Digital Commons Network^™

Ucc Minutes 12-5-23, Angela Brock

UCC Agendas/Minutes

No abstract provided.

Development Of An App For The Kalamazoo Nature Center, Ernest Au

Honors Theses

Kalamazoo Nature Center (KNC), which has been recognized by its peers as one of the top nature centers in the country, is home to over 14 miles of hiking trails winding through woods, wetlands, and prairies. There are numerous places/plots in KNC that have an interesting and impressive history besides being home to a variety of animals and hundreds of wildflowers and other plant life. To improve the visitor’s experience at KNC, we will design a software app via the senior capstone project at the department of Computer Science at WMU. As the first step towards establishing a reference model …

The Public Performativity Of Trust, Lynette Hammond Gerido

Faculty Scholarship

Building trust between academic medical centers and certain communities they depend on in the research process is hard, particularly when those communities consist of minoritized or historically marginalized populations. Some believe that engagement activities like the creation of advisory boards, town halls, or a research workforce that looks more like community members will establish or reestablish trust between academic medical centers and racialized communities. However, without systematic approaches to dismantle racism, those well-intended actions become public performativity, and trust building will fail. In this essay, we draw upon foundational ethical principles of trust, distrust, and trust building; apply the concept …

Microbiome-Enabled Genomic Selection Improves Prediction Accuracy For Nitrogen-Related Traits In Maize, Zhikai Yang, Tianjing Zhao, Hao Cheng, Jinliang Yang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Root-associated microbiomes in the rhizosphere (rhizobiomes) are increasingly known to play an important role in nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and disease resistance of plants. However, it remains largely unclear to what extent these rhizobiomes contribute to trait variation for different genotypes and if their inclusion in the genomic selection protocol can enhance prediction accuracy. To address these questions, we developed a microbiome-enabled genomic selection method that incorporated host SNPs and amplicon sequence variants from plant rhizobiomes in a maize diversity panel under high and low nitrogen (N) field conditions. Our cross-validation results showed that the microbiome-enabled genomic selection model significantly …

Emerging Trends In Wheat (Triticum Spp.) Breeding: Implications For The Future, Mujahid Alam, P. Stephen Baenziger, Katherine Anna Frels

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Wheat (Triticum spp and, particularly, T. aestivum L.) is an essential cereal with increased human and animal nutritional demand. Therefore, there is a need to enhance wheat yield and genetic gain using modern breeding technologies alongside proven methods to achieve the necessary increases in productivity. These modern technologies will allow breeders to develop improved wheat cultivars more quickly and efficiently. This review aims to highlight the emerging technological trends used worldwide in wheat breeding, with a focus on enhancing wheat yield. The key technologies for introducing variation (hybridization among the species, synthetic wheat, and hybridization; genetically modified wheat; transgenic …

A Prototype Of Simple Implantable Optofluidic Device Enabled By 3d Printing Technology, Yu Chang

Theses

Superhydrophobic surface-based optofluidics have been introduced to biosensors and unconventional optics recently with unique advantages such as dynamic adjustable optical properties, low light loss, and high versatility. Most of these platforms were manufactured by Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing technology and usually need to be further packaged or sealed. Although the MEMS-based technology is prone to make an integrated device containing sensing and electronic components, the technology may constrain the design of the morphology of the featured structures. For example, it was hard to manufacture a three-dimensional, fully enclosed round channel with complex structures along the inner surface. The limitations could …

A Literature Review On Thermogenesis As A Prospective Obesity Treatment, Kellyn Sheppard

Senior Honors Theses

The disease of obesity has quickly escalated from an epidemic to a worldwide pandemic in the last few decades, and viable treatment methods are being investigated with urgency. One such treatment method is increased induction of the thermogenesis pathway that is active in brown adipose tissue. This pathway is typically activated in mammals when they are exposed to cold temperatures for extended periods of time but can also be induced exogenously. Thermogenesis is a metabolically inefficient process that occurs in the mitochondria of a cell, meaning it uses substrate energy without generating ATP. The inefficiency of this process allows excess …

Chromosome 10q2432 Variants Associate With Brain Arterial Diameters In Diverse Populations: A Genome-Wide Association Study, Minghua Liu, Farid Khasiyev, Sanjeev Sariya, Antonio Spagnolo-Allende, Danurys L Sanchez, Howard Andrews, Qiong Yang, Alexa Beiser, Ye Qiao, Emy A Thomas, Jose Rafael Romero, Tatjana Rundek, Adam M Brickman, Jennifer J Manly, Mitchell Sv Elkind, Sudha Seshadri, Christopher Chen, Saima Hilal, Bruce A Wasserman, Giuseppe Tosto, Myriam Fornage, Jose Gutierrez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Brain arterial diameters (BADs) are novel imaging biomarkers of cerebrovascular disease, cognitive decline, and dementia. Traditional vascular risk factors have been associated with BADs, but whether there may be genetic determinants of BADs is unknown.

Methods and results: The authors studied 4150 participants from 6 geographically diverse population-based cohorts (40% European, 14% African, 22% Hispanic, 24% Asian ancestries). Brain arterial diameters for 13 segments were measured and averaged to obtain a global measure of BADs as well as the posterior and anterior circulations. A genome-wide association study revealed 14 variants at one locus associated with global BAD at genome-wide …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Instructional Practices For English Language Learners Implemented During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Loubna El Bdaoui

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Overcoming Foreign Language Anxiety In An Emotionally Intelligent Tutoring System, Daneih Ismail

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

Learning a foreign language entails cognitive and emotional obstacles. It involves complicated mental processes that affect learning and emotions. Positive emotions such as motivation, encouragement, and satisfaction increase learning achievement, while negative emotions like anxiety, frustration, and confusion may reduce performance. Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) is a specific type of anxiety accompanying learning a foreign language. It is considered a main impediment that hinders learning, reduces achievements, and diminishes interest in learning.

Detecting FLA is the first step toward reducing and eventually overcoming it. Previously, researchers have been detecting FLA using physical measurements and self-reports. Using physical measures is direct …

Red Ginger's Anti-Anxiety Effect On Balb/C Strain Mice (Mus Musculus) Pro-Inflammatory And Anti-Inflammatory Measurements As Anxiety Model, Ira Aini Dania, Aldy Safruddin Rambe, Urip Harahap, Elmeida Effendy, Tuti Wahmurti, Syafruddin Ilyas, Muhammad Rusda, Mustafa Mahmud Amin

Baghdad Science Journal

There is a correlation between the occurrence of anxiety and the production of inflammatory mediators, and red ginger rhizome is a well-known herbal product with a high content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds that can be used as anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. The aim of study to evaluate the effect of red ginger as antianxiety in mice (Mus musculus) BALB/c strain by measuring levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10. Anxiety model mice were carried out by giving treatment with the Forced Swimming Test (FST) for 7 days then assessed by carrying out the Elevated Plus Maze for Mice (EPM) test for …

Enhancing Smart Cities With Iot And Cloud Computing: A Study On Integrating Wireless Ad Hoc Networks For Efficient Communication, Haider Mohammed Abdulhadi, Yousra Abdul Alsahib S. Aldeen, Maryam A. Yousif, Mays Jalal Jaseem, Syed Hamid Hussain Madni

Baghdad Science Journal

Smart cities have recently undergone a fundamental evolution that has greatly increased their potentials. In reality, recent advances in the Internet of Things (IoT) have created new opportunities by solving a number of critical issues that are allowing innovations for smart cities as well as the creation and computerization of cutting-edge services and applications for the many city partners. In order to further the development of smart cities toward compelling sharing and connection, this study will explore the information innovation in smart cities in light of the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing (CC). IoT data is first collected …

Indoor/Outdoor Deep Learning Based Image Classification For Object Recognition Applications, Omar Abdullatif Jassim, Mohammed Jawad Abed, Zenah Hadi Saied

Baghdad Science Journal

With the rapid development of smart devices, people's lives have become easier, especially for visually disabled or special-needs people. The new achievements in the fields of machine learning and deep learning let people identify and recognise the surrounding environment. In this study, the efficiency and high performance of deep learning architecture are used to build an image classification system in both indoor and outdoor environments. The proposed methodology starts with collecting two datasets (indoor and outdoor) from different separate datasets. In the second step, the collected dataset is split into training, validation, and test sets. The pre-trained GoogleNet and MobileNet-V2 …

Synthesis, Characterization And Properties Of Trimethylolpropane Triesters From Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Methyl Esters, Aliru Olajide Mustapha, Sofiat Omowumi Rasaq, Mukaila Tunde Raimi, Suliat Kemi Amisu, Faimot Peju Bello, Yemisi Tokunbo Afolabi, Dayo Oshilaru

Baghdad Science Journal

In this study, the acid-alkaline transesterification of refined coconut seed oil (RCOSO) to fatty acid methyl ester was followed by the production of a trimethylolpropane-based thermosensitive biolubricant using potassium hydroxide, and its physicochemical characteristics were evaluated. The American Standard Test for Materials (ASTM) was employed to ascertain the biolubricant's pour point and index of viscosity, which were found to be -4 oC and 283.75, respectively. The opposite connection between lubricant viscosity and temperature was shown by the measured viscosities at varied transesterification to be transformed into biodiesel. Following this, a biolubricant was created by further transesterifiedtemperature. The ester group is …

Cytotoxic Activities, Determining Toxin, And Molecular Docking Of Ovary Pufferfish (Tetraodon Leiurus) In Singkarak Lake As Cancer Chemoprevention Candidate, Dewi Imelda Roesma, Djong Hon Tjong, Monica Mulnia Hanif

Baghdad Science Journal

The primary toxin class discovered in freshwater pufferfish is a category of neurotoxins called PSTs (Paralytic shellfish toxins) and pufferfish toxin has been observed to have biological, biochemical, and cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the cytotoxic activity, toxins present in the ovary of T. leiurus, and interaction between ligand (toxin compound) and receptors test. This study used the MTT method in the T47D cell lines, liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and analysis of the molecular interaction using molecular docking. The ovary of T. leiurus had cytotoxicity on the T47D cell, having an IC50 …

Dna Methylation-Mediated Rbpjk Suppression Protects Against Fracture Nonunion Caused By Systemic Inflammation, Ding Xiao, Liang Fang, Zhongting Liu, Yonghua He, Jun Ying, Haocheng Qin, Aiwu Lu, Meng Shi, Tiandao Li, Bo Zhang, Jianjun Guan, Cuicui Wang, Yousef Abu-Amer, Jie Shen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Challenging skeletal repairs are frequently seen in patients experiencing systemic inflammation. To tackle the complexity and heterogeneity of the skeletal repair process, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing and revealed that progenitor cells were one of the major lineages responsive to elevated inflammation and this response adversely affected progenitor differentiation by upregulation of Rbpjk in fracture nonunion. We then validated the interplay between inflammation (via constitutive activation of Ikk2, Ikk2ca) and Rbpjk specifically in progenitors by using genetic animal models. Focusing on epigenetic regulation, we identified Rbpjk as a direct target of Dnmt3b. Mechanistically, inflammation decreased Dnmt3b expression in progenitor cells, …

From Mother To Infant, From Placenta To Gut: Understanding Varied Microbiome Profiles In Neonates, Riadh Cheddadi, Venkata Yeramilli, Colin Martin

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The field of human microbiome and gut microbial diversity research has witnessed a profound transformation, driven by advances in omics technologies. These advancements have unveiled essential connections between microbiome alterations and severe conditions, prompting the development of new frameworks through epidemiological studies. Traditionally, it was believed that each individual harbored unique microbial communities acquired early in life, evolving over the course of their lifetime, with little acknowledgment of any prenatal microbial development, but recent research challenges this belief. The neonatal microbiome's onset, influenced by factors like delivery mode and maternal health, remains a subject of intense debate, hinting at potential …

Word Made Flesh: Biblicality In Cormac Mccarthy's Appalacian Novels, Brett Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

McCarthy’s Appalachian novels in particular, beginning with his first novel The Orchard Keeper in 1965, show the outline of biblicality, a concept which entails the use of religious imagery, the employment of biblical language, the interplay between religious and secular elements, the profound impact of Appalachian landscapes, along with the thematic exploration of faith, morality, and the human condition. Outer Dark (1968), Child of God (1972), Suttree (1979), and The Road (2005), expound, in more detail, upon these ideas through the use of the themes of darkness, light, and objects of divinity, outsiders, and suicide. McCarthy’s Appalachian novels, showcase biblicality …

Making The Rounds, 1995, V1 N3, October 9, Advocate Aurora Health

Historical Documents - Combined

The Park Ridge Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Making the Rounds in Health, Faith, & Ethics", a publication from The Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith and Ethics, associated with Lutheran General Hospital. This issue features a report on the possibility of a baboon-to-human bone marrow transplant as a possible therapy for HIV/AIDS patients, as well as medical news, and an essay from a chaplain.

Making The Rounds, 1995, V1 N6, November 20, Advocate Aurora Health

Historical Documents - Combined

The Park Ridge Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Making the Rounds in Health, Faith, & Ethics", a publication from The Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith and Ethics, associated with Lutheran General Hospital. This issue features a personal essay about caring for a parent, medical news, a book review, and various viewpoints on rehabilitation and managed care.

Making The Rounds, 1996, V1 N9, January 15, Advocate Aurora Health

Historical Documents - Combined

The Park Ridge Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Making the Rounds in Health, Faith, & Ethics", a publication from The Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith and Ethics, associated with Lutheran General Hospital. This issue features an essay about receiving complementary medicine during cancer treatment, and responses to the essay.

Making The Rounds, 1996, V1 N13, March 11, Advocate Aurora Health

Historical Documents - Combined

The Park Ridge Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Making the Rounds in Health, Faith, & Ethics", a publication from The Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith and Ethics, associated with Lutheran General Hospital. This issue features a personal essay about chronic illness, responses to the essay, and medical news.

Euthanizing The Profoundly Mentally Incapacitated: A Simple Economic Analysis, Bernard A. Eskandari

Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy

No abstract provided.

Microplastics, Macro-Problems: Abundance Of Man-Made Materials In The Waters And Sediments Of Florida State Parks, Luciana M. Banquero, Kate Mclendon, Andres Alatorre, Mackenzie Daniels, Savanna Freeman, Cassidy Starke, Katherine Harris, Sidney J. Busch

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Man-made materials (MMM) are pollutants introduced to the environment by human activity. Microplastics (MP) are a type of MMM that threaten living organisms through bioaccumulation. The term MMM also encompasses pollutants produced from natural materials, such as rayon and microfibrillated cellulose, which are used in food packaging. This study aims to determine the extent of MMM pollution within estuaries in two of Florida’s state parks, as well as the effectiveness of using restored vegetation on shorelines to reduce MMM pollution. Tomoka State Park and Gamble Rogers State Park were selected at the request of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. …

Determining The Extent Of Pioneer Mangrove Acidification On Intertidal Oyster Reefs, Cindy Whitten, Andres Alatorre, Nicole Campbell, Savanna Freeman, Sydney Henderson, Kate Mclendon, Connor Wright, June Davison, Madison Ganci, Katherine Harris

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) stretches 251 kilometers along Florida’s east coast and is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America. Mosquito Lagoon, the northernmost portion of the IRL, is home to mangroves and intertidal oyster reefs that provide numerous ecosystem services. These two habitats are overlapping as climate change drives mangroves poleward. Scientists have documented mangrove expansion and the transition of oyster reef habitat to mangrove islands. Past studies have shown large, adult mangrove stands drive soil acidification. The goal of this study was to understand if stand-alone, or pioneer, Rhizophora mangle (red mangroves) and Avicennia germinans …

When Cooking Sous Vide, Do Different Bags Change The Color Reading Of The Spectrophotometer?, Kathryn Beard, Thomas Powell

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Meat color changes over the course of cooking and storage. Companies for many years now have been measuring the color changes of meats when both cooking and storing over a period of time. When it comes to packaging there are two ways to measure color, through the packaging or by taking the meat out and measuring. Measuring the meat in the bag allows you to keep the process of whatever you are studying going, without ruining it by taking the meat out of the bag. The purpose of this project was to see if using different kinds of film cooking …

On The Freedom To Associate Or Not To Associate With Others, Thomas Kleven

Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy

No abstract provided.

Role Of Identity In Peace Process: A Re-Interpretation Of The Islamic Heritage, Yasmine Z. Radwan

Future Journal of Social Science

Reviewing the Western theories and ideologies on building and maintaining peace reflected in the conflict management and resolution in practice always indicates an imperative need for another perspective that could play an integral role in the international society. Regardless of the continuing call for an Islamic contribution in this field on the part of some Western scholars, the Muslim society itself based on a specific culture and a distinctive identity requires a different approach with particular tools that could fit its epistemological model. Exploring this approach, which is the main concern and the main aim of this paper, would never …

Laudato Si' And The Christian Ethic, Brandon Kriplean

Venture: The University of Mississippi Undergraduate Research Journal

Christianity, specifically Catholicism, is an inherently anthropocentric religion, with humans having the most dignity of all mortal creatures due to their divine image. However, what does such a lofty view of humanity mean for the current environmental crises? Are Christianity and environmental stewardship mutually exclusive paradigms? Pope Francis has sought to maintain human dignity while at the same time encouraging the Church to recognize that the environment, as God’s creation, is not to be exploited. In other words, an anthropocentric perspective does not equal a disregard for other aspects of creation. His 2015 landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’, sought to highlight …

Hypothesis And Theory: Do Trees "Release The Tension" In Rainwater? Surface Tension Reduction In Throughfall And Stemflow From Urban Trees, Benjamin J. Noren, Nicholas R. Lewis, Kelly Cristina Tonello, Anna Ilek, John T. Van Stan Ii

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Knowledge of the processes and impacts associated with the canopy's partitioning of rainfall into stemflow (water that drains to the base of tree stems) and throughfall (water that drips through gaps and from canopy surfaces) has expanded in recent years. However, the effect of canopy interactions on the fundamental physical properties of rainwater as it travels through the canopy to the soil, particularly surface tension, remains understudied. To discuss specific hypotheses within this context and their relevance to ecohydrological theory, the surface tension of rainwater samples was examined directly. Over a period of 9 months, open rainwater, throughfall and stemflow …