Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating Mirna Regulation Of The Human Apobec3 Enzymes, William Dietrich

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The human apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide 3 (APOBEC3, A3) are a family of proteins consisting of seven enzymes, A3A, B, C, D, F, G and H, which function as cytosine deaminases. The enzymes’ purpose in the cell is to mutate viral DNA during infection hindering or stopping replication of viruses such as human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus, and HIV-1. Several of the A3 enzymes have also been implicated in contributing to cancers such as head and neck and breast cancers by mutating cellular genomic DNA, making the ability to control A3 expression an attractive target for cancer …

Academic Dishonesty: The Ghost Of Papers Past, Wayne T. Whitmore

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research project examined student’s acts of academic dishonesty and their beliefs regarding whether acts of academic dishonesty were acceptable through survey research conducted online at a two-year college and a four-year university in the Minnesota State (MinnState) system in southern Minnesota. This research aimed to build on existing research related to academic dishonesty in higher education. The sample included 195 students enrolled at a two-year comprehensive college and a four-year state university. Outcomes indicated a majority of students engaged in acts of academic dishonesty. Second, outcomes indicated men are more likely to engage in academic dishonesty than women. Third, …

Novel Amino Acids Dictate Differences In Sivmac239 And Hiv-2 Rod9 Vpx Cellular Localization, Hunter D. Mayhew

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Vpx is a protein encoded by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) and specific Simian Immunodeficiency Viruses (SIVs) that is essential for successful infection of non-dividing myeloid cells. Vpx facilitates viral replication by trafficking the viral genome into the nucleus of infected cells and targeting the primarily nuclear innate immune protein SAMHD1 for proteasomal degradation. Considering that these activities occur at the nucleus, we hypothesized that Vpx nuclear localization would be tightly correlated with these functions. To assess this, site directed mutagenesis in combination with confocal microscopy or Western Blotting analyses were utilized to evaluate the determinants of nuclear accumulation …

An Archeozoological Analysis Of The Vosburg Site In Southern Minnesota, Madison M. Rutter

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Blue Earth Oneota is a poorly defined taxon located in southern Minnesota. Few large-scale excavations have been conducted in the Blue Earth region, leading to gaps in the overall understating of western Oneota lifeway systems. This research utilizes archeozoological analysis on the zoological assemblage from the Vosburg site (21FA02), a Blue Earth Oneota site located in Faribault County. The Vosburg site is a large habitation site that has been excavated by Wilford in 1938 and 1947, Dobbs in 1979, and Schirmer in 2012. Legacy data from the 1938, 1947, and 1979 excavations was analyzed and compared to the zoological …

Fox Lake – Havanoid Interaction: An Analysis Of Eleanor Site Pottery, Rahman Abdullayev

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Through the analysis of pottery remains found at the Eleanor archaeological site, the study investigates the relationship between the Fox Lake culture and the Havanoid phases. The relationship between the Fox Lake complex of the southwestern prairie area and the Havanoid phases of the eastern woodlands is poorly understood in southern Minnesota. Despite it is potential to provide information about this relationship, the Eleanor site (21NL30) collection was never thoroughly studied after the excavation.

Richard Strachan conducted excavations at the Eleanor site between 1976 and 1978. A total of 124 pottery sherds were examined, with 76 being rim sherds and …

The Role Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor I In The Development Of The Cerebellum In Euthyroid And Hypothyroid Mice, Prathibha Mangedarage

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Thyroid hormone deficiency during development is known to cause anatomical defects in the cerebellum that lead to neurological deficits. It has been observed that insufficient thyroid hormone levels also decrease the levels of brain derived Insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf-1). Given that the deficits caused by low Igf-1 levels are similar to those caused by low thyroid hormone, we designed this study to investigate if the deficits caused in the development of the cerebellum by low thyroid hormone levels may be due to the lack of sufficient Igf-1. We also sought to determine if ectopic over expression of Igf-1 in …

Revisiting The Blue Earth Oneota Taxon, Samuel Marcucci

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Clark Dobbs’ 1984 dissertation on Blue Earth Oneota settlement patterns is often the go-to treatment for the Blue Earth taxon. Since the publication of his work, new methods of archeological research have been employed within the field and new data have been uncovered from both Blue Earth sites in Minnesota and Oneota sites throughout the Midwest. This thesis attempts to ask if the modern archeology of Blue Earth Oneota is still comprehended by Dobbs’ 1984 publication. Feature analysis of material recovered from refuse pit features during the 2012 excavation at the Vosburg site (21FA02) was utilized in this research along …

Investigation Of Glycoside Hydrolases And Calcium In Cytophaga Hutchinsonii Cellulose Utilization, Choua Kou Vang

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Cytophaga hutchinsonii is a soil bacterium that can utilize cellulose as a carbon source. The cellulose utilization system of C. hutchinsonii has been predicted to be novel and its endoglucanases could potentially be used in the production of cellulosic based biofuels. These enzymes could be used to process cellulose to glucose or other soluble sugars, which can be further converted to ethanol by yeast fermentation. Current biofuels utilize starches, primarily from corn, which has direct competition with farming space for food crops. This study focuses on observing the growth of C. hutchinsonii knockout mutant strains on cellulose substrate to better …

A Comparison Of Highly Disturbed Agricultural Soil And Natural Forested Soil As It Affects Decomposition, Haley Madden

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to compare decomposition of animal samples in plowed and unplowed soils. To accomplish this, two sets of three pig (Sus domesticus) ham hocks were buried in soil in early May of 2023, one set in a highly disturbed agricultural field and the other set in an undisturbed forested area. Soybeans were planted in the agricultural field within a week. The samples remained buried until excavated in October 2023 after harvest to compare the extent of decomposition and any other changes that occurred to the surrounding soil. Additionally, the soil at each site was described …

The Motives And Roles Of Female Terrorists Of Isis: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Open-Source Narratives, Shreshtha Alok

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Theses

Research on the role of women in terrorism has emerged over the last several decades suggesting that female terrorists tend to have more passive roles than male terrorists. Female Islamic terrorists may engage in such acts due to trauma, revenge, religious ideology, peers, spouses, expression of community outrage. However, gaps about their motivations remain. For example, very little research has explored the roles, responsibilities, and motivation of female terrorists who are specifically part of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This research seeks to fill these gaps by utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis of qualitative research including documentaries, manifestos, …

Border Wall Biodiversity, Megan Delehanty

Theses & ETDs

In 2016 when Donald Trump ran for president he campaigned for the construction of a border wall. Many scientists agree that the species in the borderlands would be impacted by this barrier. The objectives of the paper are to see how the border wall may impact species distribution and to see if they are vulnerable to climate change. To answer this ArcGIS and a Climate Change Vulnerability Index program were used. Maps were created with data showing the ranges for seven species against the proposed border wall. To determine vulnerability to climate change NatureServe’s Climate Change Vulnerability Index was used, …

What It Takes To Grow A Micro Forest At New College Of Florida, Barbara Monteiro

Theses & ETDs

This thesis introduces a concept of forestry that is rooted in the context of climate change and the solutions that exist at the urban level. The integration of urban forests designed to mitigate temperatures and sequester atmospheric carbon is a practical solution to problems caused by increasing urbanization. In this thesis, I detail the process for establishing a micro forest that has been planted at New College of Florida and the benefits of utilizing the micro forest planting method. Located in Southwest Florida near Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the New College Micro Forest will serve as a …

Evaluation Of Autonomous Recording Unit Performance In Detecting Black-Billed Cuckoos, Jenna L. Asnault

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Black-billed Cuckoos (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) are classified as a species of concern in Montana and have declined due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Cuckoos are challenging to study, as they do not move or call frequently in the presence of people. This makes researching and managing these birds difficult. Autonomous acoustic survey methods offer the potential to be more effective than traditional avian survey methods. Autonomous recording units (ARUs) are small, programmable, relatively inexpensive acoustic detectors, and have been used in several other studies. Cuckoos, however, nest and perch in dense riparian vegetation, potentially limiting the detection capabilities of …

[Snakehead (Channa Marulius)]Neurocranium, Sam Gorman, Jessica Rutenis, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Snakehead Neurocranium

Nutritive Comparison Of Ruminant Feed, Integrating Crab And Lobster Meal, Kelsi L. Devolve

Honors Theses and Capstones

In attempts to increase livestock production and decrease waste products from the seafood industry, crab meal and lobster meal were tested as a potential cattle feed ingredient. Jonah crab waste, Atlantic Red crab waste, soybean meal, and blood meal were collected from various vendors and utilized in an in vitro study, an in situ study, and a nitrogen analyzer to determine crude protein in each feed. After allowing the samples to sit in a DAISY incubator for 48 h, mimicking a rumen environment, degradability for the soybean meal, blood meal, lobster meal, and crab meal were 100.13%, 76.36%, 43.77%, and …

The Prevalence And Impact Of Dairy/Beef Crosses On Cattle Producers In New Hampshire, Eleanor J. Braun

Honors Theses and Capstones

Recent years had seen a significant rise in the use of beef semen on dairy cows in the United States. This trend was not widely understood, especially as it related to dairy farmers in New Hampshire. A survey was sent out by mail to the ninety-seven dairy farms in New Hampshire. There were thirty-seven responses to the survey. Thirty-two out of thirty-seven respondents bred beef semen to their dairy cows. Twenty-one of these respondents raised dairy x beef on their farms and twenty-six planned to continue breeding dairy x beef. The most common breeds used in dairy x beef crosses …

Odd Bedfellows & Marriage Of Necessity: Public Health And Politics In American Federalism, Gabriella Victoria Chianese

Honors Theses and Capstones

In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, while the public disagrees over mask mandates, required vaccinations, and social distancing, it seems like one common sentiment exists – a distaste for the odd bedfellows of politics and public health. There are those who cry for the compartmentalization of the science of public health and the art of politics to rectify this situation. In the wake of so much confusion and chaos, it is not unjustified to demand the depoliticization of public health; however, this response is unrealistic given the modern political climate, demonstrates a narrow understanding of the …

Flash: 0% “Bad”, 16% Animación, Raquel Ávila Muñoz, Jorge Clemente Mediavilla, María José Pérez-Luque

Artículos científicos

A finales de 2020 los contenidos creados con Flash dejaron de ser accesibles a través de la web. Ha sido necesaria una década para alcanzar este momento que marca un hito en la historia del diseño: es el adiós definitivo a una herramienta fundamental en el desarrollo de la web y cuya influencia se extendió a diferentes ámbitos de la creación digital. Presentamos los resultados de una investigación cuyo objetivo es comprobar si la frase de Nielsen “Flash: 99% bad” ha influido en el recuerdo y analizar en qué medida Flash pasará a la historia recordada en términos positivos o …

Principles Of Functional Animation In Interface Design, Raquel Ávila Muñoz, Jorge Clemente Mediavilla, María José Pérez-Luque

Artículos científicos

The use of animation in visual interface design has historically been the subject of severe criticism. Reported issues highlight the tendency of designers to get carried away by the attractive nature of animation, sometimes sacrificing basic usability principles. This research aims to establish a set of principles to guide motion design decisions effectively. In the absence of closer references, the classic principles of Disney animation have been insistently looked to. This approach raises the question of whether it is relevant to apply principles designed for the entertainment of a passive viewer in the functional and interactive environment of an interface. …

On Doing Justice, Loving Mercy, And Walking Humbly In Micah 6:8: The Peaceable Ways Of Israel's God, Then And Now, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

Despite YHWH's presentation in the Hebrew Scripture as, at times, a warrior, a divine portrait also emerges of a God of justice, mercy, and lovingkindness, rooted in God's steadfast love (hesed) and desire for peaceable wholeness (salom)....This essay will explore the justice of lsrael's God, peace and prosperity as components of God's shalomic blessing, the turbulence of lsrael's eighth-century situation, and the prophets' creative calls for repentance--highlighting God's peaceable ways--relevant both then and now.

The Anatomy And Phylogeny Of A New Large Plioplatecarpine Mosasaur From The Campanian Bearpaw Shale Of Montana (Usa), Richard A. Carr

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

In 2018, a large and associated plioplatecarpine mosasaur skull, pectoral girdle, and rib cage, whose total body length may have exceeded five meters, was uncovered in the Late Campanian Bearpaw Shale of Northeast Montana (USA). Phylogenetic analysis of this specimen, MOR 10855, recovers this individual as a basal member of the genus Plioplatecarpus. This specimen, is unique in that it is estimated to be nearly twice the size of any of the other species of Plioplatecarpus found in the Western Interior Seaway during this part of the Cretaceous. While the included phylogenetic study suggests MOR 10855 represents a new …

Neuroscience Bs, Biological Sciences

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Peer Interventions On Physical Activity For Individuals Living With Mental Illness, Julia Wolfe

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Individuals living with mental illness have significantly reduced physical health compared to the general population, leading to a significantly decreased life expectancy. Physical activity has been shown to be an effective strategy to address many of the conditions contributing to this disparity. However, many people with mental illness do not meet the recommended levels of daily physical activity. Peer support has been shown to be effective in some aspects of recovery for individuals living with mental illness, but its effectiveness in increasing engagement with physical activity in that population is not well established. The specific aim of this report is …

Infectious And Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus Share Molecular Mechanism Sensitive To Immune Modulation, Benjamin Reeves

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Hydrocephalus, characterized by a pathologic dilation of the brain’s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled ventricles, may either be primary or acquired. Acquired hydrocephalus, most often caused by ventricular infection or hemorrhage, is currently treated by surgical CSF diversion with either a shunt or endoscopic third ventriculostomy – two procedures plagued by high failure and complication rates. The lack of pharmaceutical treatments is in part due to the obscure pathophysiology of the disease. We created novel rat models of post-infectious (PIH) and post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) and conducted a systems-level, multi-omics investigation of these animals to outline the cellular, molecular, and physiologic pathology of …

Monitoring Of Wave, Current, And Sediment Dynamics Along The Chincoteague Living Shoreline, Virginia, Hongqing Wang, Qin Chen, Nan Wang, William D. Capurso, Lukasz M. Niemoczynski, Ling Zhu, Gregg A. Snedden, Kevin S. Holcomb, Bowdoin W. Lusk, Carol A. Wilson, Sean R. Cornell

Faculty Publications

Nature-based features, also called living shorelines, are increasingly applied in coastal protection and restoration. However, the processes and mechanisms (feedbacks and interactions) of wave attenuation, current velocity change, and sediment deposition and erosion along the living shoreline remain unclear, thus limiting the adaptive management of living shoreline restoration projects for coastal shoreline resilience under future storm conditions. In this study, wave, current, and sediment dynamics along the Little Toms Cove living shoreline, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia, a low wave energy environment, were investigated during a 2-month winter period in 2019 to examine the effects of living shoreline structures on …

Reconciling Property Rights With Carbon Capture And Storage, Keith B. Hall

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

The Synergy Between Physiologic Dendritic Cells And Mrna-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles And Its Potential As A Cellular Immunotherapy, Brian Myles Wei

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Transimmunization (TI) is a dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy derived from extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), a widely used immunotherapy for cutaneous T cell lymphoma. TI builds upon the mechanistic understanding that ECP inducts large-scale monocyte-to-dendritic cell differentiation through physiologic platelet-monocyte interactions that occur during the passage of cells over a plastic plate. While TI and ECP have used apoptotic tumor cells treated with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and ultraviolet-A (UVA) irradiation as the source of antigens by which to target its immunotherapeutic effects, there is investigational interest in alternative antigen sources, including mRNA-containing lipid nanoparticles (LNP). In this work, we developed a modified version …

Improving Delivery Of Immunomodulator Mpla With Biodegradable Nanoparticles, Jungsoo Chang

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Encapsulation of therapeutic agents within biodegradable nanoparticles (NP) allows for gradual drug release from the nanoparticle core. When injected intravenously, our nonadhesive NPs (NNP) have previously demonstrated longer circulatory time with “stealthy” features, thus allowing for prolonged drug exposure systemically. In the murine transplantable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) PDVC57 model, our bioadhesive NP (BNP) loaded with chemotherapy have shown increased retention of the active agent after intratumoral (i.t.) injection, thus allowing for prolonged drug exposure when locally delivered. Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) is a low-toxicity derivative of LPS with immunomodulating properties. However, MPLA, like other TLR agonists, is a …

Emergency Medicine Resident Perceptions Of A Medical Wilderness Adventure Race (Medwar), Lake Crawford

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Effective Wilderness Medicine (WM) resident education can be challenging to achieve in the traditional classroom setting. The Medical Wilderness Adventure Race (MedWAR) was developed to teach and test WM using simulated scenarios in an austere setting under physical, environmental, and psychological stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate participant perceptions of simulation-based WM training in an Emergency Medicine (EM) residency MedWAR. A 20-question descriptive survey was administered to participants of an academic EM residency program’s annual MedWAR during 2021 and 2022. The event took place during weekly scheduled didactic time at local state parks in July. The questionnaire …

Gag With Malice, Shaakirrah R. Sanders

Washington and Lee Law Review

This Article brings agriculture privacy and other commercial gagging laws into the ongoing debate on the First Amendment actual malice rule announced in New York Times v. Sullivan. Despite a resurgence in contemporary jurisprudence, Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch have recently questioned the wisdom and viability of Sullivan, which originally applied actual malice to state law defamation claims brought by public officials. The Court later extended the actual malice rule to public figures, to claims for infliction of emotional distress, and—as discussed in this Article—to claims for invasion of privacy and to issues of public importance or concern.

United …