Digital Commons Network^™

Impacts Of The Reproductive Cycle On The Microbiome: Lessons From Peromyscus Maniculatus, Stephania Jimenez-Castro

McNair Scholars

This low-cost pilot study performed in an animal model attempts to answer the question of whether the estrous cycle affects skin bacteria population size and diversity. In the study, deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are models because the University of Northern Colorado maintains a colony at the animal research facility, and the rodents have a conveniently short reproductive cycle. Vaginal swabs and flushes were collected for two full estrous cycles to obtain cells for determination of the phase of the cycle and flora samples to examine diversity and population size. We witnessed the vaginal flora fluctuate throughout the entire cycle …

Assessing Latinx Colorism And Skin Tone Dating Preferences, Yessica M. Berumen Martinez

McNair Scholars

Colorism is favoring by individuals of lighter skin over darker skin. This differs from racism because racism is discrimination directed towards racial or ethnic minorities, while colorism typically refers to within-group prejudice. The purpose out of this study is to find out whether and how Latinx individuals’ self-perceived skin color, family, and friends influence their dating skin color preference. 145 respondents ages 18 and over completed the In-group Colorism Scale by Harvey, Banks, and Tennial (2017) and answered additional questions on skin tone perceptions on dating, and parent and friend influences. There was no significant connection between self-perceived skin color …

Executive Board Annual Summary, 2019-2020, Emeriti Society

Emeriti Society History and Reports

No abstract provided.

Genetic And Functional Analyses Of Virulence Potential Of An Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Strain Isolated From Super-Shedder Cattle, Lin Teng, Shinyoung Lee, Dongjin Park, Kwangcheol Casey Jeong

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 is an enteric pathogen that causes life-threatening disease in humans, with cattle being major natural reservoirs. A group of STEC O157:H7 with a dramatic combination of high virulence potentials and super-shedder bovine origin have been isolated. Here, an STEC O157:H7 isolate, JEONG-1266, was analyzed by comparative genomics, stx genotyping, and phenotypic analyses. The phylogenetic typing and whole-genome comparison consistently showed that JEONG-1266 is genetically close to EC4115 (one of 2006 Spinach outbreak isolates) and SS17 (an isolate from super-shedder cattle) strains, all of which belong to lineage I/II and Clade 8. Both lineage …

A Mouse Model Of Human Tlr4 D299g/T399i Snps Reveals Mechanisms Of Altered Lps And Pathogen Responses, Katharina Richard, Kurt H. Piepenbrink, Kari Ann Shirey, Archana Gopalakrishnan, Shreeram Nallar, Daniel J. Prantner, Darren J. Perkins, Wendy Lai, Alexandra Vik, Vladimir Y. Toshchakov, Chiguang Feng, Rachel Fanaroff, Andrei E. Medvedev, Jorge C.G. Blanco, Stefanie N. Vogel

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Two cosegregating single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human TLR4, an A896G transition at SNP rs4986790 (D299G) and a C1196T transition at SNP rs4986791 (T399I), have been associated with LPS hyporesponsiveness and differential susceptibility to many infectious or inflammatory diseases. However, many studies failed to confirm these associations, and transfection experiments resulted in conflicting conclusions about the impact of these SNPs on TLR4 signaling. Using advanced protein modeling from crystallographic data of human and murine TLR4, we identified homologous substitutions of these SNPs in murine Tlr4, engineered a knock-in strain expressing the D298G and N397I TLR4 SNPs homozygously, and characterized in vivo …

Nalini Malani's Medea Project: Gender And Nationhood In Postcolonial India, Maya Varma

Art and Art History Honors Projects

In 1996, renowned contemporary Indian artist Nalini Malani embarked on what would become a decades-long project exploring the Greek myth of Medea as an embodiment of postcolonialism. Considering Medea’s historical interpretations as a mistreated wife and a villainous mother, this thesis examines how Malani transforms Medea into a metaphor of resistance to British colonialism and anticolonial nationalism in post-Partition India. Against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition and subsequent political events relating nationhood with the female body, Malani negotiates Medea as an emancipatory figure who shifts essentialized notions of womanhood into more complex narratives of violence, subjectivity, and liberation.

2020-2021 Lindenwood University Graduate Course Catalog, Lindenwood University

Course Catalogs

Lindenwood University Graduate Course Catalog

Improving Provider Confidence And Partnership With Lgbt Patients Through Inclusivity And Education, Katherine Rowe

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The focus of this project utilizes patient recommendations for LGBT-inclusive intake practices to increase provider confidence in communication with LGBT patients using pre-and post-survey data comparing provider confidence before and after a 20-minute video education session. LGBT-inclusive provider education has been shown to be deficient if not nonexistent in most educational settings, yet, LGBT individuals have increased risk of negative health disparities, violence, and discrimination. Research examining the ability for small changes in provider education to enable positive health outcomes for this vulnerable and marginalized population is imperative for the quality of life of these communities. A quasi-experimental design utilized …

Causes Of Variable Jarrah (Eucalyptus Marginata) And Marri (Corymbia Calophylla) Seedling Density At Establishment Following Bauxite Mining In The Northern Jarrah Forest Of Western Australia, Tai White-Toney

Theses

Seedling densities at establishment of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata D. Don ex Sm.) and marri (Corymbia calophylla (Lindl). K. D. Hill & L. A. S. Johnson) following bauxite mining in the Northern Jarrah Forest of south-western Australia are variable and few factors explored during 40 years of field studies have explained this variability. This study explored establishment within the framework of limitation due to amount of seed supply and number of suitable microsites for establishment. First, relationships were identified between seedling establishment densities on 654 mine sites restored between 1998 and 2017 and restoration practices (seed and fertiliser application rates), climate …

Assessing The Performance Of Voluntary Environmental Programs, Luis Inaraja Vera

Law Faculty Scholarship

In recent years, government agencies have increasingly relied on voluntary programs to achieve a variety of goals, from improving worker safety to creating healthier living conditions in urban areas. This type of government initiative is based on a bargain between the agency and private citizens: the government provides certain incentives—economic or otherwise—and private actors voluntarily adopt behaviors that benefit the public. One example is cleaning up a contaminated site and building an affordable housing project.

While agencies have made substantial progress since the creation of the first voluntary programs, much work remains. To move forward in this area, and especially …

College Campus Outreach To Increase Chlamydia Screenings, Elizabeth Kinney

DNP Projects

A common sexual health concern around the world is sexually transmitted infections (STI). Chlamydia is the most reported sexual health problem. The highest prevalence of chlamydia rates is among ages 15-24, which includes college age students (CDC, 2019). The lack of education provided to students prior to starting college by parents, health care providers and high school sources as well as inaccurate information obtained from peers and erroneous internet sources may lead to misconceptions about STIs and consequently the avoidance of routine screening among this high-risk population (Canan & Jozkowski, 2017).

The purpose of this project was to determine if …

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Effectiveness Of Targeted Umbilical Cord Drug Screening In Determining Risk Of Withdrawal, Alecia Karr

DNP Projects

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a condition in which an infant experiences withdrawal from uterine exposure to various substances such as caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, THC, opioids, benzodiazepines, and other types of substances. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, these infants may experience a longer hospital stay and may need treatment and monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), resulting in an increase in healthcare costs. The objective of this project was to determine if targeted drug screening of newborns was effective in determining infants at risk of NAS based on a positive screening result. This study utilized a …

Evaluating Providers’ Perceptions On Preconception Care For Women With Sud, Corinna Hughes

DNP Projects

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) has become an epidemic. Women of reproductive age with SUDs have particularly complex healthcare needs including an increased risk of having an unintended pregnancy and associated sequela of negative birth outcomes (NBO). Little is known about how medication assisted treatment (MAT) providers are adequately addressing their unique needs. Identifying provider barriers and tools to address the reproductive needs of women with SUDs can optimize their health outcomes and prevent NBOs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate MAT Nurse Practitioners’ (NPs) knowledge and perceptions of providing preconception care to women with …

Effectiveness Of A School-Based Asthma Education Program For 8-10-Year-Old Children, Laura Hunt

DNP Projects

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic condition to affect children in the United States Five million children throughout the United States and approximately 112, 000 children in Kentucky are living with the diagnosis of asthma (CDC, 2017; CHFS, 2017). Based on current rates 1 out of 10 elementary school-age students will likely have asthma (CDC, 2019). Educating elementary-age students about asthma and symptoms of an asthma exacerbation is very important and could save a life.

Methods: A school-based asthma education program targeting children in third and fourth grades was implemented at two elementary schools in Central Kentucky. The asthma …

The Effect Of A Sun Damage Simulation Photography App On The Skin-Protective Behavior Intentions Of Women With Children Age 18 Or Younger, James Bowlds

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the U.S. annually, despite being a largely preventable disease through the limitation of ultraviolet radiation exposure. Attempts to decrease its incidence have focused on appearance-based interventions. These have been effective at improving sun-protective behaviors among various subpopulations including people of color. Anecdotal observations suggest mothers more frequently utilize sun protection for their children than on themselves.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to gain an understanding of the sun protection practices and beliefs of Caucasian and African American mothers, to assess the response to an appearance-based …

Device Related Concerns Pertaining To Primary Caregivers Of Lvad Patients, Nicole Smith, Carissa Smith

DNP Projects

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to focus on caregiver education with an emphasis on caregiver concerns regarding the LVAD; additionally, evaluating the efficacy of an educational video acknowledging those device-related concerns identified by caregivers. The goal of this project is to improve caregiver knowledge and decrease the rate of device related concerns among the primary caregivers.

METHODS: This project is a single center cross-sectional, pre-post-test implementation design to determine the efficacy of device related concerns education on primary caregivers’ knowledge and concerns. A 16-point device related concerns scale was designed to appraise primary caregiver concerns. The scale …

Regulatory Networks During Seed Development, Ran Tian

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Seeds make up approximately 70% of the human diet directly so understanding regulatory mechanisms to generate a seed and the embryo it contains is fundamentally important. The LAFL genes encode transcription factors (TF) that are critical for seed development. Three members of LAFL, LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2), ABSCISIC ACID3 (ABI3) and FUSCA3 (FUS3), are B3 domain factors that bind DNA motifs called RY motifs. While LEC2 is expressed earlier in embryo development, ABI3 and FUS3 are expressed during later development. All three of these TFs can induce embryo-specific programs after completion of germination to different extents up to and including formation …

The Balancing Act Of Cytokinin In Environmental Stress Tolerance, Sumudu Sandeepani Karunadasa

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Cytokinin, long known as a phytohormone that regulates plant growth and development, has been recently recognized as an important regulator of stress responses. However, our current knowledge about the mechanisms by which cytokinin regulates stress responses is fragmentary, as many of the studies in this field yielded conflicting results. Most of the work described here has focused on analyses of the molecular mechanisms of cytokinin-dependent regulation of growth and development under stress conditions, with an emphasis on the role of cytokinin-dependent regulation of protein synthesis in development and stress tolerance.

One of the important contributions of this study is the …

Internet Jurisdiction: Using Content Delivery Networks To Ascertain Intention, Patrick Lin

LL.M. Essays & Theses

Specific jurisdiction in civil litigation centers on the rather general,yet immutable, concept of intention. Although the word “intention” does not surface prominently in the personal jurisdiction case law, it is clearly intrinsic to the concept of “purposeful availment”. On the Internet, however, intention is hard to ascertain: how does a court, for example, determine whether the defendant intended that its website, application, or advertisement within a mobile application should end up in the forum state? In answering such a question, courts have historically used one of two approaches to establish intent: (i) a targeting test or (ii) a degree of …

E-Regulation, Sharon Yadin

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The new face of the regulatory state is digital. In this era of e-regulation, administrative agencies use social media, web platforms, and mobile applications for regulatory purposes. New forms of online communication now allow regulators to harness public opinion as an enforcement mechanism in such diverse areas as product safety, environmental protection, workplace injury prevention, customer satisfaction in financial services, child safety, restaurant sanitation, and healthcare quality. The use of internet-based naming-and-shaming and data-sharing practices-through tweets, online posts, rankings, scores, star ratings, and other methods-serves to enforce compliance and promote corporate social responsibility. E-regulation constitutes a paradigm shift in government …

Copyright Infringement Standards As They Relate To Appropriation Artists, Kimberly Pallen

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The article examines the application of the "total concept and feel" test established in Roth Greeting Cards v. United Card Co. to determine copyright infringement, particularly in cases involving appropriation artists like Jeff Koons and Richard Prince. It argues that while this test is effective for analyzing substantial similarity in visual arts, it faces limitations when applied to appropriation art, where the original work's mood or feel is not significantly altered. The article highlights the subjective nature of the test and its reliance on visual comparison, which may not adequately address the transformative aspects of appropriation art.

One Consumer’S Trash Is Another’S Treasure: Upcycling’S Place In Trademark Law, Jolie Brett Schenerman

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The note argues that upcycling, the process of creating new, high-value products from salvaged materials, should be protected under trademark law's fair use doctrine. It contends that upcycling, unlike traditional infringement, does not confuse consumers about the source of goods and instead creates transformative works that benefit both sustainability and brand relevance. The analysis draws parallels between upcycling and parody, advocating for similar legal protections, and highlights the evolving relationship between luxury brands and upcyclers, from litigation to collaboration.

Research Participation And Employment For Autistic Individuals In Library And Information Science: A Review Of The Literature, Nancy Everhart, Amelia M. Anderson

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Autism prevalence is growing, and autistic people themselves are important in the library and information science field, both as library patrons and employees. Including them in all stages of research about the neurodivergent experience is valuable, and their input and participation is increasingly used in technology research, particularly usability studies. Neurodivergent persons also have unique abilities that align with a wide array of information professions and accommodations can be made that allow them to thrive in the workplace. It is critical that meaningful involvement of autistic individuals is a component of making policy at all levels.

2020 President’S Message, Philip A. Reed

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The article discusses International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) 2019-2020 President, Michael Sandell, on projects. Topics include ITEEA has collaborating with the STEM Leadership Alliance and other associations such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and National Science Teaching Association; and the views of Executive Director, Steven Barbato, on project.

Improving Classroom Management And Teacher Retention: A Needs Assessment, Jill Stefaniak, Jilian L. Reynolds, Tian Luo

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This case explores how a needs assessment was conducted at a middle school experiencing high rates of teacher turnover. Pamela Frost, an experienced instructional designer, was assigned to assess the situation and identify opportunities to improve professional development opportunities for the teachers. As a part of a needs assessment, Pamela gathered data to address needs pertaining to classroom management challenges, teacher attrition rates, and establishing relations with the local community. This case explores how Pamela gathered data and triangulated her findings to determine what interventions were needed.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) Coverage And Other Expanding Benefit Changes In The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Marketplace: Academic Legal Perspective, Michael C. Duff

All Faculty Scholarship

This paper discusses the increased use of causation presumptions in workers' compensation cases involving firefighters and other first responders. It also considers increasing workers' compensation coverage of post traumatic stress disorder with respect to those same categories of workers. The paper discusses how workers' compensation coverage of certain conditions tends to parallel the growth of potential tort liability, observes that disease presumptions were a feature of early 20th century workers' compensation statutes (and so are not new), and argues that recognition of workers' compensation "mental-mental" claims has been consistent with "zone of danger" expansion of the negligent infliction of emotional …

The Political Viability Of Carbon Pricing: Policy Design And Framing In British Columbia And California, Roger Karapin

Publications and Research

The adoption of climate policies with visible, substantial costs for households is uncommon because of expected political backlash, but British Columbia's carbon tax and California's cap-and-trade program imposed such costs and still survived vigorous opposition. To explain these outcomes, this paper tests hypotheses concerning policy design, framing, energy prices, and elections. It conducts universalizing and variation-finding comparisons across three subcases in the two jurisdictions and uses primary sources to carry out process tracing involving mechanisms of public opinion and elite position taking. The paper finds strong support for the timing of independent energy price changes, exogenous causes of election results, …

Seamless Benchmarking Of Mathematical Optimization Problems And Metadata Extensions, Thiago Serra, Ryan J. O'Neil

Faculty Journal Articles

Public libraries of problems such as Mixed Integer Programming Library (MIPLIB) are fundamental to creating a common benchmark for measuring algorithmic advances across mathematical optimization solvers. They also often provide metadata on problem structure, hardness with respect to state-of-the-art solvers, and solutions with the best objective function value on record. In this short paper, we discuss some ways in which such metadata can be leveraged to create a seamless testing experience. In particular, we present MIPLIBing: a Python library that automatically downloads queried subsets from the current versions of MIPLIB, MINLPLib, and QPLIB, provides a centralized local cache across projects, …

Determination Of Zirconium Oxide Chemistry Through Complementary Characterization Techniques, Corey M. Efaw, Reynolds Michael, Jordan L. Vandegrift, Kassiopeia Smith, Yaqiao Wu, Brian J. Jaques, Hongqiang Hu, Claire Xiong, Michael F. Hurley

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nuclear energy has been increasingly recognized as an effective and low carbon-emission energy source. Nuclear reactors are susceptible to adverse effects, which can lead to potentially severe consequences, though they are low in probability. To ensure safety and improved monitoring of reactors, there have been increasing interests in developing sensors to monitor key parameters relating to the status within a reactor. In order to improve sensor accuracy, high-resolution characterization of cladding materials can be utilized to correlate with sensor output. A common issue with zirconium cladding is the so-called "breakaway phenomenon", a critical factor seen as the transition from an …

Development Of Authentication-Based Captcha Mechanism On Touch Screen Environment, Nilobon Nanglae

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

CAPTCHA is a simple security test that was introduced to distinguish among humans and bots for decades. CAPTCHAs have been widely used on commercial sites, such as email service, and social networking sites, for protecting the system from automated software attackers. However, various techniques have been invented to break CAPTCHA, and one of these techniques is the 3rd party attacks. So, the design of CAPTCHA is unable to distinguish between human users and illegitimate human attackers. Thus, this research proposed a new type of CAPTCHA that is individually generated for an individual user. The proposed technique merges between biometrics and …