Digital Commons Network^™

Interplay Between Environmental Signals And Chromatin Remodeling During The Process Of Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition (Emt), Atrayee Bhattacharya

Theses and Dissertations

The process of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which epithelial cells assume a mesenchymal cell phenotype with enhanced migratory capacity plays an integral role in development and wound healing but also contributes pathologically to fibrosis and cancer progression. This switch in cell differentiation and behavior is mediated by key transcription factors like SNAI1 (SNAIL) and SNAI2 (SLUG) in response to several signaling pathways like TGF-β and EGF. There are three key events that occur during TGF-β induced EMT, namely extracellular cues that must be transmitted to the nucleus to elicit activation of SNAI1 transcription, recruitment of transcription factors (TFs) …

Applications Of An Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle And Remote Cameras For Studying A Sub-Arctic Ecosystem, Andrew Barnas

Theses and Dissertations

The midcontinent population of lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) has increased dramatically since the 1960’s due to changing agricultural practices in their southern wintering areas. The destructive foraging and continued population growth of lesser snow geese has resulted in cascading negative impacts on northern ecosystems. Studying remote sub-Arctic ecosystems is logistically challenging, but the advent of remote sensing technologies (such as drones and remote cameras) may assist ecologists in understanding snow goose ecology. Before these tools can be integrated into snow goose research programs, precursor “proof-of-concept” studies are required to validate tool use. The objectives of this study were …

Tissue Specific Gene Expression In Chelydra Serpentina, Jasmine Carly Kasanke

Theses and Dissertations

Epigenetic regulation has been studied in mammals, but research in reptiles is lacking. Knowing where specific genes are expressed is the first step to examining epigenetic regulation of tissue specific and cell-type specific gene expression. Differences in gene expression allude to differences in gene regulation and gene function and will require further study. In order to address the question of tissue specific gene expression, we review literature on embryonic development, sex determination, and specific genes that display tissue specific or cell-type specific expression patterns. Next, we review what is known about regulation of gene expression in reptiles. We then outline …

The Impact Of Historical Trauma On Alcohol Use And Academic Outcomes In American Indian College Students, Elizabeth Luger

Theses and Dissertations

Issues regarding substance use, particularly alcohol use, and academic outcomes are two factors that are vital to examine when researching the quality of life and academic success of American Indian (AI) college students. Because AI college students comprise a relatively small percentage of the general college population, the majority of research conducted using college student samples tends to focus on Caucasian (CA) subjects or all ethnicities combined – neither of which directly pertain to furthering understanding surrounding issues specific to AI college students. One factor that has been shown to predict alcohol use among AIs is historical trauma, which is …

Development Of Graphene And Polymer Based Nanomaterials For Analytical And Biological Applications, Xiao Liu

Theses and Dissertations

Graphene-based nanomaterials are novel emerging materials with their superior physical, chemical and mechanical features that have applications in a broad diversity of fields. Their excellent properties include: 1) Superior biocompatibility compared to the traditional QDs because they are free from toxic heavy metals. 2) Large surface area and easy covalent/chemical modification which makes them convenient as drug delivery carriers, in comparison with liposomes. 3) High light absorption in the near infrared (NIR) region. Compared to metal nanoparticles, which gives them better photothermal properties. 4) Strong quenching efficiency; graphene-based nanomaterials were able to quench various fluorophores through fluorescence resonance energy transfer …

Evolutionary Ecology Of Ribosomal Rna Copy Number: Studies In Soil Prokaryote And Nematode Communities, Mark R. Williamson

Theses and Dissertations

Enrichment of ecosystems with excess nutrients often results in microbial communities with an overabundance of just one or a few species, such as algae in eutrophic waters, or micro- invertebrates in organically amended soils. To explain this, the Growth Rate Hypothesis postulates that rapid growth rates are constrained by cellular ribosome concentrations and that nitrogen and phosphorous act as limiting nutrients. However, the genetic mechanism to the Growth Rate Hypothesis has not been clearly identified. The objective of this work is to test the hypothesis that rRNA copy number variance is the causative genetic mechanism of the Growth Rate Hypothesis …

Effects Of Locomotion Methods Under Simulated Reduced Gravity Conditions On Muscles And Joints Of The Leg, Sophie Orr

Theses and Dissertations

Past research efforts have focused on the energy difference between altered locomotion methods in fractional gravity at different speeds, suggesting that skipping is energetically more efficient than walking and running in these environments. While skipping may be more beneficial from an energy standpoint, the full range of reasons behind the gait transition and locomotion selection have not been researched. This includes damage to the muscles of the leg, which is partially prevented by a transition from walking to running. In a space environment, these factors will play a role in astronaut health and injury prevention. For this study, participants walked, …

On Satyrs: Brutes, Monsters, And Demons: Of Their Nature And Worship: François Hédelin's Des Satyres As A Defense Of God And Humankind, Danielle Skjelver

Theses and Dissertations

Best known for his 1657 La Pratique du Theatre, François Hédelin was a cleric with a keen interest in the stage. As the abbé d’Aubignac, he wrangled in debate with the most respected scholars of his day, and Hédelin’s contacts extended to the crown itself. His Des Satyres, brutes, monstres et démons is an attempt to do with a species what he did with the stage - to bring disorder and immorality to heel.

This dissertation provides historical context, analysis, and translation of François Hédelin’s 1627 Des Satyres, brutes, monstres et démons. De leur nature et adoration Contre l'opinion de …

Parents' And Health Professionals' Perceptions Of Asthma Medication Noncompliance Among Puerto Rican Children, Luz E. Nieves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children of Hispanic origin have the highest prevalence of asthma of all ethnic groups in the United States, especially Puerto Rican children, who have a prevalence of 12.9%. Treatment nonadherence has been identified as one contributing factor. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the reasons for nonadherence to the asthma treatment regimen among Puerto Rican children. Parents and health care providers of asthmatic children were interviewed regarding their beliefs about asthma as a disease, its effect on the child's life, and their experience with asthma treatment. Two models served as the theoretical framework: the health belief model …

Barriers To Utilization Of Malaria Preventive Measures In Rural Nigeria Among Pregnant Women, Olabosipo O. Oreyomi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is a mosquito transmitted tropical disease that accounts for more cases and deaths in Nigeria than in any other country worldwide. Globally malaria accounts for 300,000 deaths among young children and pregnant women annually. The promotion of the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) to reduce pregnant women's contact with mosquitoes has been the focus of malaria prevention efforts in Nigeria. However, the use of ITNs during pregnancy has been inexplicably low in Nigeria. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to examine barriers to the utilization of ITNs among pregnant women in rural Nigeria. The social ecological model was …

Data-Driven Decision Making About Single-Sex Instructional Grouping At An Elementary School, Michelle Lynnette Sorrells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Administrators at a Southeastern elementary school eliminated single-sex instructional grouping in 5th-grade classes without a proper analysis of all available data and later reflected upon whether this instructional model should be revived. Because data-based decisions may positively improve teaching and learning for all stakeholders, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore all available data leading to this decision, inform stakeholders about the decision-making processes in the local school, and provide data to inform future decisions. Conceptually framed with Mandinach's data-driven decision making (DDDM) model, the guiding question for the study focused on perceptions of teacher, administrator, and …

Recruiting Strategies For A Nonprofit Health Care Facility, Jairo Borja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although predictions for the supply of registered nurses (RNs) is projected to increase to 3,849,000 by 2025, the demand for RNs is projected to grow to 3,509,000. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies some recruiters in a nonprofit health care facility used to recruit RNs. The conceptual lens used for this study was general systems theory. Through a purposeful sample of 3 recruiters at a nonprofit health care facility located in New York, data collection occurred through semistructured interviews, reviewing job boards and the company website, and taking field notes the day of the …

Post-Ebola Case Management Of Orphaned Young Adults In Rural Sierra Leone, Augustine Frazer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2014-2016 Ebola pandemic in Sierra Leone significantly increased the orphan population and the need for social support programs, especially for student-orphans in higher education. Poorly prepared disaster response managers have little knowledge about how college student-orphans experience social services. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how post-Ebola student-orphans enrolled in an agricultural university in rural Sierra Leone experienced post disaster specialized case management to enhance student performance. Criterion sampling techniques including specific inclusion and exclusion criteria guided the recruitment, that included 10 research participants taking part in the semi structured interviews. Ecological system theory and …

Female Sexual Abuse Survivors And The Therapeutic Relationship, Tracy J. Hollingworth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood abuse can impact the survivors' life in many ways. Children learn various skills from their caregivers, such as the tools needed to develop and maintain healthy relationships. When a child is abused by their caregiver, there can be a drastic impact on how the child perceives the world, and the therapeutic relationship is important in the healing process. This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study explored the lived experiences of therapists who work with adult women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse to better understand the effects that childhood sexual abuse has on the therapeutic relationship. The theoretical base …

Substance Use And Romantic Attachment Among African American And Black Caribbean Adult Males, Shaun Faith Hutton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals from unfavorable environments tend to carry maladaptive patterns of attachment from infancy through adulthood. Empirically, these styles have been shown to be intergenerational. Substance use disorder has been linked to maladaptive patterns of attachment among adults. However, limited data exists regarding this phenomenon with African American and Black Caribbean males. Bowlby's attachment theory and Ainsworth's patterns of attachment were the theoretical frameworks applied to this quantitative study. The purpose was to determine the effect of ethnicity and alcohol use on anxious and avoidant attachment patterns among a sample of 151 adult males. Using the Experience in Close Relationship and …

Reading Perceptions Of Hispanic English Language Learner Families In New York City, Ligoria Berkeley-Cummins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, Hispanic English language learners (ELLs) in the United States have had low reading achievement and low high school graduation and college entry rates, which has limited their employment opportunities. Although research indicates parental involvement is important to reading success, little is known about Hispanic ELL parents' perspectives on their children's reading development. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how parental involvement in 3rd grade Hispanic ELLs' reading development, as perceived by their families, may contribute to these students' reading proficiency. The framework for this study was Hedegaard's model of children's learning and development. The participants …

Mine Reclamation Using Biofuel Crops: Insights Into The Microbial Ecology Of The Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum) Microbiome, Brianna L. Mayfield

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bioenergy crop production has steadily increased due to growing political support for renewable energy, thus initiating a demand to find alternative agricultural land. An innovative option is the use of marginal soils, such as reclaimed mine lands, to produce bioenergy crops. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a promising bioenergy crop that can be grown on marginal lands due to its robust growth in various soil types and climates. However, little is known regarding plant-microbe interactions among switchgrass systems within reclaimed mine lands. A study conducted in 2008 grew switchgrass on high- and low- quality reclaimed mine sites (Hampshire and …

Determining The Role Of Nudt7 In The Regulation Of Cellular Coa Levels And Metabolism, Stephanie Anne Shumar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Coenzyme A (CoA) is an essential cofactor required for hundreds of metabolic processes. Because it is such a critical cofactor, CoA levels are tightly regulated. In the fasted state and in diabetic mice, the concentration of CoA increases dramatically in the liver. This phenotype is associated with constitutively low CoA degradation, a process that is emerging as a potentially important mechanism for CoA regulation. Nudt7 and Nudt19 are two mammalian peroxisomal enzymes with CoA-degrading activity, which are highly expressed in the liver and kidney, respectively. Limited information is available on the biochemistry of Nudt7 and Nudt19; the structural basis for …

Characterization Of Nodule-Specific, Slac And Mate Membrane Transporters In Medicago Truncatula, Lina Yang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Legumes play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture because of their intrinsic ability to reduce atmospheric N₂ into NH₃ via symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). SNF is carried out in the symbiosome, a quasi-organelle containing endosymbiotic rhizobial bacteria in the cytoplasm of infected cells of the nodule. Therefore, the bacteria are surrounded by a symbiosome membrane (SM), which is derived from the plant plasma membrane during infection. SNF requires constant nutritional exchanges between symbionts, including reduced carbon (dicarboxylates) from the plant for reduced nitrogen (NH₄⁺) from the bacteroids. This exchange of nutrients and signals is fundamental …

Adolescent Residential Mobility: Behavioral Outcomes And The Moderating Role Of The Mother-Adolescent Relationship, Sloane B. Glover

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prior research has noted unfavorable associations between residential mobility (RM) and youth outcomes. However, little work has considered the mother-adolescent relationship as a moderator of the suggested associations. The purpose of the current study was to examine the internalizing, externalizing, and delinquent behaviors of adolescents (M_age=15.6, SD=0.77) following a move in comparison to adolescents who did not move. Frequency of moves was considered and adolescents were identified as either stable (0 moves), low mobility (1-2 moves), or high mobility (>2 moves) within a 6 year period. Mother-adolescent closeness and parental monitoring were examined as potential …

Bacterial Contamination Study Of Loose-Fitting Power Air Purifying Respirators (Papr) Compared To N-95 Ffr And Surgical Mask, In A Simulated Sterile Environment, Tyler J. Church

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) are commonly used in a health care setting, providing a higher level of protection than traditional surgical masks or N-95’s. However, little can be found in literature about their use in a sterile environment, such as an operating room. Thus, this study aims to compare bacterial contamination of three different models of PAPRs (3M^TM Versaflo^TM TR-600-ECK, 3M^TM Air-Mate^TM, and MAXAIR CAPR 710) to a N-95, surgical N-95 and surgical mask. The experiments were conducted in a small room with no ventilation, under two conditions, door open and door closed. Each …

On Generative Adversarial Network Based Synthetic Iris Presentation Attack And Its Detection, Naman Kohli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Human iris is considered a reliable and accurate modality for biometric recognition due to its unique texture information. Reliability and accuracy of iris biometric modality have prompted its large-scale deployment for critical applications such as border control and national identification projects. The extensive growth of iris recognition systems has raised apprehensions about the susceptibility of these systems to various presentation attacks.

In this thesis, a novel iris presentation attack using deep learning based synthetically generated iris images is presented. Utilizing the generative capability of deep convolutional generative adversarial networks and iris quality metrics, a new framework, named as iDCGAN is …

Characterization Of Major Flavonols In Ramps (Allium Tricoccum), Wijdan M. Dabeek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ramps (Allium tricoccum) is a traditional plant in the eastern Appalachian Mountains. Ramps have been used in Appalachian folk medicine for its health promoting roles in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Information on the chemical composition of bioactive components responsible for the potential health benefits are scarce. Analysis of the chemical composition in similar Alliumplants showed that flavonols, induced similar health benefits. Therefore, the aim of this work is to characterize major flavonol conjugates in ramps. The secondary aim is to develop a preliminary quantification protocol. Flavonol glycosides were extracted in 50% methanol and 3% acetic acid. …

The Role Of Communication Accommodation In Mother-In-Law/Daughter-In-Law Relationships, Erin Claire Shelton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The goal of this thesis was to further the literature on mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships by directly employing Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) to examine relationships between categories of accommodation and relational quality in these relationships. Daughters-in-law (N= 677) were solicited via private Facebook groups to complete an online survey regarding accommodation (their own and their mothers-in-law’s), their feelings of shared family identity, and their relationship satisfaction in their relationship with their mothers-in-law. Results demonstrated relationships between mothers-in-law’s accommodation, overaccommodation, and underaccommodation of their daughters-in-law and daughters-in-law’s feelings of shared family identify and relationship satisfaction. Additionally, relationships were present between daughters-in-law’s …

Analysis Of Dunc-13 And Its Role In The Formation Of Ethanol Tolerance In Drosophila Melanogaster, Charles Cook

Honors Theses

Alcoholism is a costly disease that is responsible for a significant portion of the global disease burden, yet there is much is left to know about how this disease develops. Tolerance plays a critical role in predisposing an individual to alcohol abuse. Recently, the active zone of presynaptic neurons has been implicated as an ethanol effector. In this study, we examined the role that a presynaptic active zone protein, Dunc13, plays in the formation of tolerance to alcohol. Dunc13 is an ortholog of mammalian Unc13-1, and through the use of Drosophila as a model system, we show that genetic reduction …

Cannabinoid Conundrum: A Study Of Anti-Epileptic Efficacy And Drug Policy, Kennedy Dickson

Honors Theses

Cannabis is the most commonly used, cultivated, and trafficked drug worldwide. The use and acceptance of marijuana is evolving rapidly, as indicated by the volume of new State cannabis legislation across the U.S. Many of the changes in state laws have occurred without significant input from medical or scientific communities. Additionally, marijuana policy in the US is convoluted with significant inconsistencies between state and federal law. The status of marijuana as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substance Act creates numerous restrictions and issues that impact the industry as a whole. The most promising development has been the 2018 …

The End Times, Gunnar Ohberg

Honors Theses

The End Times is a collection of apocalyptic short stories set within the same universe. The stories employ elements of magical realism and grit lit. It is the author's hope that each story deal with at least one external societal issue (such as digital discourse and sexual aggression) and one internal psychological issue (such as depression, obsession/compulsion, and survivor's guilt). Each story is told in the first-person in an effort to best demonstrate the various psychologies of its protagonist. In these stories, God has decided to punish humanity for their transgressions. The devices of this God are fantastic: limbs disappear, …

The Developmental And Behavioral Effects Of Early Life Stage Cannabinoid Exposure, Mariegene E. Almand

Honors Theses

As of 2019, marijuana legalization and decriminalization is sweeping the globe. Patients are increasingly using cannabis-derived compounds including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) for treatment of diseases as diverse as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer. Furthermore, mothers are claiming that CBD oil decreases uncomfortable pregnancy side effects. While the adverse effects of chronic cannabinoid use and of cannabinoids on pregnancy have been previously investigated, the exact function of the endocannabinoid system, and its primary receptors, cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2, involved in producing these outcomes is still unclear. In this study, two strains of zebrafish embryos, namely fli and cnr2-/- …

Understanding Factors Of Sexual Behaviors In Teenagers In Mississippi, Jackson Colburn

Honors Theses

The primary purpose of this study is to determine the associations between socio-demographic factors and sexual behaviors in teens based on bivariate analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey for 2015. In conducting a comparative analysis of survey data for both the United States and the state of Mississippi, this study aims to depict a picture of the state of teen sexual behaviors both nationally and in Mississippi. A secondary quantitative analysis of the Mississippi survey dataset also sets out to highlight any possible significant relationships between teen sexual behaviors and certain …

Microbial Communities Associated With Dragonfly Nymphs Raised In Varying Concentrations Of Amoxicillin, Michelle Basha

Honors Theses

The bacteria on and within an organism make up that organism’s microbiome. Given interest in the use of antibiotics in agriculture and the effect of microbes on human health, more studies are needed on the microbial community composition of different organisms and how it responds to antibiotic use. This study investigated changes in the amount of antibiotic resistant bacteria present in dragonfly nymphs exposed to differing concentrations of amoxicillin. Next generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to identify cultures of these antibiotic resistant bacteria. Increasing the concentration of antibiotics the dragonfly nymphs were exposed to resulted in …