Digital Commons Network^™

Examination And Application Of Body Condition Methods In Cetaceans, Kira Anne Telford

Theses and Dissertations

Body condition assessments are a valuable tool for evaluating the relative health of a population through various metrics, indexes, or proxies. Long-term data collection can be used to examine the relationship between fluctuations in body condition and natural or anthropogenic drivers. Application of this information is vital for monitoring the success of the conservation management decisions for a species or population. Cetaceans have a variety of methods available to assess body condition, including invasive methods like biopsies and necropsies or observational methods such as photogrammetry. Exploration of the application of these methods in the literature revealed an emphasis on necropsies …

Iowa Gothic, Caroline Bailey Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

Iowa Gothic deals with the stories that we tell ourselves, for better or worse, and is an interconnected short story collection set in the fictional town of Madison, Iowa. The stories are grounded in realism, but are also slightly off from the way we typically experience the world: a hoarder who tries to win a cooking contest by boiling a rabbit, a woman who recreates her neighbors' living rooms out of their yard sale items, a hypnotic rooster that starts a feud, residents who believe in ghosts, or at least the communal value of ghost stories. By asking the reader …

Deep Learning For Studying Materials Stability And Solving Thermodynamically Consistent Pdes With Dynamic Boundary Conditions In Arbitrary Domains, Chunyan Li

Theses and Dissertations

Deep learning has achieved remarkable success in various fields, including image processing, natural language processing, and signal processing, ushering in a transformative era in research and real-life applications. This rise underscores the transformative capabilities of deep learning, with its innovative approach to function approximation. Traditionally, approximation theory relied on additive constructions, but deep neural networks have introduced a compositional approach, reshaping the landscape of function approximation. This thesis explores the efficacy of this compositional construction within the realm of material science and the solution of thermodynamically consistent partial differential equations with thermodynamically consistent dynamic boundary conditions in arbitrary domains. As …

Antimicrobial Polymers And Small Molecules From Multicyclic Compounds And Engineering Of Sustainable Polymers, Leman Buzoglu Kurnaz

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, the synthesis of polymers and small molecules from multicyclic compounds and the development of sustainable polymers from renewable feedstock were investigated. The antimicrobial biomaterials and sustainable polymers were characterized and their properties were discussed. In Chapter 1, the overall background and recent developments of antimicrobial biomaterials and their application were discussed. Later, sustainable polymers from renewable biomass and their synthesis methods were given. Afterward, the main research objectives of this doctoral research study were described. In Chapter 2, the synthesis of multiple charged small molecules from multicyclic compounds was discussed. These compounds were obtained by using various …

Progressive Neurochemical, Neuroinflammatory And Cognitive Deficits In An Experimental Model Of Gulf War Illness, Hannah Elizabeth Burzynski

Theses and Dissertations

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a multi-symptom illness that presents with cognitive disturbances and immune dysregulation and continues to affect over 25% of Gulf War veterans. While soldiers were exposed to several hazards in the Gulf, the prophylactic use of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, pyridostigmine bromide (PB) and war-related stress have been identified as chief factors in GWI pathology. As both PB and stress alter acetylcholine (ACh), a critical mediator of cognition and inflammation, the focus of my dissertation work was investigating the lasting effects of PB and stress on peripheral and central cholinergic signaling. Specifically, I assessed hippocampal-dependent learning and …

From Oceans To Public Health: Impact Of Climate Change And Socioecological Factors On Non-Cholera Vibrio Spp., Karlen Enid Correa Vélez

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change-induced stressors, such as temperature, salinity, pH, and wildfire, are contributing factors to the increase in frequency of Vibrio infections, altering Vibrio geographical constraints. At the same time, the expansion of the coastal population is resulting in increased input of treated municipal wastewater into areas that are also experiencing Vibrio proliferation. Given that increases in ocean temperature and sea level coupled with increases in human activity in coastal waters support greater Vibrio-human interactions, it is important to examine factors and mechanisms within this socio-ecological coupled system that may further strengthen this interaction. This study aimed to better understand the …

Leveraging Inflammatory Responses Toward Advancing Alzheimer’S Disease Treatments And Biomaterial Implantation, Mihyun Lim Waugh

Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation is a body’s physiological response to pathogens, foreign materials, or tissue injury. When immune system is triggered, activated leukocytes produce cytokines and chemokines that promote migration of neutrophils and macrophages to the inflammatory regions. At early stages of injury, acute inflammation occurs immediately to fight off the pathogens and restore tissues to homeostasis. However, if the inflammation-inducing stimulus is not removed and thus cells and tissues do not return to its homeostatic state, the prolonged inflammatory responses become a chronic condition. Recent studies have indicated that the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), a key receptor of innate immune …

Structural, Functional And Biochemical Studies To Elucidate The Molecular Basis Of Xenobiotic Metabolism Of Tetranychus Uritcae, A Major Agricultural Pest, Ricardo Hernandez Arriaza

Theses and Dissertations

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is a major cosmopolitan pest that feeds on more than 1,100 plant species, including 150 crops. Such a wide host range indicates this mite’s unparalleled xenobiotic responsiveness that is also coincident with their ability to rapidly develop resistance to pesticides. An unprecedently large detoxifying machinery is one of the main biological traits responsible for their extraordinary adaptation potential and devastating effect on crops. Availability of the whole genome sequence revealed expansions in all major detoxifying families and demonstrated that this genome has been enriched by horizontally transferred genes from bacteria and fungi. Motivated by …

Broken Bottles: Understanding The Relationship Between Alcohol Outlet Availability And The Proximity To Alcohol Outlets With Binge Drinking Behaviors In College Fraternity Men At Southeastern Public Universities, Jarod Alan Holt

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol use among fraternity affiliated men presents a concerning trend with harmful consequences (DeSimone, 2009; Hingson et al., 2017; McCreary et al., 2021; Nuwer, 2001; Patrick et al., 2022; Ranker & Lipson, 2022). The availability theory of alcohol-related problems suggests alcohol use could be influenced based on the availability and proximity of alcohol outlets in the environment (Dimova, 2023; Kypri et al., 2008; Scribner et al., 2008; Single, 1984; Weitzmann et al., 2003). However, no existing studies of fraternity-affiliated students have examined the relationship of binge drinking and access to alcohol through alcohol outlet availability or proximity. This study examined …

Replenishment Of Essential Natural Resources: An Assessment Of The Ability Of Freshwater Algae To Enhance Crop Quality And Soil Health, Lala Christina Ek

Theses and Dissertations

Disregard for soil, an essential natural resource, hinders global food production. Food insecurity is a major concern for both public health officials and environmental scientists due to soil quality decline, pollution, and climate change. Alternatives or targeted additions to chemical fertilizers can bolster soil quality, improve crop yields, lengthen crop shelf life, and mitigate environmental pollution. One potential alternative to chemical fertilizers is replacement of them with biological soil amendments, including algae, to enhance crop growth and improve soil health. Research was conducted at the University of South Carolina-Columbia campus garden to determine impacts of non-toxic freshwater algae on crop …

The Effect Of Antibiotics On Immune Cell Infiltration Of Colon In A Mouse Model Of Early Onset Colorectal Cancer, Valerie Hinsch

Theses and Dissertations

Early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is an aggressive form of colorectal cancer diagnosed before the age of 50. While colorectal cancer cases in patients 50 years and older have been declining, EOCRC cases have been steadily increasing globally in the last few decades, and the cause is unknown. Many agents, called exposomes, have been associated with EOCRC based on their emergence and prevalence prior to and in parallel with the rise in EOCRC cases. Among these are antibiotics (Abx). Abx are indispensable in our fight against infectious diseases, however their overuse is becoming a global epidemic. They are prescribed globally, …

Effects Of Ai Voice Assistants’ Messages On Pro-Environmnetal Consumer Behavior: Message Content And Voice Attributes, Somang Min

Theses and Dissertations

The hospitality and tourism industry has increasingly prioritized environmental concerns, driving the adoption of green practices and communication strategies. This dissertation investigates the role of AI voice assistants in hotel rooms in promoting pro-environmental behavior, recognizing the importance of fostering environmental mindfulness through technology and behavioral interventions. This research explores the influence of voice attributes and message content on consumers' pro-environmental behavior when conveyed through AI voice assistants. It specifically focuses on the marketing cue of Kindchenschema cuteness by examining how a baby-like voice in AI voice assistants may enhance pro-environmental communication, a topic rarely addressed in the hospitality and …

The Utility Of Bayesian Predictive Models To Forecast Arboviruses In The United States Of America And Territories, Maggie Suzanne Jennave Mccarter

Theses and Dissertations

Statistical models have been utilized to understand and forecast infectious diseases across the globe. However, these models have historically been difficult to access and interpret for non-specialist audiences. This dissertation focuses on one computationally efficient model fitting method, the integrated nested LaPlace approximation approach, to forecast three arboviruses in hopes of encouraging accessibility to statistical modelling. Such accessibility could provide areas who simultaneously are most susceptible to infection, and have the least resources, an invaluable tool for informing policy and prevention decisions. The resulting models included biological, land cover, and environmental factors and produced accurate forecasts of neuroinvasive West Nile …

Impact Of Steroid Receptor And Hormone Manipulation In Skeletal Muscle: Implications For Glucose Metabolism And Insulin Sensitivity In Male Mice, Christian Aaron Unger

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aimed to investigate the influence of modifying steroid receptor content and steroid production within skeletal muscle on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity within the context of diet-induced obesity. Specifically, our research focused on three key aspects:1) determining the role that skeletal muscle androgen receptor has on glucose metabolism and insulin action in male mice fed a high-fat diet and 2) determining if inducible skeletal muscle aromatase overexpression improves glucose intolerance and insulin action in male mice fed a high-fat diet and 3) determining if inducible skeletal muscle estrogen-receptor alpha (ER-α) overexpression improves glucose intolerance and insulin action in …

Computerized Psychological Testing: Designing And Developing An Efficient Test Suite Using Hci And Reinforcement Learning Techniques, William Henry Hoskins

Theses and Dissertations

In this work we discuss the design and development of the Carolina Automated Reading Evaluation (CARE), created to facilitate the finding of deficits in the reading ability of children from four to nine years of age. Designed to automate the process of screening for reading deficits, the CARE is an interactive computer-based tool that helps eliminate the need for one-on-one evaluations of pupils to detect dyslexia and other reading deficits and facilitates the creation of new reading tests within the platform. While other tests collect specific data points in order to determine whether a pupil has dyslexia, they typically focus …

Effects Of Chronic Stress On Working Memory Are Sex-Specific And Age-Dependent, Tyler Jamison Cox

Theses and Dissertations

As the aging demographic of the United States expands, the convergence of age-related cognitive decline and stress-related dysregulation emerges as a substantial concern, impacting not only the lifespan but also the overall well-being of American citizens. In the realm of research, there has been a pronounced focus on Alzheimer's Disease, leading to an imbalanced allocation of resources compared to the study of normal aging. It is widely acknowledged that executive function deteriorates as individuals age, a concept substantiated by numerous investigations conducted in labs dedicated to the study of normal aging. Significantly, even among individuals afflicted with neurodegenerative disorders affecting …

The Genetic Associations Of Circadian Rhythm And Sleep Disorder Traits With Risk Of Monoclonal Gammopathy Of Undetermined Significance And Multiple Myeloma, Brittany Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Circadian rhythm disruption and sleep have been widely studied for their roles in immunity and cancer development. Evidence for an association of circadian rhythm and sleep traits with multiple myeloma (MM) risk is inconclusive. No studies have investigated these traits in relation to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Given that MGUS precedes almost all MM cases, investigating sleep and circadian rhythm in relation to both MM and MGUS is necessary. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the genetic influences of circadian rhythm and sleep traits on the risk of MGUS and MM. Methods: Data were leveraged …

The Effect Of Music Therapy Interventions For Early Adolescents With Special Needs To Improve On-Task Behaviors, Shuolin Kong

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of music therapy intervention on on-task behaviors of early adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disabilities. A within-subject research design was used with four early adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disabilities from a Junior high school in the United States. Four school-age students from one classroom (N=4, male= 2, female= 2, mean ages =11.75 years) were selected and assigned to attend two alternated treatment conditions: four group non-music therapy sessions (Treatment A) and four group music therapy sessions (Treatment B). A security video camera recorded the duration of on-task behaviors under …

Development Of An Antibiotic Resistance Breaker To Combat Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenesis Skin Infections Ssis A Multidisciplinary, Gopalakrishnan T Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Problem Statement: Staphylococcus aureus is a highly adaptable and tenacious pathogen known to cause a wide range of infections. The survival characteristics of the pathogen in different host niches are due to their ability to produce various pathogenic determinants. Although there lies the first line of treatment regimens with antibiotics, the pathogen defends at various levels to cause the waves of resistance - a silent pandemic “AMR”.

Notable strategies are through the protective layer, biofilm that enables the inter-/intra species communication (Quorum Sensing; QS) and emerges as a battleground to withstand host-immune response and antibiotic pressure. In parallel, several research …

Removal Of Diclofenac Pharmaceutical Residues From Wastewater, Fatma Aly

Theses and Dissertations

As diseases worldwide and in Egypt are increasing by time, developing, and producing new medicines is massively expanding. The use of pharmaceutical compounds is rising worldwide. Diclofenac compound is used in plenty of different kinds of drugs as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug “NSAID” treating inflammation, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid. Due to excessive exposure to diclofenac -from humans and animals, large amounts are found in the water streams and the environment. Most of the conventional treatment methods is not capable of the complete removal of the diclofenac. Therefore, most of it is thrown back into the water bodies badly affecting the environment, …

The Effect Of Percussion And Rhythm-Based Interventions On Children With Social, Emotional And Behavioral Goals, Lesli Woods

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the effect of percussion and rhythm-based interventions on children with emotional and behavioral goals. Five students from an after-school/summer program were analyzed in a case-study format. The five skills analyzed within this study included those of cooperation with others, remaining on task, refraining from interrupting others, demonstrating pro-social interactions, and remaining with the group. An additional interview was conducted with the children to understand their perception of the interventions and how it affected their social, emotional, and behavioral skills. The students themselves suggested that the music had a positive impact on their behavior and social skills, specifically …

Pop Gugak And E-Sang: Negotiating Traditional And Pop Genre Categories In Expressions Of Identity, Jessica Ellis

Theses and Dissertations

Korean traditional music has a popularity problem among Korea's contemporary audiences; given the choice of what to listen to, few South Koreans choose to listen to gugak. To address and overcome this popularity problem, traditional Korean musicians are negotiating and reconstructing traditional Korean music by adopting, appropriating, and altering elements of Korean and international pop music. To this end, Gugak groups recently have been incorporating western musical practices and aesthetics in their performances in digital platforms (YouTube and reality television programs) and in concerts to contemporize the genre and develop a more positive relationship between Koreans and their national music. …

"The Trees Act Not As Individuals"--Learning To See The Whole Picture In Biology Education And Remote Sensing Research, Rebeka A.F. Greenall

Theses and Dissertations

To increase equity and inclusion for underserved and excluded Indigenous students, we must make efforts to mitigate the unique barriers they face. As their knowledge systems have been historically excluded and erased in Western science, we begin by reviewing the literature on the inclusion of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in biology education and describe best practices. Next, to better understand how Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHPI) students integrate into the scientific community, we used Social Influence Theory as a framework to measure NHPI student science identity, self-efficacy, alignment with science values, and belonging. We also investigated how students …

The Synthesis And Optimization Of Conductive Carbons From Renewable Resources For Supercapacitor Applications, Iris Denmark

Theses and Dissertations

The use of fossil fuels has played a pivotal role in the evolution of energy storage devices and the generation of electricity. With that, we have now entered an era in which we have become primarily dependent on these non-renewable resources which have become increasingly scarce overtime. This has driven us toward a pertinent demand for alternative sources of energy. There are various forms of alternative energy in which biomass is the most used. Carbon is becoming the most commonly used material for energy applications due to its versatility and bioavailability, including that which is sourced from biomass. Herein is …

Food Web Of Icy Strait, Alaska: Comparison Of Position, Size, And Overlap Of Trophic Niche Among Fish Species, Andrew D. Suchomel

Theses and Dissertations

The Icy Strait of southeast Alaska, USA is an ideal system to study how ecological diversity is maintained. This area has historical ecological significance and supports diverse assemblages of fish species that are easily sampled. We used stable isotope analysis using δ13C and δ15N stable isotope ratios. Using these isotope ratios, we quantified trophic niche position, size, and overlap and compared how those trophic niche metrics varied using ecological and evolutionary perspectives. For ecological variation, mean total length, and δ13C trophic niche position has positive relationships with trophic niche size while total percent trophic niche overlap had a strong negative …

“Já Muito Estropeadas”: Bodies And Landscapes Of Oppression In Rodolfo Teófilo’S A Fome, Mikaela Wood

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis article analyzes Rodolfo Teófilo's novel "A fome" through the lens of ecofeminism, exploring the representations of gender and nature in Brazilian literature. The novel, set during a devastating drought in the Northeast, follows Manuel de Freitas and his family as they seek relief in Ceará. While existing criticism has focused on the novel's use of nature and masculinity, the portrayal of female characters and the connection between gender and nature representations have been overlooked. Ecofeminist theory offers a critical perspective to understand these dynamics, revealing the devaluation of women and nature in favor of men and human beings …

Groundwater Resource Assessment For West Africa Using Earth Observations And Groundwater Modeling, Sergio Armando Barbosa Casas

Theses and Dissertations

Groundwater is a crucial global resource, particularly in semiarid regions where surface water is scarce. As a result, effective groundwater management is essential. However, the challenge lies in a lack of data and information for proper decision-making. This dissertation present studies related to groundwater storage changes and recharge in West Africa, using data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission. In Niger, this research reveals little change in groundwater storage from 2002 to 2010 but a steep rise from 2010 to 2021, attributed partially to increased precipitation. Groundwater resources in Niger are found to be underutilized, with estimated …

Feasibility Of Rna-Based Pathogen Detection In An Infant Formula Matrix, Gweneth Claire Gustafson

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The dairy processing industry is currently hindered by slow, antiquated testing for high-risk pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes and Cronobacter sakazakii. Powder infant formula's low water activity and substantial fat content enhance the survival and thermotolerance of such foodborne pathogens. As DNA-based detection methods can produce false positives even after cell death, a more accurate approach is needed. The objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability of an RNA-based platform for the detection of pathogens in a dairy powder matrix. Materials and Methods: A unique phenol-chloroform extraction method was used to obtain total RNA from heat-killed and unheated …

Critical Engagements With Award Winning Picturebooks: My Journey In Creating A More Equitable Classroom Library, Carrie Elizabeth Crowe

Theses and Dissertations

Research consistently shows that students from historically marginalized populations have difficulty accessing texts that represent the realities of their lives. Concerned that such might be the case for my students, I conducted an inventory of my classroom library and sought out award-winning texts that could make my library more diverse and inclusive. I then analyzed these award-winning texts using Bishop's (1992) categories of multicultural literature in order to better understand the picturebooks' underlying messages and ideologies. My examinations showed that the majority of the texts fit into the same category (culturally specific), though I was able to identify award-winning texts …

Examining Drinking To Cope During The Covid-19 Pandemic As Reinforcement Pathology, Matthew Dwyer

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic is the largest global public health challenge of this century. Concerns were raised that the rapid changes associated with daily life during the initial months of the pandemic would increase depression and alcohol use. However, changes in population-level alcohol use have been mixed. Behavioral economic theories of addiction, such as the Reinforcer Pathology (RP) model, have been proposed as well suited to identify individuals, and inform interventions, to address these concerns. However, no quantitative research has validated this claim in a sample recruited during the pandemic. The current study extended upon existing research by examining patterns of …