Digital Commons Network^™

The Implications Of Free Exercise Clause Jurisprudence For State Abortion Bans, Kunjan Sunil Patel

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Microwave Disinfection: Impact Of Sodium Chloride On Microbial Inactivation, Saleh A. Alfawaz, Ibrahim Nasser I. Alquaydheb, Amirreza Ghadimi Avval, Sara Ghayouraneh, Samir M. El-Ghazaly, Jianhong Zhou

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study explores the role of sodium chloride (NaCl) in enhancing the efficiency of microbial inactivation using microwave energy with two distinct methods: temperature-controlled treatment and predefined cycle. The primary objective is to maintain a stable temperature within the biological samples during treatment. Detailed descriptions of the treatment system’s design and the function of each element are provided. Simulations are conducted to illustrate the heating behavior of liquids with and without NaCl, revealing significant differences in temperature profiles between the two media. The experimental design and the objective behind each iteration are discussed. The experimental design includes three different power …

Management Protocol For Uncomplicated Peritonsillar Abscess: Standardizing Care And Improving Emergency Medicine Resident Confidence., John Casey, Scott Keidel, Marissa Kudo, Miriam Chan

Medical Education Articles

INTRODUCTION: A peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a frequent reason for a visit to the emergency department. As there are no current published guidelines for medical versus surgical management, attending physicians vary among management tendencies, generating uncertainty among resident physicians. This project established a standard of care for managing patients with PTA and provided clear management guidelines to the emergency department, in collaboration with the otolaryngology department, at a community academic hospital.

METHODS: Pre- and post-interventional, anonymous surveys were given to assess resident physician confidence in the management of PTA. A proposed management protocol was developed based on existing literature and …

Exploring Interdisciplinary Literacy Practices Supporting Youth Creativity, Critical Literacy, And Climate Change From An Interdisciplinary Perspective, Thomas W. Bean

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Norfolk, Virginia endures frequent tide- and rain-impacted flooding with king tides and flooding neighborhoods. The heavy rainfall envelops parking lots at the naval airbase, and plans are underway to create barrier sea walls that can be adjusted based on conditions. Given various dire predications for future sea level rise, Old Dominion University has created a “Maritime Consortium” aimed at bringing together interested faculty and students from a range of fields (e.g., oceanography, engineering, education, and other fields). At this stage the focus is on compiling a directory of interested parties. So far regular meetings have been held to learn about …

Children's Moments Of "Becoming" In Classrooms: Spatial Production And Multiliteracy Practices, Seongryeong Yu

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

While immigrant children’s identity negotiation and their sense of belonging are increasingly highlighted, existing literature remains largely focused on language abilities and identity struggles, often emphasizing rigid definitions of “identity” grounded in blood, language, and culture. Drawing on findings from my dissertation, this comparative ethnographic case study examines the fluidity of identity through literacy practices that help children construct meaning and foster belonging. By analyzing how 10-year-old students’ literacy practices interact with physical and social environments at school, I discuss shared expressions of emotions, power dynamics, the role of language, and variations in the use of cultural materials. These moments …

The Regenarrative: How To Change The Story In Order To Change The Future, S. Rose Bigheart O'Leary

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Abstract

In the era of Climate Change, many are concerned that the end of the Anthropocene, or the end of the era of human life on Earth, is upon us. Western European colonialism and its subsequent systems (settler-colonialism, colonial-capitalism, and globalization - sometimes termed “neocolonialism”) have all been implicated in contributing to unsustainable behaviors linked to accelerating climate change. In searching for possible solutions, some have called for listening to Indigenous Peoples, citing ethics of sustainability found among many Indigenous cultures. However, the cultural products of settler-colonialism are still dominant in ways that do not allow for Indigenous worldviews to …

Deep Screens: A Pipeline For Transforming Pose Estimation In Film Into 3d Character Animations, Yaming Xu

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

With the advancement of computer vision and machine learning, techniques have emerged to capture movement data from humans in video footage. The Deep Screens Project utilizes these techniques to extract 3D human body pose data from film using machine learning and computer vision algorithms. Once data is extracted, it will undergo statistical analysis to quantitatively characterize the acting styles specific to various eras, genres, and actors. My thesis contributes to the Deep Screens Project by developing a pipeline that integrates machine learning and computer vision libraries to import data into a 3D visualization environment such as Unity. This pipeline includes …

Advancements In Sarcoma- And Nerve-Specific Fluorescence Imaging For Surgical Guidance, Kendra A. Hebert

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) is an evolving field that aims to improve patient outcomes by using fluorophores to identify important tissues during surgery, such as tumors and nerves. In this thesis work, we explored different methods of identifying nerve and tumor tissues for FGS and a novel fluorescence-based method to determine the depths of these structures.

Researchers have explored using fluorescence guided surgery for surgical resection of cancerous tissues, including recent work by our group focusing on identifying soft tissue sarcomas with ABY-029, an epidermal growth factor receptor targeting probe. However, our preclinical and clinical work shows no single reporter …

Asynchronous Movement Patterns Between Breeding And Stopover Locations In A Long-Distance Migratory Songbird, Theodore Zenzal, Andrea Contina, Hannah Vander Zanden, Leanne Kuwahara, Daniel Allen, Kristen Covino

Faculty Publications

The species-specific migratory patterns and strategies of many songbirds remain unknown or understudied, as research in animal ecology is biased toward the breeding period, with the fewest studies on the migratory period across taxa. Identifying large-scale spatiotemporal migratory patterns is challenging, as individuals within a species may vary in their migratory behavior and strategies. The Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) is a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant that is relatively well studied during the breeding season, but its species-wide migratory patterns remain understudied. Our aim in studying Yellow Warbler movement ecology was to characterize temporal migration patterns during fall migration. We sought to determine …

The Role Of Altered Cell-Cell Communication Between Glia And Neurons In Alzheimer’S Disease, Tabea Marga Soelter

All ETDs from UAB

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline, affecting behavior, speech, and motor abilities. The neuropathology includes the formation of extracellular amyloid-β plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of phosphorylated tau. Additionally, neurons become functionally impaired before degenerating and dying. While neuronal loss is a disease hallmark, glia maintain neuronal health and homeostasis through cell-cell communication with neurons. Cellular crosstalk is mediated through the release of chemical intermediates (i.e., ligands), which are taken up by cell surface membrane receptors. Previous studies have shown dysregulation of global cell-cell communication patterns and communication …

Optical Absorption Of Defects In Aluminum Nitride, Mackenzie Siford

All ETDs from UAB

Aluminum nitride (AlN) is an ultrawide bandgap semiconductor material known for its applications in high power microelectronic and optoelectronic devices due to its high thermal conductivity and high electrical resistivity. Point defects are known to hinder the material’s properties and are therefore a subject of interest in semiconductor materials research. The samples used in this work were grown by physical vapor transport (PVT) at Hexatech and they exhibit amber and clear coloration as well as a nonuniformity of charge, which was investigated. Experiments were carried out by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and photo-EPR spectroscopy in order to detect the defect …

Cross-Laminated Timber For Sustainable Construction - Long-Term Performance And Environmental Impacts, Arthiha Tharmrasan

Open Access Master's Theses

As concerns about climate change and its extensive impacts continue to grow, the construction industry has become focus of attention due to its substantial role in contributing to carbon dioxide emissions and resource depletion. This research thesis delves into the potential of timber structures, particularly cross-laminated timber (CLT), to offer sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials. The study is structured into two main parts: an examination of the long-term performance of CLT and an evaluation of its environmental impacts through life cycle assessment (LCA).

The initial section of the study focuses on the durability and mechanical integrity of CLT structures, …

The Role Of Feedback In Accurate Delivery Of Skill Acquisition Programs In Applied Behavior Analysis, Cyndy Wollenweber

Research Papers

Feedback is commonly used to increase and maintain employee performance. Although the effectiveness of feedback is frequently studied in applied behavior analysis (ABA), there are various considerations when it comes to providing feedback, such as the type of feedback, delivery method, and timing of feedback. For instance, although the feedback sandwich is commonly used, where positive feedback is delivered followed by corrective feedback and more positive feedback, empirical findings are mixed (Henley & DiGennaro Reed 2015; Parkes et. al., 2013). Therefore, the current paper will review ABA, organizational behavior management, the role of feedback in the aforementioned areas, and provide …

Optimization Of A Low-Cost Corona Dielectric-Barrier Discharge Plasma Wastewater Treatment System Through Central Composite Design/Response Surface Methodology With Mechanistic And Efficiency Analysis, Yiting Xiao, Yang Tian, Yuanhang Zhan, Jun Zhu

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Water pollution, which is intensified by the release of hard-to-degrade pollutants, poses severe threats to ecosystems, human health, and economic development. The existing advanced oxidation processes often involve high operational costs and can potentially result in secondary pollution, highlighting the necessity for innovative and more sustainable solutions. To address these challenges, our study introduces a cost-effective and eco-friendly corona dielectric-barrier discharge for wastewater treatment. Using the central composite design/response surface methodology, a high decolorization rate of 98% of methylene blue (MB) was achieved within 10 min by optimizing parameters such as pH and voltage. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying the generation …

Rule-In-Use For Community-Based Springs Management Faces Land Use Pressures: Lesson Learned From Manggarai District, Bernadinus Steni, Hariadi Kartodihardjo, Soeryo Adiwibowo, Ruchyat Deni Djakapermana

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

The struggle for water is one of the greatest immediate risks of the climate crisis. Therefore, the institutional challenge of water management is increasingly urgent and requires a number of consensuses to succeed, including community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). A key challenge to the traditional consensus for water conservation is the increasing need for land conversion due to population growth, which in turn deflects decision-making power away from traditional institutions towards external decision-makers such as regional governments. Using Ostrom's conceptual framework of rules of use, this research examines shifting spring water management in the context of Kabupaten Manggarai. The paper …

Exploring The Associations Between Cognitive Training, Social Determinants Of Health, And Driving Behaviors: A Longitudinal Analysis Of The Active Study, Katie Wheeler

All ETDs from UAB

As the average lifespan increases, older adults are remaining independent into older ages than before. The ability to drive a vehicle is an essential part of daily living that helps older adults maintain independence. Cognitive training, specifically speed of processing training (SOPT), is an intervention that has consistently shown to benefit older adult’s driving abilities and driving behaviors. This dissertation examined the longitudinal association between cognitive training and primary driving location on crash risk across 20 years (Paper 1), investigated the effects of cognitive training and dosage on driving mobility across 10 years (Paper 2), and explored social determinants of …

The Modification Of Single Domain Antibody Framework And Variable Regions To Impart Novel Pharmacodynamic And Pharmacokinetic Properties, Lucinda Ann Hall

All ETDs from UAB

In recent years, nanobodies have become important theranostic molecules, and research has focused on improving their pharmacokinetics and binding for novel targets. Nanobodies are characterized by their high kidney uptake, leading to potentially unsafe exposure of the kidneys when delivering cytotoxic payloads. Researchers hypothesize that positively charged amino acids contribute to this kidney uptake. To address this, we assessed the impact of substituting lysine residues within the 2Rs15d HER2 nanobody scaffold to alanine on its in vivo pharmacokinetics using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. We found that nanobodies bearing lysine-to-alanine substitutions maintained their affinity for HER2. Characterization of the K88A …

Exploring The Spiritual Dynamics Of Orthodox Religious Tourism: An In-Depth Study Of Visitor Experience At Osovica Monastery, Ivan Kosta, Anđelina Marić Stanković, Danijel Pavlović, Marija Bratić, Slobodan Čerović

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious tourism is increasingly becoming a significant component of global tourism trends, contributing to a substantial increase in tourist traffic worldwide. This study focuses on analysing the motives, reasons, effects, and expectations of visiting Osovica Monastery, a recently renovated sanctuary of the Serbian Orthodox Church within the Banja Luka Diocese in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through a comprehensive literature review and empirical analysis, this research explores the motivations behind visiting the monastery, the impacts of these motivations on visitor satisfaction, and the factors influencing revisits and positive feedback. Utilising a methodological approach that incorporates both psychological and …

Opossums And Pathogens: A Survey Of Vector-Borne And Zoonotic Pathogens From Didelphis Virginiana In The Midwest, Usa, Cassandra C. P. Strehl

Masters Theses

Didelphis virginiana are at elevated risk of exposure to many zoonotic and vector-borne pathogens (ZVBP) as a result of their unfastidious diets, large geographic ranges, and diverse habitat types. Didelphis virginiana are synanthropic animals, which is concerning considering the spillover risk of pathogens D. virginiana present as a result. 81 D. virginiana from Ohio and Illinois were screened for Rickettsia spp., Mycoplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Trypanosoma cruzi, and apicomplexan pathogens. Live D. virginiana were trapped in wire cage traps to perform venipuncture for blood collection. Samples collected as roadkill or from animal control companies were dissected and spleen …

Riverrun 2024, Saint Mary's College Of California

Riverrun Literary Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Power Of Action, Giavanna Fioretti

Comm-entary

This essay analyzes a constructive conversation me and my roommate Kaylee had with a friend of ours, Teddy. This conversation presented itself after Kaylee and I witnessing a form of a microaggression. It was not intended with harm, but the conversation was one that we felt we needed to discuss. This essay emphasizes the impact of action and how it can be put to very good use. It also discusses how Teddy felt after the conversation, as opposed to how Kaylee and I felt after discussing this issue with him. This conversation was handled with kindness, as well as attempting …

Lysophospholipids Are Associated With Outcomes In Hospitalized Patients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Aaron M Gusdon, Jude Pj Savarraj, John B Redell, Atzhiry Paz, Sarah Hinds, Angela Burkett, Glenda Torres, Xuefang Ren, Neeraj Badjatia, Georgene W Hergenroeder, Anthony N Moore, H Alex Choi, Pramod K Dash

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounts for 70-90% of all TBI cases. Lipid metabolites have important roles in plasma membrane biogenesis, function, and cell signaling. As TBI can compromise plasma membrane integrity and alter brain cell function, we sought to identify circulating phospholipid alterations after mTBI, and determine if these changes were associated with clinical outcomes. Patients with mTBI (Glasgow Coma Score [GCS] ≥13 and loss of consciousness <30 >min) were recruited. A total of 84 mTBI subjects were enrolled after admission to a level I trauma center, with the majority having evidence of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage on brain computed tomography …

Image-Guided Deployment And Monitoring Of A Novel Tungsten Nanoparticle-Infused Radiopaque Absorbable Inferior Vena Cava Filter In A Swine Model, Erin Marie San Valentin, Jossana A Damasco, Marvin Bernardino, Karem A Court, Biana Godin, Gino Martin Canlas, Adam Melancon, Gouthami Chintalapani, Megan C Jacobsen, William Norton, Rick R Layman, Natalie Fowlkes, Stephen R Chen, Steven Y Huang, Marites P Melancon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: To improve radiopacity of radiolucent absorbable poly-p-dioxanone (PPDO) inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) and demostrate their effectiveness in clot-trapping ability.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tungsten nanoparticles (WNPs) were incorporated along with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymers to increase the surface adsorption of WNPs. The physicochemical and in vitro and in vivo imaging properties of PPDO IVCFs with WNPs with single-polymer PHB (W-P) were compared with those of WNPs with polymer blends consisting of PHB, PCL, and PVP (W-PB).

RESULTS: In vitro analyses using PPDO sutures showed enhanced radiopacity with either W-P or W-PB coating, without compromising the …

Increased Resolvin E1 Production By Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells In Periodontitis Patients: Pilot Study, Lina J Suárez, Wilmer González-Duarte, Rodrigo Torrez-Velasco, Viviana Salinas, Nelly S Roa-Molina, Sindy M Muñoz, Luz-Stella Rodríguez, Roger M Arce, Jamil A Shibli, Adriana Rodríguez-Ciodaro

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study quantified the production of the pro-resolving agent Resolvin E1 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 20 systemically healthy volunteers with and without periodontitis after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg). Ten periodontitis patients and 10 healthy volunteers (30-50 years old), matched by age and sex, were recruited. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and stimulated in culture plates for 24 hours with Pg LPS. Resolvin E1 levels were measured in the supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significantly higher production of Resolvin E1 was observed in both groups when stimulated with LPS compared to baseline levels …

The Short And Troubled History Of The Printed State Administrative Codes And Why They Should Be Preserved, Kurt X. Metzmeier

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This article makes a case for the historical importance of early state administrative codes and urges that law libraries preserve them for future researchers of state administrative law and policy.

A Virtual Culinary Medicine Intervention For Ethnically Diverse Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: Development Of The Nourishing The Community Through Culinary Medicine, Lorena Macias-Navarro, John Wesley Mcwhorter, Diana C Guevara, Sarah S Bentley, Shreela V Sharma, Jennifer H Torres, David Ai, Natalia I Heredia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Virtual culinary medicine education interventions have the potential to improve dietary behaviors, nutrition knowledge, cooking skills, and health outcomes for ethnically diverse individuals with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study is to describe the adaptation of the Nourishing the Community through Culinary Medicine (NCCM) program for virtual delivery, and the protocol for pilot testing this intervention. The intervention includes five 90-min virtual NCCM sessions streamed live from a Teaching Kitchen. Feasibility outcomes are recruitment, retention, acceptability, and satisfaction. Short-term effectiveness outcomes are measured through self-administered questionnaires, including perceived health, average daily servings of fruits and vegetables, frequency of …

Variant Of The Lactase Lct Gene Explains Association Between Milk Intake And Incident Type 2 Diabetes, Kai Luo, Guo-Chong Chen, Yanbo Zhang, Jee-Young Moon, Jiaqian Xing, Brandilyn A Peters, Mykhaylo Usyk, Zheng Wang, Gang Hu, Jun Li, Elizabeth Selvin, Casey M Rebholz, Tao Wang, Carmen R Isasi, Bing Yu, Rob Knight, Eric Boerwinkle, Robert D Burk, Robert C Kaplan, Qibin Qi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cow's milk is frequently included in the human diet, but the relationship between milk intake and type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains controversial. Here, using data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, we show that in both sexes, higher milk intake is associated with lower risk of T2D in lactase non-persistent (LNP) individuals (determined by a variant of the lactase LCT gene, single nucleotide polymorphism rs4988235 ) but not in lactase persistent individuals. We validate this finding in the UK Biobank. Further analyses reveal that among LNP individuals, higher milk intake is associated with alterations in gut microbiota (for …

Cleaning Tasks And Products And Asthma Among Health Care Professionals, Jenil Patel, David Gimeno Ruiz De Porras, Laura E Mitchell, Arch Carson, Lawrence W Whitehead, Inkyu Han, Lisa Pompeii, Sadie Conway, Jan-Paul Zock, Paul K Henneberger, Riddhi Patel, Joy De Los Reyes, George L Delclos

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Health care workers are at risk for work-related asthma, which may be affected by changes in cleaning practices. We examined associations of cleaning tasks and products with work-related asthma in health care workers in 2016, comparing them with prior results from 2003.

METHODS: We estimated asthma prevalence by professional group and explored associations of self-reported asthma with job-exposure matrix-based cleaning tasks/products in a representative Texas sample of 9914 physicians, nurses, respiratory/occupational therapists, and nurse aides.

RESULTS: Response rate was 34.8% (n = 2421). The weighted prevalence rates of physician-diagnosed (15.3%), work-exacerbated (4.1%), and new-onset asthma (6.7%) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness …

Colonial Drivers And Cultural Protectors Of Brain Health Among Indigenous Peoples Internationally, Rita Henderson, Joyla A Furlano, Shayla Scott Claringbold, Ashley Cornect-Benoit, Anh Ly, Jennifer Walker, Lisa Zaretsky, Pamela Roach

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite relatively higher rates of dementia among Indigenous populations internationally, research into drivers of disparities in brain health and cognitive function has tended to focus on modifiable risk factors over cultural understandings and contextual determinants. By seeking to characterize social and cultural factors that shape brain health and cognition in Indigenous populations, this mini scoping review expands prevailing schools of thought to include Indigenous knowledge systems. This reveals important gaps in culturally aligned care. It also reclaims horizons for research important to Indigenous Peoples that have garnered diminished attention in biomedical approaches. Twenty-three sources were included for data extraction. This …

Photovoice As A Reflective Pedagogy For Undergraduate Community Psychology Students, Shereé Bielecki

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive qualitative study was designed to understand the experiences of former Community Psychology (CP) undergraduate students who participated in a degree program at a California university. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how former Community Psychology undergraduate students describe their experiences using reflective Photovoice activities to learn about and become involved in social justice. The theoretical frameworks that informed this study were in social justice theory, pedagogical practices related to teaching social justice using Photovoice, and the practice of self-reflection in college classrooms. Two primary research questions guide the inquiry: 1) How do former Community Psychology …