Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Ototoxic Chemicals And Occupational Exposure To Humans, Kim M. Gonzalez

Integrated Studies

The primary aim of this capstone paper was to review and examine previous works of literature on the effects of ototoxic organic solvents and various heavy metals on the auditory structure due to occupational exposure. Additionally, the research also focused on identifying work environments, which are characterized by such ototoxic toxins. The method for picking organic solvents and heavy metals encompassed the existing data that signified that such chemical substances could induce auditory challenges among workers in divergent work settings. Furthermore, the ambiguities of the publications were also extensively considered before they could be incorporated in this research. References to …

Major U.S. Pandemics A Century Apart: Preparedness And The Socioeconomic Impact Of 1918 Influenza And 2020 Covid-19, Anna Sofia Bryant

Integrated Studies

Examining the U.S. public health response during the 1918 Influenza and 2020 COVID-19 pandemics is instructive to charting a better course of action for future outbreaks. To know where we are going, it often helps to look at where we have been and then take strategic and corrective action. This is especially true when considering structural remedies for poor and minority populations who have been disproportionately affected by health crises, both historically and in the present era, due to a variety of social and economic health determinants. Preventable deaths in nursing homes, unilateral closures of schools, businesses, and churches, and …

Interracial Relationships: The History, Growth, And Effects On Individuals And Society, Alison Kerney

Integrated Studies

Interracial relationships are an often overlooked and misunderstood issue in the United States as well as in other countries. The percentage of these relationships are on the rise, not only involving African Americans and Caucasians, but also Latinos and Asians as well. A thorough study of the cultural concepts of interracial relationships will involve first defining the issue, looking at the prevalence and taking note of trends, reviewing the history and laws that brought this issue to the forefront, and thoroughly examining the positive and negative effects on individuals and society. The research on interracial marriages will help to increase …

The Effects Of Performance Enhancing Drugs In Sports: Legal And Illegal, Eric Johanning

Integrated Studies

This paper offers valuable information that will inform readers about the effects that come with regularly ingesting dietary and performance enhancing drugs and supplements. The paper goes into depth of specific supplements, concerning what the common man or woman believes the supplement does, versus what the supplement is advertised to do. The paper will provide information on certain test trails performed by others as supporting evidence on how the supplement being discussed plays a role in performance enhancement. The motivation behind this paper is to inform young athletes, or any athlete who considers themselves to be uninformed when it comes …

Vermiculture: A Viable Solution For Sustainable Agriculture, Heather Staggs

Integrated Studies

Abstract

Vermiculture is the cultivation of worms to produce compost. Worm farming for agricultural purposes uses specific worms that consume the organic waste in which they live and breed. Vermicomposting is biotechnology for the conversion of wastes into nutrient-rich agriculture amendments. The application of these amendments can improve the physical, biological, and chemical properties of the soil. Worm excrement enhances soil health, which improves plant health. When our plant and crop performance are enhanced, we see increased yields and improved quality. Vermicompost can boost crop production without the synthetic fertilizers that pollute our environment and decrease the health of people …

The Importance Of Play In Early Childhood Education, Addye Sawyers, Addye Olivia Sawyers

Integrated Studies

While the origins and purpose of childhood play has been discovered and documented for some time, the inclusion of play in early childhood education is a concept which has not found its way into the core structure of early childhood classrooms until more recent years. As the need for early learning programs continues to grow, so does the need for developmentally appropriate and beneficial early childhood learning intervention. In this paper, we will review prominent theories and recent research on stages of childhood development and learning, the purpose of early childhood education in the U.S., the nature of play and …

Safety In Industrial And Occupational Settings, Dylan Hicks

Integrated Studies

Safety procedures and standards in the workplace have adapted to encompass a large variety of different hazards and threats in the workplace. Psychological and physical hazards are sometimes difficult to detect but are essential to understanding and researching different protective methods for limiting bodily harm to an individual. Federal and state agencies have been established for the purpose of creating, testing, and regulating the new safety standards as well as revising old measure as new technology and research arise that provide better results. The main categories that are at high risk for causing harm are chemical, biological, fire, air quality, …

Esg Investing: Past, Present, Future, And Why You Should Care, Amy L. Harvey

Integrated Studies

This paper discusses ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) investing, also known as socially responsible investing, green investing, and ethical investing. This paper will inform the reader on the past, present, and future of ESG investing. It will dive deeper into each category and discuss the correlation between the issues and investing principles. Different business philosophies will be compared along with corporate responsibility. The pros and cons of ESG rating systems will be discussed and reviewed. This paper will answer if ESG investing is profitable for the business and help determine the impact it has on our planet.

The Ineffectiveness Of The War On Drugs, Tristen Miller

Integrated Studies

The War on Drugs does not improve health and public safety, but rather serves as a tool of institutional racism and militarism. Despite increased spending on drug enforcement efforts, rates of incarceration and overdose deaths remain high. Through analyzing research done on arrest records in areas such as the state of California; Seattle, Washington; and New Haven, Connecticut, the disparity in arrests of black and white Americans becomes apparent. Additionally, analyzing the effectiveness of War on Drugs policies in Afghanistan, Colombia, and Mexico, reveals ulterior motives for American military intervention. Military intervention and incarceration have proven ineffective at addressing the …

Mast Cell Infiltration Of Cannabigerol Treated Methionine/Choline Deficient Diet Induced Mice Nash Model, Agathe Jacobsen

2021 Undergraduate Presentations

No abstract provided.

Metacognitive Prompting To Foster Evaluating Skills For Biochemistry Students, Quinn Cochrane-Zipp, Amber Heidbrink, Melissa Weinrich

2021 Undergraduate Presentations

No abstract provided.

Effect On Hypo/Hyper-Methylation Rates On Genome Regions Cdkn1a, Bmal1, Nr1c3, And Pnpla3 With Cbg Implementation Utilizing A Mice Model With Mcd Diet To Induce Nash, Dawson Budke

2021 Undergraduate Presentations

No abstract provided.

Understanding And Improving Coordination Efficiency In The Minimum Effort Game: Counterfactual- And Behavioral-Based Nudging And Cognitive Modeling, Alexander R. Hough

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Individuals often need to coordinate with others to pursue and achieve goals. However, individuals often fail to coordinate on any choice or on efficient (i.e., higher reward) choices. Researchers addressing coordination failure often used invasive methods ranging in complexity and generalizability with minimal success. There are also no clear measures for coordination behaviors. Here, I used a more parsimonious and generalizable method: Using counterfactuals (i.e., hypothetical outcomes had they or other players chosen differently) to nudge (i.e., indirectly guide and allow for free choice) individuals towards choosing options that are more likely to result in efficient coordination. I simulated a …

Power Scaling Of Ice Floe Sizes In The Weddell Sea, Southern Ocean, Tristan J. Coffey

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The cumulative number versus floe area distribution of seasonal ice floes from four satellite images covering the Summer season (November - February) in the Weddell Sea Antarctica during the summer breakup and melting is fit by two scale-invariant power scaling regimes for the floe areas ranging from 7 to 20 x 108 m2. Scaling exponents, β, for larger floe areas range from -1.5 to -1.7 with an average of -1.6 for floe areas ranging from 6 x 106 to 55 x 107 m2. Scaling exponents, β, for smaller floe areas range from -0.8 to -0.9 with an average of -0.85 …

Nmr Metabolomics For Optimizing Cell-Free Protein Synthesis, Angela M. Campo

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Cell-Free Protein Synthesis (CFPS) has been utilized by biochemists to produce a variety of chemicals and therapeutics. While CFPS has spawned research in the biochemistry and medical communities, there are still unknown issues with interlaboratory variability with the technique. This work explored the black box nature of CFPS reactions by analyzing the CFPS reactions in situ with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Aim 1 developed the protocol for conducting NMR experiments on E. coli cell-free reactions as well as a data analysis pipeline. This was accomplished with 1H NMR, capturing metabolite changes over time. The 1D NOESY experiment proved to …

The Intersection Of Crude Palm Oil & Deforestation: A Sustainability Analysis, Amelia Olsen

Honors Projects in Science and Technology

In recent years, palm oil has gained international attention as an efficient, versatile, and inexpensive oil, and is now an ingredient in 50% of items in the grocery store. As a result, there has been an increase in complaints regarding the environmental impact stemming from the production of palm oil, including those of deforestation and harmful emissions. In response to these complaints, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was created to certify palm oil that meets certain criteria, (including being produced without an element of deforestation) as sustainable. Now, the RSPO certifies over 3.09 million hectares of palm oil …

Undergraduate Catalogue 2019- 2021

Tennessee State University Undergraduate Catalogues

No abstract provided.

2020 Touro College & University System Faculty Publications, Touro College & University System

Faculty Publications Books

2020 edition of the Faculty Publications Book of the Touro College & University System. This bibliography contains the published works of TCUS affiliated authors during 2020, arranged by academic unit.

Can Robotic Exoskeletons Improve Gait In Ms Patients?, Chana Weinberg

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder that affects about one million people in the United States. The disease results from an abnormal immune response where T cells damage the myelin sheath in the central nervous system, causing scarring. The lesions can occur in any part of the brain or spinal cord, and thus affects every patient differently. One of the most detrimental effects the disease has on patients’ lives is the decreased ability to walk. There has been research and treatments to manage pain and slow progression of the disease, but little progress has been made to enable MS …

Fenamates As Potential Therapeutics For Neurodegenerative Disorders, Jaunetta Hill, Nasser H. Zawia

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Neurodegenerative disorders are desperately lacking treatment options. It is imperative that drug repurposing be considered in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases. Fenamates have been studied for efficacy in treating several neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively present the past and current research on fenamates in the context of neurodegenerative diseases with a special emphasis on tolfenamic acid and Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, this review discusses the major molecular pathways modulated by fenamates.

Potentiation Of Recombinant Np And M1-Induced Cellular Immune Responses And Protection By Physical Radiofrequency Adjuvant, Yibo Li, Zhoufan Li, Yiwen Zhao, Xinyuan Chen

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix protein 1 (M1) are highly conserved among influenza A viruses and have been attractive targets to develop vaccines to elicit cross-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Yet, external antigens are often presented on major histocompatibility complex class II molecules and elicit humoral immune responses. In this study, we present a physical radiofrequency adjuvant (RFA) to assist recombinant NP and M1 to elicit potent CTL responses. We found recombinant NP/M1 immunization in the presence of RFA could elicit potent anti-NP CTLs and confer significant protection against homologous viral challenges, while NP/M1 immunization alone failed to elicit significant CTL …

Extracellular Vesicles From Uvb Irradiated Keratinocytes Contain Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers, Meghana Reddy Ginugu

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in genomic DNA, which are normally removed by nucleotide excision repair. However, the fate of these adducts remain largely unexplored. Detection of these photoproducts in body fluids could act as a predictor of UV exposure and enable a better understanding of the pathogenesis of photosensitive skin diseases, such as lupus. Using cultured human keratinocytes exposed to UVB radiation in vitro, ultracentrifugation of cell culture supernatants, and immunodot blot analysis of isolated DNA, we have found that a small fraction of CPDs is released from cells in a dose- and …

Potential Drug Treatment For Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Which Could Be Through Upregulation Of Lipin1, Rajsi Y. Thaker

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder leading to progressive muscle degeneration and weakness due to mutation in dystrophin gene, which is very important for maintaining muscle membrane integrity. Dystrophin is the largest gene in the human genome therefore more prone to mutation. There is currently no cure for DMD. Our lab recently found that Lipin1 deficient myofibers showed upregulation of necroptosis correlated with the loss of muscle membrane integrity. Our primary approach for ameliorating dystrophic phenotype in DMD is through reduction of necroptosis using drugs which can potentially upregulate Lipin1 expression. In this study, we identified two drugs …

Relapse Prevention Planning With Clients, Grace E. Larsen

Counselor Education Capstones

Addiction is a common disease; about 21 million Americans have at least one addiction (Addiction Statistics, 2021). However, only about ten percent of Americans with an addiction receive treatment. Treatment comes in many forms including medication, therapy, coping skills, support systems, and other interventions. This paper emphasizes the importance of relapse prevention and the benefits it can provide in addition to treatment. Relapse prevention is based on a cognitive-behavioral approach to therapy and while it is considered to be a form of tertiary prevention, this paper argues that relapse prevention should be seen as a method of primary prevention. Several …

Structure Based Optimization Of Benzimidazole 4-Carboxamide Scaffold Led To Picomolar Poly(Adp-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors, Griffin J. Coate

Theses and Dissertations

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is one of several proteins in the PARP superfamily consisting of 17 proteins with a conserved ART domain. Out of the 17 total proteins, 6 show clear evidence of catalytic activity. These 6 proteins are comprised of PARP1 through PARP4 as well as TNKS1 and TNKS2. PARP1 is thoroughly characterized and has been implicated for its role in various forms of cancer. Due to the role PARP1 plays in the DNA repair pathway, targeting PARP1 for inhibition has led to two distinct anticancer strategies. The first focusing on combinatorial drug therapy with a DNA damaging anticancer …

Outcomes Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Latinx Youth: Considering The Role Of Adverse Childhood Events And Resilience, Stephanie D'Costa, Andrea Rodriguez, Stephanie Grant, Mayra Hernandez, Joaquin Alvarez Bautista, Quinn Houchin, Ashley Brown, Anthony Calcagno

Kalmanovitz School of Education Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Ch. 27: There Is No Evolutionary "Obstetrical Dilemma", Holly M. Dunsworth

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Is Violence, Violence No Matter Where It Strikes? Adjudicated Boys, Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, And Acquired Capability For Suicide, Judy Van Wyk

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

This study explores treating violence against others as a precursor to self-directed violence. It tests the utility of including violence against others in the measure of acquired capability to test assumptions from the interpersonal theory of violence. Four theoretical hypotheses are assessed that are consistent with the theory: (1) thwarted belongingness (parental abandonment and rejection) and perceived burdensomeness (exposure to parental interpersonal violence and child abuse) independently increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation; (2) the interaction of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness increases the likelihood of suicidal ideation controlling for other pertinent variables; (3) the three-way interaction of thwarted belongingness, …

An Examination Of Sex Distributions In Umm An-Nar Tombs From Bronze Age Arabia Using The Distal Humerus, Charles Downey, Silvio Ernesto Mirabal Torres, Lesley A. Gregoricka, Jaime M. Ullinger

Year 1: AAPA 2021 – virtual

Background: Umm an-Nar (2700-2000 BCE) communal tombs from southeastern Arabia contain human skeletal remains characterized by extensive commingling and variable degrees of burning. Because of this, few bioarchaeological studies have been conducted examining the proportions of males to females in these monumental tombs. We hypothesized that increased social stratification in the late Umm an-Nar period would lead to a higher number of males interred in Umm an-Nar tombs over time.

Methods: To estimate sex, we measured four features of the distal humeri from tombs Unar 1 (2400-2200 BCE) and Unar 2 (2300-2100 BCE). Heat-induced changes to bone from cremation were …

Mni And Sex Estimation In Two Umm An-Nar Tombs From The Uae, Jaime M. Ullinger, Lesley A. Gregoricka, Chaylee Arellano, Quentin Burke, Victoria Calvin, Charlie Downey, Rachel Heil, Alyssa Mcgrath, Silvio Ernesto Mirabal Torres, Jeremy Simmons

Year 1: AAPA 2021 – virtual

Commingled tombs are often overlooked in bioarchaeological studies because of the difficult nature of analysis, despite their prevalence across the ancient world. Tombs Unar 1 (U1) and Unar 2 (U2), located in the United Arab Emirates, date to the Umm an-Nar period (2700-2000 BCE), when people witnessed shifts in mortuary practices likely reflective of broader changes in subsistence and social organization. A collaborative project that trains undergraduates in anthropological research has examined tomb membership for U1 and U2 by estimating MNI and sex. Despite early descriptions of U1 and U2 holding similar numbers of individuals, this project found that MNI …