Digital Commons Network^™

Out Of Mind: Undergraduate Predictors Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms, Michael S. Lanzaro

Honors Theses

Demographic factors associated with anxiety have been studied extensively and are often characterized by interconnected relationships. These associations between variables provide insight into the predictive ability of anxiety in undergraduate populations. However, few studies if any have investigated the relationships between class level, sex, honors status, and undergraduate specialization as predictors of anxiety among an undergraduate American university sample. The results of this study provide key insight into the psychopathological development of undergraduate students and anxiety levels as it pertains to academic and demographic variables. By using a multiple linear regression analysis, demographic variables of American undergraduate students are compared …

The Quaternion Algebra And Its Connections To Medical Imaging, Eli Q. Brottman

Honors Capstones

Pure mathematics topics have widely been regarded as having few practical applications; however, over time, many applications have arisen. One such application is using the quaternions, an abstract algebraic structure and extension of the complex number system, to enhance image quality. Quaternion numbers take the form z = a + bi + cj + dk, where a, b, c, d are real numbers, and i, j, k are distinct square roots of −1. By having three distinct square roots of −1, rather than just one (as in the standard complex number system), unique mathematical properties and practical uses arise. Quaternions …

Impact Of Hospitalization On Pediatric Patient's Mental Health, Skyler E. Hibbard

Honors Capstones

Hospitalization during childhood can interfere with a child’s progression through the developmental milestones resulting in poor mental and emotional health. Healthcare workers are able to provide care in such a way that supports healthy development if they have proper knowledge regarding the normal stages of development and how hospitalization impacts them. This review will explore the normal stages of development in children from birth until six years of age as well as various elements of hospitalization that interfere with them. Emphasis will be made on specific stressors associated with hospitalization as well as their influence on development and mental health. …

Early Screening Of Postpartum Depression, Mary Ramirez

MSN Capstone Projects

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common pregnancy-related complication affecting over half-million mothers each year in the United States and only 50% of these women seek treatment or even receive a mental health evaluation (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2015; Horowitz & Goodman, 2004). Failure to detect or diagnose PPD can have serious consequences for both mom and baby. Nurses play a key role in discharge teaching and education, which puts them in the perfect position to ensure that adequate referrals are coordinated and to stress the importance of follow-up care to new mothers (Logsdon et al., 2018). Current …

Manf Is Neuroprotective Against Ethanol-Induced Neurodegeneration Through Ameliorating Er Stress, Yongchao Wang, Wen Wen, Hui Li, Marco Clementino, Hong Xu, Mei Xu, Murong Ma, Jacqueline A. Frank, Jia Luo

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a spectrum of developmental disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Neuronal loss or neurodegeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the most devastating features in FASD. It is imperative to delineate the underlying mechanisms to facilitate the treatment of FASD. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a hallmark and an underlying mechanism of many neurodegenerative diseases, including ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) responds to ER stress and has been identified as a protein upregulated in response to ethanol exposure during the brain development. To investigate the role of MANF in …

Mixed Messages: Reading Contemporary U.S. Literature Of Biracial Girlhood, Candice Nicole Hale

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The tragic mulatta character is no longer an accurate representation of biracial female characters in literature. This dissertation considers the vast history of the tragic mulatto genre and its tragic and mired representations of biracial women and how they are often portrayed in literature. Within a historical, legal, and political analysis, I highlight the ways perceptions, attitudes, and representations about biracial individuals have changed, so those same shifts should change in the literature. Because of the bourgeoning field of Critical Mixed Race Studies (CMRS), both scholars and authors are recasting and rewriting the narratives and discourses of mixed-race in the …

How Canadian Farmers Are Extending The Grazing Season--A Research Success Story, Duane H. Mccartney

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Utilisation Of Near Infrared Spectroscopy To Optimise Productivity Of Grazing Animals In The Western Australian Rangelands, Peter Mccafferty, Gaye Krebs, Kevin Ho, Ken Dods, Kumara Mahipala

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Intake And Apparent Digestibility Of Silages Obtained From Four Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) Genotypes, Rogerio M. Mauricio, N. M. Rodriguez, L. C. Gonçalves, D. G. Jayme, J. A. S. Rodrigues, L. F. Sousa, W. G. Faria, G. O. Ribeiro

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

The Wonders Of The Galapagos Islands: Experiential Learning Is Deep Learning, Paul Ax Bologna

Sustainability Seminar Series

Experiential learning is one way of creating deep understanding of subject matter, as well as developing a passion for the field. I have been engaged in leading extended field experiences with students for almost 20 years to ‘immerse’ students in the natural world. In March 2020, Dr. Krumins and I led a group of graduate and undergraduate students to Ecuador to explore and learn about the incredible wildlife and the enduring legacy of revolutionary ideas that this region has generated. Our time in the Galapagos, while short, spanned centuries of scientific thought and millions of years of geologic history. The …

Effect Of Defoliation Frequency And Severity During Winter On Herbage Regrowth And Water‐Soluble Carbohydrate Content Of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne L.) Dominant Swards, Julia M. Lee, D. J. Donaghy, P. Sathish, J. R. Roche

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Productivity And Grazing Capacity Of Cool Season Grasses, H. A. Lardner, C. Ward, L. Froehlich, L. Zemlak

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Model Of Growth Of Grass/White Clover Swards For A Grassland Management Support System, A. Scott Laidlaw

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

"My World During Covid & School @ Csusb", Gingi Ortega

Separated from the Pack: The CSUSB/COVID-19 Digital Collection

Student generated description: “I am donating 3 of my meta writes that each are 30 minute writes in a Micro Soft power point format. So total of an hour and 30 minutes of my thoughts and reflection during stay at home orders during Covid and remote learning. Also I have included photos of my life that I have taken during the pandemic at home."

My Name Is..., Mikayla Stevens

Final Projects

Stories of how people got their first and middle names.

Site Tolerance Of The Rada Intein, Chase Taul, Christopher Lennon Dr

Honors College Theses

Inteins (intervening proteins) invade genes at the DNA level and splice out at the protein level. Once thought of as only a parasitic type of a mobile genetic element, recent work suggests a mutualistic relationship has formed in some cases within bacterial and archaeal hosts. After translation, a precursor protein is formed with the intein between two exteins. The intein is catalytic and can excise itself out through protein splicing. Intein insertion is biased towards the active site of the protein and is thought to cause inactivation of the host protein prior to splicing. Intein splicing is responsive to a …

Survey On Deep Neural Networks In Speech And Vision Systems, M. Alam, Manar D. Samad, Lasitha Vidyaratne, ‪Alexander Glandon, Khan M. Iftekharuddin

Computer Science Faculty Research

This survey presents a review of state-of-the-art deep neural network architectures, algorithms, and systems in speech and vision applications. Recent advances in deep artificial neural network algorithms and architectures have spurred rapid innovation and development of intelligent speech and vision systems. With availability of vast amounts of sensor data and cloud computing for processing and training of deep neural networks, and with increased sophistication in mobile and embedded technology, the next-generation intelligent systems are poised to revolutionize personal and commercial computing. This survey begins by providing background and evolution of some of the most successful deep learning models for intelligent …

Exercise To Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue, Jennifer Watson

MSN Capstone Projects

For the average patient, medical professionals typically recommend exercise to enhance the health of their patients in multiple ways. Oncology patients, however, often have different issues that the treating physicians are more concerned about, so physical activity gets placed on the back burner. The need for exercise in oncology patients is certainly a decision that should be part of an individualized treatment plan, but it is reasonable to believe that most of these patients will benefit from participating in an exercise program. With the high demanding need to decrease chemotherapy side effects and improve lives of those undergoing it, this …

The Neuroinflammatory Effects Of Chronic Unpredictable Stress On Zebrafish, Danio Rerio, Brandon Stewart

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

Stress is a state of threatened homeostasis counteracted by various physiologic and behavioral responses aimed to maintain or restore balance. As such, stress acts as a motivator to perform during the challenges of life to survive. Chronic perturbations to the stress response homeostasis without relief can lead to dysregulation, thus attenuating organ systems and structures and causing significant damage ^{1]. Individuals who undergo psychological trauma endure an acute and transient experience, which results in minimal functional impairment, but some suffer from a chronic condition called posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals who have PTSD are likely to experience intense stress, …

Gambogic Acid Potentiates Gemcitabine Induced Anticancer Activity In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Elham Hatami, Prashanth K. B. Nagesh, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan, Murali M. Yallapu

School of Medicine Publications

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most frequent type of lung cancer accounting up to 80-85% of all lung cancer (LC) cases. Gemcitabine (Gem), a pyrimidine nucleoside antimetabolite, is widely used chemotherapy offering several months survival benefit in patients with NSCLC. The emergence of Gem resistance is a main clinical concern in cancer treatment and thus a continuous demand for development of new therapeutic strategies to improve its antitumor activity. Hence, we report an adjuvant therapeutic regimen based on natural compound, gambogic acid (GA) which has been shown to enhanced Gem induced inhibition of cancer cell growth, arrest cell …

Interview With Laurie Bernadel, Laurie Bernadel

Auntie Sewing Squad Interviews

Laurie Bernadel was born in Queens, New York and raised in North Carolina. Her parents are Haitian immigrants. She attended the University of North Carolina, Charlotte and is now a web developer. Bernadel is a Sewing and Caring Auntie in the Auntie Sewing Squad.

A Case Study On Professional Development: Improving Stem Teaching In K-12 Education, Roshani Rajbanshi, Susan Brown, Gaspard Mucundanyi, Mehmet Ali Ozer, Nicole Delgardo

The Qualitative Report

STEM Outreach Center is a non-profit educational center in southern New Mexico that supports K-12 STEM teachers and students by providing professional development, after school programs, summer camps, and field visits. This center has been organizing the Summer Institute Professional Development (SIPD) for more than ten years. The purpose of this research is to understand the effect of SIPD on teachers’ pedagogy to excite and engage students in STEM learning. This study contributes to the program evaluation by analyzing the experiences of teachers who participated in SIPD. This qualitative study uses the open-ended questionnaire as a method of data collection. …

Test Anxiety Among Foreign Language Learners: A Qualitative Study, Selami Aydin, Ferdane Denkci Akkaş, Tülin Türnük, Asiye Baştürk Beydilli, İlknur Saydam

The Qualitative Report

Test anxiety is a strong predictor of achievement in English as a foreign language (EFL) learning process and has considerable influences on proficiency in the target language. Research also has not reached a consensus on the sources and the effects of test anxiety. This study aims to examine the sources of test anxiety among foreign language learners, to find the effects of test anxiety on EFL learners, and explore the strategies used by learners to overcome test anxiety. The sample group of the study consisted of 57 students studying EFL at a preparatory school of a state university in Turkey. …

Pd-L1 Expression On Circulating Tumor Cells May Be Predictive Of Response To Pembrolizumab In Advanced Melanoma: Results From A Pilot Study, Muhammad K. Khattak, Anna L. Reid, James Freeman, Michelle Pereira, Ashleigh Mcevoy, Johnny Lo, Markus Frank, Tarek Meniawy, Ali Didan, Isaac Spencer, Benhur Amanuel, Michael Millward, Mel Ziman, Elin Gray

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

BACKGROUND: PD-1 inhibitors are routinely used for the treatment of advanced melanoma. This study sought to determine whether PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can serve as a predictive biomarker of clinical benefit and response to treatment with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab.

METHODS: Blood samples were collected from patients with metastatic melanoma receiving pembrolizumab, prior to treatment and 6-12 weeks after initiation of therapy. Multiparametric flow cytometry was used to identify CTCs and evaluate the expression of PD-L1.

RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 25 of 40 patients (63%). Patients with detectable PD-L1

CONCLUSION: Our results reveal the potential of …

Diet And Successful Aging, Jamie Baum

Diet, Food, Exercise, and Nutrition (D-FEND)

Learning Objectives:

Define successful aging

Understand the components of successful aging

Learn diets and dietary patterns for successful aging

Physical activity and successful aging

Rwu Professor Contributes To United Nations' First Global Soil Biodiversity Report, Jill Rodrigues

Featured News Story

An expert in soil ecology, Loren Byrne shares his research on urbanization and soil management in global study.

The Assist Lab: Exploring Perspectives, Successes, Tensions, And Struggles When Supporting Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities In Inclusive Postsecondary Education Settings, Nathan Mc Coy, Calina Drakulic

VIP 2020

Exploring perspectives, successes, tensions, and struggles when supporting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in inclusive postsecondary education settings.

Has Neofunctionalization Through Promoter Element Differentiation Driven Drought-Adaptation In Artemisia Tridentata?, Walker Morales, Jim Beck, Anthony Melton, Sven Buerki

VIP 2020

Artemisia tridentata is an ecologically important shrub in dry habitats of western North America. This species has a large, complex genome due to an evolutionary history with hybridization and whole genome duplications. Aquaporins are an important family of genes that function in water transport. We hypothesize that whole genome duplications in Artemisia tridentata may have allowed for neofunctionalization of Aquaporin genes, allowing for greater drought adaptation. To test this hypothesis, aquaporins in the Artemisia tridentata and Artemisia annua genomes were identified via a BLAST search. Afterward, the upstream promoters were obtained and categorized by categories obtained from a PCA based …

Development Of An In Vitro Method Of Propagation For Artemisia Tridentata Subsp. Tridentata To Support Genome Sequencing And Genotype-By-Environment Research, Hunter Clark, Peggy Martinez, Rachael Barron, Marcelo Serpe, Sven Buerki

VIP 2020

Basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata) is a keystone species of the sagebrush steppe, a widespread ecosystem of western North America threatened by climate change. The study's goal was to develop an in vitro method of propagation for this taxon to support genome sequencing and genotype-by-environment research on drought tolerance. Suchresearch may ultimately facilitate the reintroduction of big sagebrush in degraded habitats. Effects of IBA and NAA on rooting of shoot tips were tested on 45 individuals and 15 shoot tips per individual. Growth regulator and individual-seedling effects on percent rooting and roots per shoot tip were …

G2pminer: A Genome To Phenome Literature Review Approach, John M.A. Wojahn, Stephanie Galla, Sven Buerki

VIP 2020

In this research we aim to develop G2PMineR, a free and open-source R-package literature mining tool that uses C-style string manipulation techniques to facilitate establishing G2P hypotheses for non-model organisms. This approach allows processing tens of thousands of abstracts in a matter of hours. It is highly efficient and unbiased, empowering researchers to draw conclusions linking genes to phenotypes that they otherwise would have missed or not had the time to explore.