Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Bilateral Stimulation On Motor Learning, Shania Rehmudin

Dissertations and Theses

Motor learning is a set of complex processes aimed at learning and refining new skills by practicing them. There are three proposed stages of motor learning: cognitive, associative, and autonomous. While all stages are crucial, research suggests that the cognitive stage holds particular significance, laying the foundational groundwork for effective skill acquisition. Although research has explored many innovative ways to facilitate motor memory, to our knowledge, none has explored the optimization of motor skill learning through manipulating the focus of attention using bilateral stimulation. Therefore, this study explored the effects of bilateral stimulation on squat skill acquisition. Nineteen (19) subjects, …

To Swallow The Sun, John Morris Cox

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

My creative fiction thesis To Swallow the Sun is part one of a novel of the same name. Cage, the protagonist, is a dreamer; he yearns for visceral experience and enjoys assignations with the night beyond his bedroom window; but as his desires draw him deeper into a world of his own, there are many who see nothing but a boy in need of fixing. After continually falling short of the expectations his family and society have crafted for him- abandoning work, “ruining” school plays, even failing to react to a prisoner’s execution- Cage is sent to a psychiatric ward. …

Nsp3 Protein-Portion Interaction Of Sars-Cov-2 Using Two Yeast-Hybrid System, Ghadeer Jassem Zakareya

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

The NSP3 protein of SARS-CoV-2 plays a crucial role in the virus-host interaction during infection. This thesis explores the protein-protein interactions between NSP3 and host factors, shedding light on their significance in viral replication and pathogenesis. NSP3 is known to interact with various host proteins involved in key cellular processes, including innate immune response modulation, RNA processing and protein degradation pathways. Understanding these interactions is essential for developing targeted therapeutic strategies against COVID-19. Application of The Matchmaker GAL4Two-Hybrid Systems, to isolate the NSP3 protein and study the interactions, elucidating the NSP3 host protein interactions and attempting to identify potential key …

Characterizing Sex Differences In Hpv Negative Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Sarah Barclay

Dissertations and Theses

It is now widely accepted that peripheral solid tumors are infiltrated by nerves. This infiltration of malignancies by nerves is referred to as tumor innervation. The Vermeer laboratory studies tumor innervation primarily in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using a syngeneic cell line representing a mutationally-induced form of the disease; these cells are called MOC2-7 cells. In addition to defining the molecular consequences of tumor-infiltrating nerves on disease, the lab also focuses on their influence on behavior. This is important as cancer patients have a significantly higher incidence of depression and anxiety as compared to the population at large. …

Debunking Some Myths And Misinformation About Africa And Africans, Michael Oke-Ndukwu

A with Honors Projects

This project lists some misinformation about Africa and compares that misinformation to factual evidence.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion And How Black Women Contributed To America, Valencia Crosby

A with Honors Projects

For this project, I chose to read the novel, No Better Time by Sheila Williams. This novel was published and distributed in 2024 and has had raving reviews from countless magazines/journals such as Writer's Digest, The Root, Historical Novel Society, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Addressing Spirituality In The Counselor Supervision Relationship, Andrew H. Gerodias

Dissertations and Theses

A qualitative, phenomenological study was implemented to investigate the experiences of independently licensed supervisors who oversee counselors who utilize the 12 steps in the work done with those dealing with substance use disorders. Seven participants from the Midwest completed an initial semi-structured interview, journaling activity, and follow-up interview. Data was subjected to member checks and an external audit to ensure themes were trustworthy. Two overall textural-structural themes were found through the integration of the initial nine themes developed; five textual themes describing what was experienced (acknowledging resistance and consideration, using spirituality as a tool, acknowledging differences and diversity, observed growth …

Exploring The Role Of Nonmuscle Myosin Ii In Renal Thick Ascending Limb Epithelial Cell Protein Trafficking And Organelle Architecture, Brook Busselman

Dissertations and Theses

The traditional functional roles of the actin associated motor protein nonmuscle myosin II (NM2) have been thoroughly studied. However, the nontraditional roles for NM2 in the context of membrane remodeling and protein trafficking events in cells have just recently been unraveled. Our work has found that genetic inactivation of NM2 protein isoforms MYH9 and MYH10 in the renal epithelium of adult mice leads to progressive kidney disease. Aberrant protein transport and localization in cells of the thick ascending limb (TAL) of the kidney nephron is accompanied by upregulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. …

A Method Of Measuring Hot Charge Carrier Drift Mobility In Germanium Detectors, Kyler Kooi

Dissertations and Theses

High purity germanium is a popular radiation detecting medium due to the excellent energy resolution that is achieved. The unique semiconducting properties of germanium allow a small amount of energy to create free charges in the germanium, which are then collected as a signal. Germanium detectors also have good spatial resolution. The shape of the signal can be used to identify the location of energy deposition in the crystal. Both of these properties make germanium detectors a popular choice in many felds, including security, medical, astrophysics, and particle physics. The properties of a germanium crystal should be well understood and …

The Evolution Of The Iowa Living History Farms (Lhf) From The 1960s Through The 1980s, Ryan Moore

Dissertations and Theses

This master’s thesis examines the emergence and evolution of the Living History Farms (LHF) and the living history farm museum movement in the Midwest region during the decades of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Originally envisioned as institutions that preserved the knowledge of a form of farming that had largely disappeared due to the rise of post-WWII mechanized commercial agriculture, most Midwestern living history farm museum organizations in the 1970s and 1980s reacted to both societal and museum industry developments and made their exhibit site programming more inclusive of various demographic groups. The LHF responded to this trend by including …

Regional And Landscape Scale Examination And Attribution Of Vegetation Changes To Social-Environmental System Drivers In Kazakhstan, Venkatesh Kolluru

Dissertations and Theses

Kazakhstan (KZ) experienced widespread changes in ecosystem structure and function. The country is a climate and land cover/use change “hotspot” owing to political reforms, intensified grazing, and extreme climatic events. Despite their importance, there is a lack of consensus about vegetation changes, trends, and drivers in KZ. Addressing this knowledge gap is crucial for effectively managing and restoring grassland ecosystems. However, a pressing challenge is discerning anthropogenic-driven vegetation changes from climate variability and decomposing the responses to the complex human-environmental forcings. Motivated by these challenges, I employed statistical and machine learning algorithms to detect and attribute vegetation changes to social-environmental …

8. Facilitating Reflection On Social Robots In Care: Ethics And Pedagogy, Heike Felzmann, Almudena Nava, Miriam Abietar, Esperanza Meri, Karin Christiansen, Mads Lund Andersen, Vivi Søgaard

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Modular Lab Automation System With Applications To Animal And Bacteria Cell Culture, Timothy William Hartman

Dissertations and Theses

The challenges faced while executing wet lab protocols encourage the development of automation systems to come alongside human scientists. Today’s cutting-edge experiments involve complex protocols with precise measurements usually performed manually. Even simpler biological protocols can be tedious and prone to error, as was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and society’s demand for high-volume, rapid sample analysis. Moreover, reproducibility suffers when there is excessive variability and insufficient data. Here, we leveraged the Stanford Biodesign process to develop a modular lab automation system and image analysis workflow to address challenges like these. This flagship automation platform at The University of South …

A Systems Informed Approach To The Complex Challenges Of The Industrial Hemp Industry In Pennsylvania, John Ervin

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

Utilizing systems thinking methodologies and tools, this dissertation explores the complex growth and development challenges faced by the industrial hemp industry in Pennsylvania. Identified were key stakeholders, regulatory barriers, and market forces influencing the industry revealing a misalignment of goals and a lack of stakeholder collaboration as significant impediments. Legal and regulatory frameworks, supply-demand imbalances, and ineffective partnerships emerged as critical factors impacting the industry's future. Recommendations to address misalignments include fostering stakeholder collaboration, improving public-private partnerships, and utilizing interactive planning to address systemic issues to enhance the industry's growth potential.

Chief Blackstar's "Indian Mystery Revue", Michael Claxton Ph.D.

Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Osteohistological Assessment Of Edmontosaurus Radii From The Liscomb Bonebed, Prince Creek Formation, North Slope, Alaska, Emma Griffin

Student Research Poster Presentations 2024

Hadrosaurs were one of the most diverse dinosaur groups in the Late Cretaceous period and are known for their numerous articulated skeletons and monodominant bonebeds (Wosik et al., 2020). They are more commonly known as duck-billed dinosaurs and are found globally including latitudinal extremes such as the artic and Antarctica. Edmontosaurus, a genus of hadrosaur, are herbivores and are very large growing up to 8,000 pounds. Edmontosaurus were known to travel in herds as a defense mechanism and were one of the last non-avian dinosaurs living during the late Campanian stage through the end of the Maastrichtian stage, right up …

It’S Elementary? Let’S Play Rock, Paper, Scissors: Civil Procedure, Property, Contracts, And Torts During First-Year Law School Orientation, Jean Steadman, Aleatra Alexander, Constance Anastopoulo, William Janssen

University of Memphis Law Review

Civil Procedure, Property, Contracts, and Torts are all standard first-year doctrinal law school courses. They provide law students with a solid legal foundation and expose them to American rule-based and precedent-based law. The first year of law school is also often a student’s first introduction to these legal subjects. First-year law students often fail to realize how the material taught in each of these classes complements what they are learning in the other classes. Students focus on learning the material and professors focus on transmitting the information in a comprehensible manner. First-year orientation can be an opportunity to introduce doctrinal …

Annual Report For The Town Of Alexandria For The Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2023., Alexandria Town Representatives

Alexandria, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

Forage News [2024-01], University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Forage News [2024-12], University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Killing Stays, Madalyn K. Wasilczuk

Faculty Publications

For decades, the Supreme Court has been suspicious of litigation under warrant in capital cases. The Court has described last-minute litigation as manipulative and dilatory, a result of gamesmanship by people on death row and their lawyers. With the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, the Court began to extinguish the opportunity to assert death row detainees’ rights against unlawful death sentences and executions, reaching a crescendo of stay vacaturs and denials during the Trump executions. Despite this sea change in capital stay jurisprudence and practice, few scholars have focused on the capital stay as a vital component of …

8th Cauthen Seminar (2024) Program, Cauthen-Seminar

Veterinary Science Presentations

Contained here is the complete program for the 8th Annual Cauthen Seminar held at the Gluck Equine Research Center.

The Cauthen seminar series was started in 2017 as a tribute and memorial to respected and beloved farrier and teacher, “Tex” Cauthen, developed to encourage the sharing of best practices, technology, research, experience, and insight among all communities in the equine industry, from owners, farriers, track managers, veterinarians, and jockeys.

The annual series has been hosted at the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY along with a live broadcast as a Zoom webinar, offered free …

To The Hen, Jessica Miller

Gaines Fellow Senior Theses

No abstract provided.

Glioblastoma Standard Of Care: Effects On Tumor Evolution And Reverse Translation In Preclinical Models, Louis Rodgers, John L. Villano, Anika M. S. Hartz, Björn Bauer

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Glioblastoma (GBM) presents a significant public health challenge as the deadliest and most common malignant brain tumor in adults. Despite standard-of-care treatment, which includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, mortality rates are high, underscoring the critical need for advancing GBM therapy. Over the past two decades, numerous clinical trials have been performed, yet only a small fraction demonstrated a benefit, raising concerns about the predictability of current preclinical models. Traditionally, preclinical studies utilize treatment-naïve tumors, failing to model the clinical scenario where patients undergo standard-of-care treatment prior to recurrence. Recurrent GBM generally exhibits distinct molecular alterations influenced by treatment selection pressures. …

Clinical Trial Protocol For Beach: A Phase 2a Study Of Mw189 In Patients With Acute Nontraumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Radhika Avadhani, Wendy C. Ziai, Richard E. Thompson, W. Andrew Mould, Karen Lane, Angeline Nanni, Michael Lacobelli, Matthew F. Sharrock, Lauren H. Sansing, Linda J. Van Eldik, Daniel F. Hanley

Neurology Faculty Publications

Patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) develop secondary neuroinflammation and cerebral edema that can further damage the brain and lead to increased risk of neurologic complications. Preclinical studies in animal models of acute brain injury have shown that a novel small-molecule drug candidate, MW01-6-189WH (MW189), decreases neuroinflammation and cerebral edema and improves functional outcomes. MW189 was also safe and well tolerated in phase 1 studies in healthy adults. The proof-of-concept phase 2a Biomarker and Edema Attenuation in IntraCerebral Hemorrhage (BEACH) clinical trial is a first-in-patient, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. It is designed to determine the safety and tolerability …

Evaluating A Rapid Coaching Intervention Delivered Remotely: Teaching Naturalistic Language Strategies To A Parent Of Child With Down Syndrome, Pallie Gullett

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Parents of young children play a significant role in their child’s communication development during early childhood. Many parents of children with or at risk for disabilities could benefit from learning ways to promote their child’s communication. This study implemented a rapid coaching intervention to teach a parent of a child with Down syndrome how to implement naturalistic language strategies such as expanding on their child’s play, providing linguistic input during play, and arranging the environment to create an opportunity for their child to communicate.

Do The Sexually Dimorphic Biofluorescent Glands Of Plethodon Cinereus Function In Mate Choice And Are They Seasonally Regulated By Photoperiod?, Sam C. Moody-Wynn

Masters Theses

The novel biofluorescent glands of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), have been shown to be sexually dimorphic where males have larger and greater numbers of glands than females. Interestingly, a seasonal pattern of increased numbers of fluorescent glands, which mirrors the peak in testosterone levels, has been described. Currently, the function and regulation of the fluorescent glands is unknown. I predicted that the glands function as a form of male ornamentation used in intersexual communication, and perhaps act as an honest signal of male quality. Even though the fluorescent glands are located on the underside of the tail, there …

Nalfurafine Promotes Myelination In Vitro And Facilitates Recovery From Cuprizone + Rapamycin-Induced Demyelination In Mice, Ross Van De Wetering, Rabia Bibi, Andy Biggerstaff, Sheein Hong, Bria Pengelly, Thomas E. Prisinzano, Anne C. La Flamme, Bronwyn M. Kivell

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The kappa opioid receptor has been identified as a promising therapeutic target for promoting remyelination. In the current study, we evaluated the ability of nalfurafine to promote oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) differentiation and myelination in vitro, and its efficacy in an extended, cuprizone-induced demyelination model. Primary mouse (C57BL/6J) OPC-containing cultures were treated with nalfurafine (0.6–200 nM), clemastine (0.01–100 μM), T3 (30 ng/mL), or vehicle for 5 days. Using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy, we found that nalfurafine treatment increased OPC differentiation, oligodendrocyte (OL) morphological complexity, and myelination of nanofibers in vitro. Adult male mice (C57BL/6J) were given a diet con- taining …

Ezh2 Inhibition Promotes Tumor Immunogenicity In Lung Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Tanner Ducote, Xiulong Song, Kassandra J. Naughton, Fan Chen, Daniel Plaugher, Avery R. Childress, Abigail R. Gellert, Erika M. Skaggs, Xufeng Qu, Jinze Liu, Jinpeng Liu, Fei Li, Kwok-Kin Wong, Christine F. Brainson

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Two important factors that contribute to resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are an immune-suppressive microenvironment and limited antigen presentation by tumor cells. In this study, we examine whether in- hibition of the methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) can increase ICI response in lung squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC). Our in vitro experiments using two-dimensional human cancer cell lines as well as three-dimensional murine and patient-derived organoids treated with two inhibitors of the EZH2 plus IFNγ showed that EZH2 inhibition leads to expression of both MHC class I and II (MHCI/II) expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. …

Investigating The Impact Of Temperature Variations On African Trypanosome Transmissibility Within The Vector Tsetse Flies, Sophie Ann Genigeorgis

Public Health Theses

African trypanosomiasis, a neglected vector-borne parasitic disease transmitted by tsetse flies, poses a significant threat to human and animal health in Sub-Saharan Africa. As the effects of climate change alter weather patterns, these shifts in climate are predicted to impact the disease distribution and transmission dynamics through alterations in tsetse vector life history traits and infection prevalence.

This study investigates the potential effects of increasing temperatures on tsetse fly life history traits and their subsequent influence on African trypanosomiasis transmission. Specifically, the research examines how temperature variations impact fly survival, female fecundity, generation time, and vector competence. By analyzing these …