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The Diamond, December 13, 2024, Dordt Unversity

Dordt Diamond

• Front Page: Defenders Dominate the Ice in Weekend Tournament; New NCDC Voting System Causes Controversy; "More Than a Headline:" Inside Kinsey Elementary's School Performance Profile
• News: Student-Made Short Film, Remember What's Important to Make Its Debut Tonight; Swing Dance Club and the High School Musical Moon; Trump Restocks His Cabinet: A Rundown of the President-Elect's Picks; Pastor Carlos and Raquel Perez Answer the Call to the U.S.
• Feature: From Rubble to Hope: Missionary to Lebanon Shares Testimony and Experience and Dordt; Overview of the Film You're Not Alone; Underclassmen Women Decorate their Doors in "Deck the …

Assessing Ocean Attitudes, Decision-Making, And Learning Of Oceanography Camp Especially For Girls Participants, Serenity Poston-Hymel

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

The ocean provides many important economic, nutritional, and cultural resources and ecosystem services to human populations. However, many anthropogenic activities are threatening ocean ecosystems and these vital resources (Inniss et al., 2016). Ocean literacy is the knowledge, attitude, and behaviors that pertain to the ocean, its systems, and its relationships with humans (Brennan et al., 2019; Schoedinger et al., 2005). A key goal of ocean literacy is encouraging informed decisions and behaviors pertaining to the ocean, leading to responsible management and use of ocean resources (Santoro et al., 2018). Ocean attitudes and environmental moral reasoning are vital in influencing positive …

Key Epigenetic And Signaling Factors In The Formation And Maintenance Of The Blood-Brain Barrier, Jayanarayanan Sadanandan, Sithara Thomas, Iny Elizabeth Mathew, Zhen Huang, Spiros L Blackburn, Nitin Tandon, Hrishikesh Lokhande, Pierre D Mccrea, Emery H Bresnick, Pramod K Dash, Devin W Mcbride, Arif Harmanci, Lalit K Ahirwar, Dania Jose, Ari C Dienel, Hussein A Zeineddine, Sungha Hong, Peeyush Kumar T

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) controls the movement of molecules into and out of the central nervous system (CNS). Since a functional BBB forms by mouse embryonic day E15.5, we reasoned that gene cohorts expressed in CNS endothelial cells (EC) at E13.5 contribute to BBB formation. In contrast, adult gene signatures reflect BBB maintenance mechanisms. Supporting this hypothesis, transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct cohorts of EC genes involved in BBB formation and maintenance. Here, we demonstrate that epigenetic regulator's histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) control EC gene expression for BBB development and prevent Wnt/β-catenin (Wnt) target genes …

The Implementation Of Artificial Intelligence In University Classrooms: Perspective And Applications, Erika Grodzki, Gary Carlin, Stefanie Powers, Hung Chum Kao

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

This study examined the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in university classrooms, focusing on its benefits, challenges, and the diverse perspectives of academic faculty. While AI was widely embraced in disciplines like animation and design for enhancing creativity and efficiency, traditional fields remained cautious due to concerns about academic integrity and its impact on critical thinking. By analyzing literature and case studies, the presentation highlighted AI’s transformative potential in higher education, fostering dialogue on its strategic adoption to balance innovation with ethical and pedagogical considerations.

Msw Professional Portfolio, Jessica J. Christian

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio, Elizabeth Helen Brenneman J.D.

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Numerical Simulations On Rayleigh Taylor Instability For Co2 Sequestration In Saline Aquifers, Bhargavi Vandadu

Mechanical Engineering Theses

The density-driven convection appears promise for CO₂ storage, precise prediction on a reservoir size is problematic due to limited data availability. Changes in permeability impact flow patterns and the effectiveness of mixing processes. Permeability differences influence the sorts of density-driven mixing phenomena such as fingering and stable mixing. Improving CO₂ storage models is challenging due to the unpredictable nature of these processes. The study looks at the flow phenomena in which carbon dioxide with a lower viscosity displaces on heavier fluid water. Causes instability by producing finger-like structures at the gas-liquid interface. This study uses the species transport technique to …

Eco-Friendly Polyester Vitrimer: Enhanced Stretchability, Self-Healing, And Reprocessability Through Dynamic Covalent Crosslinks Via Melt-Polycondensation, Saiprasanna Neerukonda

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Dynamic covalent polymer networks offer new possibilities for designing sustainable polyester vitrimers owing to their excellent reprocessability and malleability; however, maintaining the high performance of the adaptable network with amazing healing properties remains a challenge. Therefore, the proposed approach considers the one-pot synthetic strategy to fabricate highly stretchable polyester vitrimer networks via condensation polymerization of different aliphatic diacids which are glutaric acid, pimelic acid, azelaic acid with 1,4-butanediol in the presence of glycerol and dithiodicarboxylic acids as the curing agent and dynamic covalent crosslinkers. The synthesized polyester network with simultaneous disulfide metathesis and carboxylate transesterification exhibited vitrimeric behavior which can …

Sustainable Series Of New Epoxidized Castor Oil-Based Thermosets With Reprocessable Properties, Enanshu Chaudhari

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

This research will focus on the development and characterization of bio-based thermosets using epoxidized castor oil (ECO) and a range of dicarboxylic acids, namely 2,2'-dithiodiglycolic acid (DTGA), 3,3'-dithiodipropionic acid (DTPA), and 4,4'-dithiodibutyric acid (DTBA). The objective will be to synthesize environmentally sustainable thermosetting materials with tunable thermal and mechanical properties. The crosslinking between the epoxy groups in ECO and the carboxyl groups in the dicarboxylic acids will be confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), demonstrating the successful formation of ester linkages. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) will reveal that DTGA-based thermosets exhibit higher glass transition temperatures (Tg) due to shorter chain …

Improving Mood Scores With Social Robot Dog ‘Pupper’ In Pediatric Cardiovascular Patients, Alyssa Lopez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective Pediatric hospitalization has been shown to increase the risk of developmental delays, social isolation, and mental health disorders. Consequently, decreased happiness also results from hospitalization, leading to reduced motivation and less engagement in their care. Aim The aim of this project is to improve the mood of pediatric patients aged 3-25 years by 50% from the patient’s baseline level within one month, from October 16, 2024 to November 13, 2024, on a pediatric cardiac step down unit by utilizing a social robot dog to motivate patients in engaging in their care. Methods Twelve participants between the ages 4-18 years …

Bio-Based Polyurethane Composites Using Safflower Oil, Silicon & Phosphorus-Based Flame-Retardants, Smit Chaudhary

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Polyurethane (PU) is a versatile polymer that forms when isocyanate compounds react with compounds containing hydroxyl groups, typically polyols. It can exist in various forms, including rigid foams, flexible foams, coatings, adhesives, elastomers and composites, and is known for its durability, flexibility, rigidity and resistance to abrasion, chemicals, and weathering. PU finds extensive applications in industries ranging from construction and automotive to furniture and footwear. When it comes to vegetable oil-based PU composites, derived from renewable resources, offer eco-friendly alternatives in industries seeking sustainable materials. These composites demonstrate promise in applications for enhanced mechanical properties. This work investigates the PU …

Courting Success

DePaul Magazine

DePaul men’s basketball shoots for a comeback with new head coach Chris Holtmann and a revitalized program.

Making Music And Making Rent: The New Wave Of New York City’S Working Class Artists, Hannah J. Fierick

Capstones

Though New York’s local music scene has become a shadow of its former self, the city’s musicians have found creative ways to stay afloat while doing what they love. This piece explores the music scene in New York today through interviews with working class musicians themselves.

On Food And Restaurants, Liya Cui

Capstones

This portfolio contains a collection of stories about New York City restaurants and broader food culture, including reported features, a profile and criticism. Food is literally inescapable; even if you believe you don’t care about what you eat, every bite is a choice. This subject deserves critical thought and exploration as it influences our lives in myriad ways and reveals cultural trends that can tell us so much about who we are right now.

https://medium.com/@LiyaC/capstone-portfolio-on-food-and-restaurants-bc4c18c7f2a9

Infant Mortality Data: Missing Pieces To Prevention In Lesotho, Jacinda Croissant

Master's Projects and Capstones

Lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) like Lesotho lack complete and quality infant mortality data. Without infant mortality data, it can be challenging to develop public health education, programming, and policies to address preventative infant deaths in specific populations (Rao et al., 2004). A literature review identified strategies to improve infant mortality data in LMICs. Through a community engagement model and digital storytelling, community members can gain awareness, begin an ongoing conversation about local public health issues, and participate in an improved data collection system. Infant mortality is often used as an indicator of health for a population; improved infant mortality data can …

Utilizing Pupper, A Social Robot Dog, To Increase Happiness And Improve Mood In Pediatric Patients Of A Cardiac Step-Down Unit, Angela Feng Wu

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective The usage of social robots in pediatrics is an emerging field of study. Preliminary research shows that they are effective at improving the psychosocial well-being of pediatric patients. This quality improvement project focuses on Pupper, a newly developed quadruped social robot dog, and its ability in improving mood and happiness in pediatric patients of a cardiac step-down unit. Aim The aim of this project is to increase average mood scores of pediatric cardiac patients aged 3-25 years by 50% from their baseline of 3.75 to 5.63 on a six-point scale within a one-month time frame. Methods Before intervention and …

Climate- And Land-Use Change Impacts On Ecosystem Services Provided By Prairie Pothole Wetlands, Alina Mullins

Master's Projects and Capstones

Prairie pothole wetlands are a type of depressional, isolated wetland that can be found in the glaciated landscape of the mid-central United States and portions of southern Canada, also referred to as the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). The region is consistently recognized for its historic production and support of migratory waterfowl populations among other types of mammals and invertebrates largely due to the variability in pothole wetlands water levels and vegetative structure. Isolated from other waterbodies and lacking surface water connections, the hydrology of prairie pothole wetlands is influenced by the region’s continental climate. Historically, the region receives much of …

Identifying Fecal Contamination Sources In The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Amanda M. Free

Theses and Dissertations

The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GNDNERR) has a history of elevated fecal coliform counts. However, the source of the contamination is not well understood. According to past sanitary surveys, there has been a history of malfunctioning residential septic systems and inadequate wastewater treatment in the upper watershed. Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) and birds are also abundant in the estuary and could be potential contributors to elevated fecal coliform levels. To better understand the temporal and spatial variation of fecal coliforms in the GNDNERR and inform oyster reef management, eight sites within the GNDNERR watershed were sampled monthly for …

Multi-Temporal Uav Remote Sensing Combined With Machine Learning For Estimating Cotton Yield, Amrit Shrestha

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate crop yield estimation early in season can help in identifying specific areas within a field that may require different management practices, thus enhancing overall efficiency and productivity. However, early estimation has been a challenging task mainly due to integrated complex association between genetic × environment × management factors. Over the decades, machine learning techniques, especially artificial neural network, has been widely adopted in conjunction with uncrewed aerial system (UAS) for high-throughput plant phenotyping and crop yield estimation. This study introduces the plus neural network (pNN) to incorporate temporal dynamics across different crop growth stages. Cotton field data from 2020-2023 …

A Correlation Study Between Soil Selenium Levels And Diabetes Prevalence Across U.S. Regions: An Archival Data Analysis (2012-2018), Baoshan Wu

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the correlation between soil selenium levels and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence across U.S. regions between 2012 to 2018. Selenium, an essential trace element, plays an important role in antioxidant defense and metabolism. While appropriate selenium intake may protect against diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing oxidative stress, excessive intake can have adverse effects. This research analyzed the most recent data, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), for over 3,000 counties in the U.S. A correlation analysis model was used to determine the relationship between soil selenium …

Assembly And Analysis Of A Mobile Reactor System For The Continuous Conversion Of Landfill Gas To Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Benjamin Eston Gibens

Theses and Dissertations

Recent policy changes have shifted research and development to pursue technology that promotes a circular economy and net zero emissions by 2050. Current research is actively developing “drop-in” sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) that reduce emissions and are compatible with modern-day jet engines, mimicking conventional jet fuel's physical and chemical properties. While ensuring sustainable engine performance and operability using drop-in SAF is critical, several challenges remain in the economic outlook of SAF production. Biogas reforming and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) can be used in series to convert landfill gas to SAF; however, novel design approaches must be considered to alleviate capital and …

Algal Community Investigations: Present Day To Year-2100 For Mississippi Lakes And The Western Mississippi Sound, Emma Madison Tucker

Theses and Dissertations

Algae play a key role in the aquatic environment as primary producers; however, they can form harmful algal blooms that are detrimental to the aquatic environment, people, and even the economy. It is generally believed that climate change will influence future algal blooms. The first study estimated algae community in three freshwater locations in Mississippi, Desoto Lake, White’s Creek Lake, and Columbus Lake, and one saline location, Western Mississippi Sound, using modern and new tools of the autonomous surface vessel, FlowCam, and EcoTaxa. From those results and leading into the second study was the application of four climate scenarios on …

Projecting Land Cover Changes And Impacts On Bird Conservation Using Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing And A Cellular Automata – Artificial Neural Network Model In Nairobi National Park, Kenya., Frank Juma Ong'ondo

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines land cover changes and their projected future impacts on bird species conservation in and around Nairobi National Park, Kenya. 2016 and 2023 Satellite imagery, analyzed through Google Earth Engine and the MOLUSCE plugin were used to assess changes in five land cover types: grassland, shrubland, forest, urban, and water. Bird population data from the Kenya Bird Map were used to evaluate birds' responses to land cover changes. Birds were categorized into five habitat guilds—grassland-dependent, shrubland-dependent, forest-dependent, water-dependent, and urban-dependent bird species. Between 2016 and 2023, grassland and shrubland decreased by 14.21% and 5.54%, respectively, and urban increased …

Effects Of Eugenol And Carvacrol In Combination Against Salmonella In Hummus, Lauryn Ashley Heidelberg

Theses and Dissertations

Hummus consumption has risen but multiple foodborne outbreaks due to Salmonella contamination have been reported. Essential oils (EOs) eugenol and carvacrol have been found to inhibit the growth and survival of Salmonella in food products. The objective was to evaluate antibacterial properties of various concentrations of eugenol (EU) and carvacrol (CA), alone or in combination (EUCA) against Salmonella in vitro and in hummus. Eugenol demonstrated a MIC of 0.125 mg/mL and an MBC of 0.25 mg/mL, while carvacrol showed a MIC of 0.0625 mg/mL and an MBC of 0.125 mg/mL. In the hummus study, 2% EUCA was the most effective …

Identification Of Bacterial Species Composition And Diversity Of Chicken Breast Meat During Processing., Lizzie Raquel Zaldivar

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the bacterial profile of chicken during processing is essential to identify spoilage-related bacteria. Using advanced methods like Oxford Nanopore sequencing, specific bacterial species on chicken meat can be identified. This study aimed to characterize bacterial composition and diversity on chicken breast during processing. Results showed a reduction in aerobic bacteria, E. coli, coliform, and lactic acid bacteria counts. However, three thermophilic bacteria, Anoxybacillus contaminants, Neobacillus thermocopriae, and Anoxybacillus flavithermus, dominated across processing steps. Notably, Pseudomonas species were undetected by conventional plating but identified via Nanopore sequencing, highlighting the need for molecular detection methods. Although antimicrobial interventions significantly reduced bacterial …

The Effect Of Teacher Efficacy On Career Technical Education Program Participation In Select Mississippi Schools, Lori Parkman Nail

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine to what degree school staff understood the benefits and outcomes of Career Technical Education programs and how this level of understanding impacted Career Technical Education program enrollment in five selected schools in Mississippi. The levels of understanding keyed in on three pivotal factors. First, perceptions of the availability and accessibility of Career Technical Education programs to students in the participating schools were measured. Second, the perceptions of the benefits students reap from being involved in Career Technical Education programs were examined. Next, the perceptions of the benefits Career Technical Education programs …

Description And Influence Of Diseases On The East Mississippi Catfish Industry, And The Role Of Clay Minerals, Iron, And Aluminum Salts In The Susceptibility Of Channel Catfish To Aeromonas Hydrophila And Edwardsiella Ictaluri, Mark Alan Peterman

Theses and Dissertations

In 2014, a virulent clonal group of Aeromonas hydrophila (VAH) was the predominant disease impacting the east Mississippi (EMS) commercial catfish industry. The EMS aquatic ambulatory service observed an area not prone to VAH outbreaks. In addition, frequent underestimations of the scope and economic impact of the EMS catfish industry and its diseases warranted a descriptive effort. Therefore, the EMS catfish industry, its economic impact, the diseases of this region and their economic impact were described. Further, differences in water and geological chemistry of the area not prone to VAH outbreaks, and the sensitivity of VAH and Edwardsiella ictaluri to …

Invasive Bigheaded Carp Distribution Patterns In Oxbow Lakes Of The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Michaela Ann Palmieri

Theses and Dissertations

Large populations of Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and Bighead Carp (H. nobilis), collectively called bigheaded carps, may have significant impacts where they are invasive. In the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV), bigheaded carps have been documented in major rivers; however, knowledge of their distribution in oxbow lakes is lacking. Species distribution models are tools that can be used to estimate species distribution with presence data and environmental variables. As a cost-effective alternative to onsite sampling, I administered a questionnaire to biologists to inventory bigheaded carp presence and obtained environmental data from existing datasets. I used Maximum Entropy (Maxent) to illustrate …

Investigations Of Guayule Resin As A Wood Protectant, Queen Aguma

Theses and Dissertations

Wood products are subject to deterioration by numerous processes, as a biological material. Today, a significant area of preservative development is the utilization of existing plant residues that have water-repelling, antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties as components of wood protectants. Parthenium argentatum, known as guayule (wy-oo-lee), is a promising wood protectant due to its resin. However, the resin's complicated chemical, physical, and solvent-resistant properties make it difficult to use. The primary goal of this study was to eliminate the use of any solvent and rely on thermal modification only to fractionate usable compounds from guayule resin. Utilizing heated dialysis and …

Deep Learning - Based Automated Detection And Classification Of Foreign Materials In Poultry Using Color And Hyperspectral Imaging, Rohini Maram

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the use of Deep learning for detection and classification of small foreign materials (FMs) in poultry meat using color and hyperspectral imagery (HSI). The study employs You only look once (YOLO) object detection models on color images for precise localization, and one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D CNN), two-dimensional convolutional neural network (2D CNN) was used on HSI (600 – 1700 nm) for classification. Twelve different FMs commonly known as polymers including PVC, PET, LDPE and HDPE, were examined using 52 color and 52 hyperspectral images. Four YOLO models (v5x, v7x, v8x, v10x) were implemented, trained, tested and …