Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Binding Of G-Quadruplex Dna To Lispro And Bovine Insulin, Sarah E. Bultje, Luke D. Witvliet, Kumar Sinniah

Summer Research

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a disease characterized by the inability to produce insulin. Susceptibility to T1D is complex, involving both genetic and environmental factors. o One of the genetic components involved in insulin gene expression, and suspected T1D susceptibility, is the insulin-linked polymorphic region (ILPR). The ILPR element is located on chromosome 11p15 in the proximal promoter region, 363 base pairs upstream from the gene transcription site. o Other researchers (using fluorescence spectroscopy) and we (using ITC) have demonstrated that insulin binds to G-Quadruplex DNA with µM affinity. Since the DNA sequences in the ILPR form G-Quadruplexes and are …

2022 U.S. Globe Partner Yearbook, Globe U.S. Coordination Office

Partner Yearbooks

No abstract provided.

Good, Bad, Or Not-Even-Wrong Science And Mathematics In Transpersonal Psychology: Comment On Rock Et Al.'S "Is Biological Death Final?", Harris L. Friedman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Rock et al. (this issue) used a Drake-like equation to provide an estimate of the mathematical likelihood of survival of consciousness after death based on combining a number of probability guestimates. Although it is refreshing to see a mathematical paper within transpersonal psychology, as this subdiscipline of psychology suffers from a shortage of quantitative research, it is uncertain whether this contribution is good, bad, or not-even-wrong science. The original Drake equation, and its derivative Drake-like equation spinoffs, have been criticized for combining numbers that produce results that lack meaning and thereby perhaps can be seen as using pseudomathematics. This concern …

Cognitive Illusion, Lucid Dreaming, And The Psychology Of Metaphor In Tibetan Buddhist Dzogchen Contemplative Practices, Michael R. Sheehy

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

A classic set of eight similes of illusion (sgyu ma’i dpe brgyad) are employed recurrently throughout Indian and Tibetan Buddhist literature to illustrate the operations of cognition, its correlative perceptions, and experiences that emerge. To illustrate a Buddhist psychology of metaphor, the fourteenth century Tibetan scholar and synthesizer of the Dzogchen (rdzogs chen) or Great Perfection system, Longchen Rabjam Drimé Ödzer (1308-1363), composed his poetic text, Being at Ease with Illusion. This work on illusion is the third volume in Longchenpa’s Trilogy of Being at Ease (Ngal gso skor gsum) in which he presents a series of Dzogchen instructions on …

Black October: The Migration Of Black Americans To The Soviet Union In The Interwar Period, Alice Volfson

Slavic Studies Honors Papers

Through an in-depth look at first-person accounts, primary documents, and archival research, this project broadens the scope of information available about the interwar migration of Black Americans to the Soviet Union for agricultural, industrial, and artistic initiatives which helped advance the Socialist Project. These men and women had different motivations for their emigration stemming from racial solidarity with various Soviet peoples, economic reasonings, and safety from American racism. This paper hopes to bring to life the stories of those whose legacies have been lost to history by uncovering their lives under communism, their achievements and recognitions, and that of their …

"We Can't Hear You": A Call For Right To Counsel For Youth In Care, Leyda Garcia-Greenawalt

Children's Legal Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

Three Essays On The U.S. Beef Supply Chain: Production, Marketing, And Price Dynamics, Erdal Erol

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

This dissertation contains three essays on select economic components of the U.S. beef industry. The first and second essays concentrate on the different economic problems in beef cattle production. The third essay evaluates the price dynamics and the impact of COVID-19 along the beef supply chain.

The first essay explores the economics of culling decisions in cow-calf operations in the U.S. with a novel application of a dynamic mathematical programming model. The results provide an optimal culling strategy under the base model and a range of optimal strategies that vary with respect to different components such as fertility probabilities, market …

Parables Of Our Talons: New Jewish Stories For Electroacoustic Voices, Eli Berman

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

This thesis is a creative portfolio of written and recorded experiments and performances from September 2022 to April 2023. The culminating piece of my portfolio is a ritual performance called GOLEMATRIAK. This ritual, along with the rest of my portfolio, weaves together khazonus (Ashkenazi Jewish cantorial singing), extended vocal techniques, and electronic dance music in Yiddish, Hebrew, and English. During a historic rise of global antisemitism and transphobia, GOLEMATRIARK is an exaltation of queer, diasporic Jewish power. The golem is a proto-robot made of inorganic matter that one animates through sacred Jewish texts. I have been creating my own golems …

Role Of Parasitoids And Landscape Structure In Aphid Population Dynamics In Winter Canola, Norman C. Elliott, Kristopher L. Giles, Kristen A. Baum, Sarah Elzay, Georges F. Backoulou

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Three aphid species infest winter canola, Brassica napus L. fields in central Oklahoma and are serious pests: the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L., green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and turnip aphid, Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Davis). Mortality caused by parasitoids may be an important component of biological control of aphids in Oklahoma canola fields. Therefore, it is important to determine the effect of parasitoids on aphids in canola and the factors that affect it. We undertook a study during three consecutive growing seasons to: 1) estimate aphid suppression by parasitoids in each of 23 canola fields using cages that excluded natural …

Entomology Beyond Research And Education: 2022 Student Debates, Ramandeep Kaur Sandhi, Victoria Pickens, Elizabeth Bello, Sarah Elzay, Sara Salgado, Kayleigh C. Hauri, John J. Ternest, Natalie Constancio, Scott Gula, Olivia M. Gearner, Magdeline Anderson, Molly Edeburn, Brandon Hall, Jacqueline Maille, Mollie Toth, Arjun Khadka, Ethan Doherty, Tyler Musgrove, Tiago Silva, Alexia Desoto, Emily Rampone, Dowen Jocson, Mario Luppino, Kellen Pautzke, Camille Wagstaff

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The 2022 student debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) happened during the Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of America, Canada, and British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, and addressed entomological aspects beyond research and education. The Student Debates Subcommittee of the ESA Student Affairs Committee and the participating student team members communicated for 8 months and prepared for the debates. The theme of the ESA meeting in 2022 was “Entomology as inspiration: Insects through art, science, and culture”. There were 2 unbiased speakers who introduced the debate topics as well as 4 teams who debated the following …

Tracking The Progression Of Defects At The Neuromuscular Junction In Huntington's Disease, Katherine A. Trittschuh

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a genetic disorder associated with progressive cognitive and motor decline. Recent studies in HD models suggest primary peripheral pathologies arise independent of changes in the central nervous system. Our lab found defects in skeletal muscle occurring early in the progression of disease in transgenic R6/2 HD mice, resulting in membrane hyperexcitability. Additionally, there is evidence of decreased quantal content in late-stage R6/2 mice. Here, we investigate pre-synaptic and post-synaptic function at single neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) to make direct comparisons of disease progression in the muscle membrane and motor nerve terminal. We hypothesize that muscle membrane defects …

Do Channel Catfish Consume Zebra Mussels?, Casey M. Myers

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus are a generalized opportunistic feeder with a wide range of diet compositions. In the Midwest, zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha have quickly spread, causing large effects on aquatic ecosystems structures and functions. Channel catfish are known to consume native mollusks, however, little research has been done on the potential predation of zebra mussels by channel catfish. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze channel catfish diets to determine if zebra mussels are consumed. The channel catfish were obtained from the Sauk River chain of lakes between the dates of 14 June and 28 July 2023. …

Investigating The Multi-Faceted Nature Of Cyberloafing Based On Job Features, Alexandria Bohn

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

After COVID-19, organizations have had to shift the nature of the workplace leading to increased access to personal devices and internet with remote and hybrid work environments. Over the past several years, technological advancements have allowed for employees to partake in cyberloafing behaviors. Cyberloafing is a tool in which an employee uses the internet for personal reasons during the workday. There has been a divide in the literature regarding the auspicious versus detrimental effects of cyberloafing on employee outcomes. Primarily, researchers have focused on the harm of cyberloafing, the money it costs organizations, and proper ways to reduce this employee …

Periodic Paralysis : Pursuing A Protocol, Kirsten Denman

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis is an autosomal dominant disease of skeletal muscle in which patients experience episodes of weakness. There is currently no highly effective therapy. A mouse model has been created to study the disease to better understand the physiological changes leading to weakness and to develop novel treatments. However, the work done with the mouse model has used ever-changing protocols and the data produced have been insufficient to answer key questions and bring treatments closer to clinical trials. I evaluated factors of temperature, insulin, potassium concentrations, and length of protocol or exercise, to develop a protocol that reproducibly triggers …

A Novel Therapeutic Approach To Regulate Carex8 Protein Expression Through E6-Conjugated Cell Penetrating Peptides, Jared D. Compaleo

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Adenovirus is a human pathogen that causes cold like symptoms in healthy individuals, which could be lethal in pediatrics and the immunocompromised. In polarized epithelia, adenovirus uses the eight-exon isoform of the Coxsackievirus and Adenovirus Receptor (CAREx8) on the apical surface, to facilitate infection. CAREx8 protein expression level is regulated by the scaffolding protein MAGI-1, using two of its PSD95/Dlg-1/ZO-1 (PDZ) domains: PDZ2 and PDZ4. We previously showed that CAREx8 is degraded after interaction with PDZ4 and rescued following interaction with PDZ2. We then developed a PDZ2 binding decoy molecule (E6) that blocks the interaction between CAREx8 and PDZ2, which …

Sheep Ingestive Behavior And Tannin Selection In Pampa Grassland And Feedlot, Marina Terra Braga

Green Canyon Environmental Research Area, Logan Utah

The Pampa grassland biome has high plant biodiversity, some with significant secondary compound concentrations such as tannins. Tannin inclusion in ruminant diets may improve meat quality and productivity. However, voluntary intake of this phenolic compound can be a challenge. This dissertation includes three studies within this context. The first study documented whether sheep consume tannin-rich Desmodium incanum (DI), the most common Pampa herbaceous legume species. The second study evaluated how forage tannin and protein concentration influenced sheep feedlot feed selection and the diet affects performance parameters. The third study evaluated sheep feeding behavior in a Pampa native pasture, and how …

2022-2023 Library Annual Report, Library Services

Annual Reports

Brian Keith joins EIU as the new Dean of Library Services.

Sex Differences In Cardiometabolic Risk Factors In Youth With Obesity, Lucrecia Valdez

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Background: The prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents is rising, with 13% having elevated blood pressure and 5% having hypertension. Sex differences play a role in cardiovascular diseases in adults but are not well defined in youth. The objective of this study is to identify sex differences in obesity-mediated cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Methods: This is a pilot study of n=82 youth with obesity recruited from a High BMI Clinic. Clinical data and blood samples were collected at a single time point. Serum sterols were quantified via LC-MS/MS. Number of cardiometabolic risk factors were evaluated. Data are mean …

A Brief Mindfulness Intervention And Its Effect On Stress Response And Recovery: Rumination As A Moderator., Kacie Peters

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

It is inevitable that every human will encounter many stressors in their life, so research on this topic is generalizable to many and carries a heavy weight. While facing one small stressor may not be enough to have a significant impact, it is the degree of the stressors and the response to them that can dictate whether or not it leads to serious consequences (WHO). Stress can be characterized as a stressor or combined stressors that lead to physical, emotional, and mental strain (WHO). It is important that we know the ways in which to best recover from stress, otherwise …

Determining The Effectiveness Of The Clean Air Act And Amendments On The Recovery Of Surface Waters In The Northeastern Us, New Hampshire Water Resource Research Center (Wrrc)

NH Water Resources Research Center Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Chemical Secretions By Millipedes On Anting Behaviour In Birds And Other Animals, Theo Fraser

2023 REYES Proceedings

Birds perform a behavior known as anting in which they actively rub ants in their feathers or allow ants to crawl over their bodies. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this behavior, but no one hypothesis can account for all cases of anting that have been observed. Anting behavior has been recorded in species other than birds including primates, and substances other than ants such as millipedes may be used. This paper explores the use of millipedes in anting by birds, capuchin monkeys and lemurs. The three hypotheses supported by these studies include 1) anting serves as food preparation …

Rainwater Catchment System In Public Sector Housing, Araceli Peña, Muhammad Yanzar Sarin

2023 REYES Proceedings

Water is a universal right for all living beings on the planet, but today it has become a commercial good. It costs significantly to extract water from increasingly distant storage sources. For these reasons and many more the fight for water has become increasingly intense. Precisely, an alternative to avoid more dam construction is the implementation of public politic with actions focused on the integral solution of water, that is to say, that it be distributed fairly and equitably to all users, avoiding more concessions to great industries like as soft drinks and breweries, which are the main consumers and …

The Role Of Schwann Cells In Nerve Injury: Forskolin-Mediated Camp Activation Upregulates Tnfα Expression Despite Nf-Κb Downregulation In Lps-Treated Schwann Cells, Caitlyn E. Henry, Angela L. Asirvatham Ph.D.

Student Research Poster Presentations 2023

Although Schwann cells are known to play a role in axonal regeneration following nerve injury and inflammation, the exact mechanism is unknown. This study explores two potential mechanisms: the NF-κB and cAMP pathways. The NF-κB pathway produces cytokines, such as TNFα, to regulate inflammation, whereas the cAMP pathway is anti-inflammatory and regulates Schwann cell proliferation via AKAP95 and cyclin D3. Although it is well-known that NF-κB and cAMP are involved in inflammation, not much is known regarding the effects of forskolin-mediated cAMP activation on LPS-mediated NF-κB activation in Schwann cells. In this study, RT4-D6P2T immortalized rat Schwann cells were treated …

Histopathological Markers Of Liver Cirrhosis Correlating With Fat Pads In Cadavers, Victoria Wrobleski

Student Research Poster Presentations 2023

The liver is an organ with many functions in the body, including storage of essential nutrients, detoxification of blood, and digestion and metabolism. The major functional unit of the liver is the liver lobule, which contains the micro-anatomy of the liver, including hepatocytes, sinusoids, portal triads, and the central vein. The liver is a resilient organ that has the capability to regenerate up to two-thirds of its tissue. In cirrhosis, a condition in which collagen is produced and results in fibrotic tissue and causes normally functioning tissue to become scar tissue, the liver is no longer capable of its regenerative …

Integrating Second Moment Of Area With Osteohistology To Identify Limitations In Weight-Bearing Limb Bones, Justin Kramer, Jeffrey Stephens, Mateusz Wosik

Student Research Poster Presentations 2023

No abstract provided.

Putting The Individual And Context Back Into National Human Resource Development Research: A Systematic Review And Research Agenda, Thomas Garavan, Jia Wang, Ciara Nolan Dr, Yanqing Lai, Fergal O'Brien, Colette Darcy, Gerri Matthews-Smith, Gary Mclean

Articles

Conceptualization of national human resource development (NHRD) emphasizes that it is an ongoing development process of the individual that is shaped by context. However, the extant literature has focused primarily on describing and evaluating NHRD policies and interventions in different countries with limited consideration of NHRD across the lifespan and the interaction of life stage with context. Using ecological systems theory (EST) and a lifespan development perspective (LDP), we present a systematic review of the NHRD literature based on 310 sources. We identify key themes and gaps in research across the lifespan and at distinct levels of the ecological system. …

Drawing From Sefi Ethics Knowledge To Support Eco-Ethics Education Within The European University Of Technology, Jye Benjamin O'Sullivan, Shannon Chance

Practice Papers

We are leading a project called Ethico within the European University of Technology (EUt). Ethico aims to design and promote the uptake of innovative, ecological ethics for technological education.

This practice paper briefly summarizes the aims and structure of the Ethico project, and then focuses on the work completed as part of the teacher training module developed in Cluj, 7-9th March, 2023. This workshop drew its conceptual framework from the short abstracts currently available for the Engineering Ethics Education Handbook. The structure developed was then implemented in a student facing workshop in Troyes between the 10-14th July 2023. The handbook …

Conceptual Modelling As An Overarching Research Skill In Engineering Education, Mieke Boon

Practice Papers

Today’s society is impacted by complex, fast and continuously changing problems. These need to be tackled inter-, multi and transdisciplinary. At the University of Twente, we have developed a new CBL minor Intelligence, creativity, and responsible technological innovation in societal transformations, (ICR&TIST), which focuses on research skills in complex socio-technological problem-solving contexts. The design of this minor has been guided by new insights from long-running research aimed at developing a Philosophy of Science for the Engineering Sciences and extensive experiences with engineering education in project-based learning (PjBL). Education in scientific research tends to focus on academic contexts, while scientific research …

The ‘Engineering First Year’: "Step Up" To Success, Nicola Knowles, Jane Andrews, Gill Cooke, Lauren Schrock, Robin Clark, Graeme Knowles

Practice Papers

The nuanced nature of engineering as a profession is highlighted in a recent statement by the EPC (2023) in response to the UCAS publication ‘The Future of Undergraduate Admissions’ (2023). Focusing on the value of Personal Statements within the University Selection System, the EPC asks UCAS to provide more practical information to prospective students about the nature of engineering and what prerequisite qualifications are needed to study engineering. Such clarity is particularly important when considering Engineering Degree Apprentices. Starting with the research question “How can the gap between school and university be bridged in engineering education?” the paper critically discusses …

Innovative Engineering Education In The Wake Of Smart Agriculture. Revision Of The Agricultural Engineering Curriculum, Andreas Mandler, Giovanni Carabin, Lorenzo Becce, Francesco Fabio Nicolosi, Fabrizio Mazzetto

Practice Papers

Global developments request ever more productive agricultural production systems to ensure food security. Agricultural production must be environmentally, socially sustainable and economically efficient. Innovative digital technologies are central to sustainable production systems. This poses challenges to the education of agricultural engineers, as technologies for real world challenges result from highly interdisciplinary innovations.

Agricultural engineering (AgEng) as academic discipline is not universally established, which leaves voids in educational curricula and formal training areas. A substantial conflictual dualism remains between the biological and engineering domains. There are currently no homogeneous pathways through which these domains merge on common scientific and cultural foundations, …