of Covid-19 On Kindergarten Readiness Skills In Preschoolers, Jacquelyn S. Lavigne

Honors Theses

Preschool in the US is an important, but costly affair for many children. Roberts and Bryant (2011) found that preschoolers who live in homes with a low socioeconomic status (SES) are less likely to perform highly on measures of kindergarten readiness than their peers who come from homes with a higher SES. Previous research has demonstrated that there is a significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related school closures on children’s academic performance in school. However, there is little that is known about the impact of the pandemic on school readiness skills among children who live in homes with …

Moderating Role Of Experiential Similarity On The Relationship Between Social Support And Posttraumatic Growth, Avery Lytle

Honors Theses

Background and objectives: Trauma exposure is associated with negative outcomes like posttraumatic stress disorder. However, not everyone reports distress; resilience is common. Some even report improved psychological functioning following trauma, termed posttraumatic growth (PTG). Numerous factors are implicated in PTG development, many related to the cognitive processing of the event. Outside of cognitive factors, one of the strongest promoters of PTG is social support, but less is known about what types of support are most facilitative. Of potential importance is experiential similarity, or the extent to which the support person has experienced shared elements of one’s trauma. The present study …

Effect Of Arch Height On Dynamic Balance And Neuromuscular Control In Young Adults, Kale R. Offstein

Honors Theses

The foot, functioning as a lever to support our body weight during movement, can present with structural differences like a smaller arch height resulting in pes planus or flat feet, or a higher arch height which is called pes cavus. Commonly, arch height develops with age, as infants are born with flat feet and, as they grow, their arches develop until the ages of 10-13 years. Dysfunction in the foot from abnormal arches has been shown to impact foot function and ankle stabilization, which can influence sports performance and injury risk. Dynamic balance is an important aspect of many different …

Identification And Comparison Of Hydrolases Secreted From Naganishia Albida To Papiliotrema Laurentii And Their Activity Toward Natural And Synthetic Polyesters, Clarissa A. Ove

Honors Theses

Esters and amides are the most versatile functional groups in nature and in plastics today. Understanding the key temporal events in the biodegradation and susceptibility of polymers and plastics (e.g. polyester and polyester polyurethanes) to hydrolytic enzymes is important to the sustainable development of our modern society. I will present the isolation, identification, and classification of an environmental strain of Naganishia albida found on polymer coatings inside of aircraft. To better understand the capability of hydrolytic enzymes to degrade plastics we isolated, identified, and classified an environmental strain of Naganishia albida found on polymer coatings inside an aircraft. We utilized …

Competition Versus Choice: Evolution Along A Narrow Path In Drosophila Β2 Tubulin, Olivia B. Parson

Honors Theses

The Drosophila melanogaster β2 protein (Dmβ2) has sustained a long evolutionary stasis for the last 60 million years (Nielsen 2006). Even small changes to the protein’s primary amino acid sequence render it non-functional, suggesting its stasis may be due to stringency in the structure/function relationship (Nielsen 2001). This project seeks to understand what has prevented Dmβ2 from evolving, with the two main hypotheses being that Dmβ2 either exists as an ideal protein configuration that competitively bests all alternates or that Dmβ2 is the only possible configuration that will support spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. In order to test these hypotheses, the …

A Longitudinal Investigation Of Sibling Effects On Parent-Child Relationships, Caleigh G. Pistorius

Honors Theses

This study examines the relationship between one’s older siblings’ internalizing and externalizing problems and one’s own relationship with one’s parents in early adolescence. Previous research has indicated that sibling relationships are some of the most long-lasting and important relationships in an individual’s life. Family research has also shown that there are situations in which children’s internalizing and externalizing behaviors can shape their relationship with their parents. However, no previous research to my knowledge has explored whether one’s sibling’s behaviors influences one’s own parent-child relationship. During this study, data from the United States Department of Labor and National Longitudinal Survey of …

The Generic Flamboyance Of Muriel Spark, Tess Poe-Slade

Honors Theses

In her 1970 speech, “The Desegregation of Art” Scottish author Muriel Spark suggests that art has become overly sentimental and ultimately ineffective in its aims of social change. While scholars have used this speech to understand the importance of humor in Spark’s work, unexplored has been the use of genre as a means of social critique. In analyzing Spark’s novellas The Public Image and The Driver’s Seat, I argue that Spark uses archetypes to demonstrate the limited agency of women and the disturbing implications of all too familiar conventions.

Contesting Human Rights Coherence: Neoliberalism As An Epoch Of Brutality, David Quick Iii

Honors Theses

The end of the Cold War solidified modern human rights’ dependency on neoliberalism. Neoliberal capitalism fosters universal commodification, hyper-individualism, and a standard of excess. A consequence of these developments is that some persons of marginalized populations turn to crime as a means of achieving basic human rights. To particularize, the realization of the self as a rights-holding subject emerges from the brutalization and subsequent de-realization of the other. Furthermore, justifications of such actions may be coherent within the modern human rights discourse. This thesis is contextualized by the historical dynamics and present-day observations of El Salvador, which I take to …

Measuring Wetland Restoration Success Through Water Quality And Invertebrate Community Indices, Abbey E. Raison

Honors Theses

Wetland restoration projects are essential to preserving these imperiled ecosystems. While restoring lost or degraded wetlands is the first step, determining the success of these restoration efforts is often difficult or only focuses on one aspect of an ecosystem (e.g., water quality testing). I plan to measure the success of wetland restoration through traditional (i.e., water quality testing) and non-traditional methods (i.e., terrestrial and aquatic insect sampling) in native (i.e., control) and restored (i.e., experimental) wetlands in Ohio. I will use sweep nets for aboveground insect collection and a dip net for aquatic macroinvertebrate collection. These samples will be sorted, …

Identifying The Effects Of Anaerobicity And Propionate On Listeria Monocytogenes Metabolism And Central Nervous System Infection, Rebecca Rudd

Honors Theses

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative foodborne pathogen that can enter the bloodstream and invades the central nervous system to cause meningitis. As an intracellular pathogen, L. monocytogenes replicates inside the host cell cytosol and avoids extracellular immune defenses as it disseminates throughout the body. L. monocytogenes can also reach and cross the blood brain barrier, resulting in severe or fatal symptoms in immunocompromised and elderly patients. The overarching goal of my research project is to better understand how different environmental factors, anaerobicity and propionate, in the intestinal lumen alter the ability of L. monocytogenes to cause infections. In the first …

Investigating The Role Of Neural Stem Cells In Aggressive Gliomas, Sadie Salamone

Honors Theses

In the United States alone, there are more than 1.8 million people diagnosed with cancer every year. This number increases exponentially as the scope is expanded to look at the number of people affected worldwide (National Cancer Institute, 2020). Given that a large number of genetic mutations have been identified, and there is a wide variety of cancers and cancer promoting networks. The current treatments have been extensively researched and explored, but there is ultimately no cure for this aggressive and unrelenting disease. One extremely invasive type of cancer is Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), which is a specific type of brain …

Methods For Exploiting High-Resolution Imagery For Deep Learning-Based Diabetic Retinopathy Detection And Grading, Adam M. Saunders

Honors Theses

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that affects the eyes of people with diabetes, and it can cause blindness. To diagnose diabetic retinopathy, ophthalmologists image the back surface of the inside of the eye, a process referred to as fundus photography. Ophthalmologists must then diagnose and grade the severity of diabetic retinopathy by analyzing details in the image, which can be difficult and time-consuming. Alternatively, due to the availability of labeled datasets containing fundus images with diabetic retinopathy, AI methods like deep learning can provide automated detection and grading algorithms. We show that the resolution of an image has a large …

Piperazine-Based Metallopolymers For Bioengineering Applications, Jessica K. Schneider

Honors Theses

Engineering realistic and functional tissue models presents promising possibilities in drug discovery and other biomedical research. A novel polymer with potential applications in biomedical studies was developed. I report the first synthesis and characterization (with NMR, IR, GPC, UV–vis spectroscopy, and thermal analysis) of two thermoplastic poly(alkyl piperazine succinate) diols with either propyl or hexyl alkane chains bridging the piperazines. These polyester diols were chain extended with hexamethylene diisocyanate to create highly amorphous polyester urethane thermoplastic polymers. Ru(III) and Fe(III) was then successfully coordinated with these polymers, producing a total of four different metallopolymers. The crosslinking of these complexes introduces …

Challenges In Forecasting Antimicrobial Resistance, Sen Pei, Seth Blumberg, Jaime Cascante Vega, Tal Robin, Yue Zhang, Richard J. Medford, Bijaya Adhikari, Jeffrey Shaman

Research on Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to human health. Since the 2000s, computational tools for predicting infectious diseases have been greatly advanced; however, efforts to develop real-time forecasting models for antimicrobial-resistant organisms (AMROs) have been absent. In this perspective, we discuss the utility of AMRO forecasting at different scales, highlight the challenges in this field, and suggest future research priorities. We also discuss challenges in scientific understanding, access to high-quality data, model calibration, and implementation and evaluation of forecasting models. We further highlight the need to initiate research on AMRO forecasting using currently available data and resources to galvanize the …

Program: Dido & Aeneas, University Of Dayton

Dance and Theater Programs

Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas dramatizes a tiny portion of Virgil’s epic poem, The Aeneid.

Humor Writer Of The Month: Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop Blog

Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell, our Humor Writer of the Month, is a writer, comedian and cartoonist for The New Yorker.