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Tracking Natural Hazards: Bridging Rain-Triggered Lahar Research And Protective Action Decision Making In Wildland Fire Management, Ashley Bosa

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Understanding natural hazards is crucial for mitigating risks, protecting lives and property, and building resilience in communities. By enabling communities to prepare, respond effectively, and take protective action against disasters, the devastating impacts of natural hazards can be significantly reduced. However, transitioning from research to tangible community impact involves a multi-step process that bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and practical application. In this dissertation, I present two seismo-acoustic analyses of multiple rain-triggered lahar events at Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala, a granulometry study that attempts drone imagery analysis for lahar deposits, and a case-study review of the roles of …

Scholarships, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Periconceptional, Physical Activity, Environment, Nutrition And Diet (Prepared) Study, Aaliyah Devore

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Accessibility: Policy Innovations For Lower Limb Prosthetic Users, Hannah Huggans

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Eor-1/Plzf In Promoting Soma Compartment Specific Death In A Non-Canonical Cell Death Program In C. Elegans, Nathan Rather

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an essential evolutionarily- conserved and genetically encoded program for normal development and homeostasis. A previous study identified a CED-3 dependent but mechanistically non-apoptotic and highly stereotyped elimination program called Compartmentalized Cell Elimination (CCE) in the C. elegans tail-spike epithelial cell (TSC). Here the transcription factor EOR-1/PLZF is found to promote CCE. The loss of which results in a persisting non-engulfed soma with enlarged nuclei in the first larval stage. This study finds that EOR-1 and its established partners function downstream of CED-3 Caspase protease activity, a role distinct from other PCD contexts where EOR-1 has …

About The Mcnair Scholars Program, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Using Machine Learning To Improve Confidence In Lung Cancer Diagnosis, Sandra Channeary Khoun

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Health professionals must diagnose correctly to avoid unnecessary costs in care and medicine. Different conditions, come with different treatments. Therefore, it is key to produce the right diagnoses promptly to help treat people appropriately and quickly. As lung cancer is the leading cancer type in the world, it is often diagnosed too late once symptoms appear which becomes difficult to treat at certain stages. In the race against time, recruiting the use of machine learning next to traditional methods of diagnosing will improve the confidence of professionals to predict specific conditions accurately and with speed. For our research, we will …

Assessing The Potential For Soil-Mediated Transmission Of Symbiotic Bacteria In The Leaffooted Bug (Leptoglossus Phyllopus), Armeen Nasir

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Recent evidence suggests insects might indirectly provide symbionts to their offspring by releasing them into the soil via feces. We investigated whether this is occurring in the Eastern leaf-footed bug, Leptoglosuss phyllopus. We hypothesized that if adults release viable symbiont cells into their environment, then nymphs will have a higher survival rate, develop faster, and be larger at adulthood when exposed to soil that has been in contact with adult insects for longer. To measure the rate and whether the bugs acquired Caballeronia from the soil, insect nymphs were exposed to soil that had been exposed to a lab colony …

Identification Of Novel Genes Regulating Caenorhabditis Elegans Morphologically Complex Cellelimination, Brenda Amata

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of 12 Exoplanet-Star Systems And Their Exomoon Candidates, Connor Jackson

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Investing The Therapeutic Possibilities Of Glassblowing, Isabella Posca

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Insights Into Cerebrovascular Health: Comparative Study Of The Common Carotid And Middle Cerebral Artery, Emma Lou

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

The carotid artery, responsible for blood flow to the brain, and the middle cerebral artery (MCA), which supplies the cerebrum, are both susceptible to atherosclerosis, a condition that impairs blood flow and can lead to cognitive decline and ischemic strokes. This study investigates whether blood flow and vasodilation responses in the MCA during a hypercapnic challenge are comparable to those in the common carotid artery, which supplies the entire brain. This project aims to address limitations in current assessment methods, such as transcranial and duplex Doppler ultrasonography, to ascertain whether these two arteries exhibit consistent vasodilation patterns under hypercapnic conditions. …

Investigating The Impact Of Mindfulness Practice On Quality Of Life And Anxiety Levels In College Students, Ope L. Oyeyemi

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Anxiety disorders are becoming more common among college students, seriously affecting their academic performance and overall well-being. This study sought to investigate how current mindfulness practices and willingness to engage in mindfulness relate to psychological outcomes in college students. Participants (N=432) were students ≥ 17 years old recruited from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Analyses compared differences in levels of anxiety, quality of life, depression symptom severity, cognitive dysfunction, and stress based on participant self-reported willingness to engage and current time spent engaging in mindfulness practices. It is expected that students who currently engage in more mindfulness will …

Implementing Down Syndrome Accessibility Features Through Renovations In The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Bailey G. Samide

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Down Syndrome is a developmental disability that affects all stages of development. To create accessible spaces, demographic information, such as age, about the users must be considered and the appropriate features should be added to cater to each stage of development. A few of the appropriate features include mobility improvements, setting clear spatial boundaries, and utilizing lighting techniques. This study explores the feasibility of implementing Down Syndrome accessibility features through renovations in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Using existing literature, a 3D mockup of the more optimal alterations was developed. A heatmap was created based on a variety of data, and …

Natural Lighting As A Strategy For Sustainable Design, Grace Holdsworth

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Modern buildings are increasingly reliant on artificial light to illuminate interior spaces, decreasing the importance of natural light in architectural design. However, the adverse effects of climate change, catalyzing blackouts and rising energy costs, have made this reliance a significant issue. This study aimed to analyze the benefits of daylighting in architectural design and its ability to improve buildings’ sustainability. To examine the impact of sunlight on the perception of a space, a light box study model was constructed, and the interior was photographed periodically from sunrise to sunset. This study highlighted the dynamic quality of sunlight, and its ability …

Investigating Abortion Care For Women Of Color And Low-Income Women In A Post-Roe Texas: Studying Abortion Accessibility Via Planned Parenthood, Bijahn M. Prox

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Women of color and low-income women are among the most vulnerable parties affected by restrictive abortion policies. This study investigates the accessibility-related impacts of overturning Roe v. Wade by researching Planned Parenthood’s Texas system and services, with a primary interest in abortion care. The state’s longstanding conservative political stance provides a rich landscape to study the long-term effects of conservative reproductive policies. The study’s approach is founded on feminist theory methodology, which recognizes issues on feminism and analyzes the systems that perpetrate the injustice of interest. The reproductive injustice catalyzed by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, thereby releasing abortion …

A Machine Learning Approach To Multifactorial Modeling Of Episodic Memory Performance, Evan Fletcher, Marianne Chanti-Ketterl, Emily Hokett, Yi Lor, Umesh Venkatesan, Paola Gilsanz, Rachel Whitmer, Ruijia Chen, Kristen George, Zvinka Zlatar

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

BACKGROUND: Neurocognitive health is influenced by multiple modifiable and non-modifiable lifestyle factors. Machine learning tools offer a promising approach to better understand complex models of cognitive function. We used extreme gradient boosting (XG Boost), an algorithm of decision-tree modeling, to analyze the association between 15 late-life lifestyle and demographic factors with episodic memory performance. METHOD: Our dataset consisted of 2247 participants from the KHANDLE and STAR cohorts. Participants included 841 men and 1406 women, an ethnoracial diversity of 413 Asian, 987 Black, 349 Latinx, and 496 White adults with age range 54-90 (mean = 74). XG Boost models of continuous …

Book Reviews, Jessica Depew, W. Maclane Hall, Kathryn Greenberg

Trotter Review

Book Reviews for Volume 23, Issue 2 of theTrotter Review.

Black Separatism In Boston's Urban Environment, 1968-1988, Dylan O'Hara

Trotter Review

Article for Volume 23, Issue 2 of theTrotter Review.

Editorial Note, Adam Lee Cilli

Trotter Review

Editor's Note for Volume 23, Issue 2 of theTrotter Review.

Introduction: History, Race, And The Urban Environment, Hettie V. Williams

Trotter Review

Introduction for Volume 23, Issue 2 of theTrotter Review.

Breathing While Black: How New York's Marginalized Communities Reshaped Urban Environmentalism, 1880-2020, Nancy Andoh

Trotter Review

Article for Volume 23, Issue 2 of theTrotter Review.

Labeling Energy Drinks: Tackling A Monster Of A Problem, Meredith P. Mulhern, Michael S. Sinha

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Energy drinks first rose to popularity in the 1980s after the creation of Red Bull. In addition to high caffeine amounts, energy drinks often contain herbal stimulant additives, vitamin and mineral mixtures, and sugar. There is very little information available on the long-term effects of these stimulant mixtures on the body. Although many consumers purchase energy drinks because of their caffeine content, many are left in the dark when it comes to labeling transparency and are unaware of their true contents. Energy drinks are classified as dietary supplements, meaning they are not directly regulated by the FDA before hitting store …

Forced To Weather The Storm: Reforming The Livestock Indemnity Program To Improve Farm Animal Welfare, Cameron Krier Massey

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Each year, extreme weather events put the lives and wellbeing of millions of farm animals at risk. These events can lead to injury, suffering, acute and chronic stress, decreased productivity, and loss of life. As storms increase in frequency and intensity, efforts should be made to ensure livestock are protected. This paper proposes modifications to the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), a federally run disaster assistance program that compensates livestock owners and growers for animal deaths and reduced value caused by eligible conditions, including extreme weather. Surprisingly, the program does not require producers to show proof and use of a disaster …

Udder Confusion: An Almond Milk Case Study To Examine The Complex Interplay Of Consumer Choices, Social Media, And Regulation, Madeline Mcculloch

Journal of Food Law & Policy

The preference for plant-based diet options has steadily increased for the American public. This is all particularly true for alternative milks. By the end of 2020, plant-based milk alternatives (“PBMA”) accounted for approximately fifteen percent of the total milk market and thirty-five percent of the overall plant-based market, making alternative milks, particularly almond, one of the most popular ways for people to dabble in a plant-based diet. Almond milk holds the gold in the U.S. plant-based milk market. It is, first, essential to examine the comprehensive context surrounding almond milks’ status on grocery shelves. This writing will attempt to do …

Genomic Analysis Of The Sars-Cov-2 Variants Circulated In The Philippines, 2020–2024, Arnie Dimaano, Kiana Dominique Carreon, Giselle Sophia Camaya, Irvin Rondolo, Jarel Elgin Tolentino

Biology Faculty Publications

Purpose

Genomic sequencing has been an invaluable tool to determine the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, we provided a comprehensive description of the SARS-CoV-2 variants circulated in the Philippines.

Methods

The dataset from the human COVID-19 infections was acquired by downloading the sequences and their associated metadata spanning from March 2020 to April 2024. Then, we executed several filtering criteria to acquire the final dataset for the Philippine samples and performed spatial distribution analysis and phylogenetic tree construction of the reported SARS-CoV-2 sequences.

Results

A total of 16,679,203 SARS-CoV sequences were obtained, of which 17,393 (0.10 %) were …

Constitutive Chefs: The Ethos And Constitutive Rhetoric Of Anthony Bourdain, Sean Sherman, And Mashama Bailey., Michael Jared Benjamin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation project explores the motivation of chefs to become Public Chef Intellectuals and how they cultivate and engage with an audience that will never taste their food. Using a case study approach, this dissertation analyzes the intellectual missions of Anthony Bourdain, Sean Sherman, and Mahsama Bailey as told through their television shows, memoirs, cookbooks, and restaurant menus. I argue that for each chef, their cultural identity is inextricably tied to their ultimate purpose – the use of food as a Trojan horse to promote their vision for a collective American culture. This project underscores that this process happens dialogically …

Proteolytic Manipulation Of Neutrophil Responses And The Efferocytic Synapse By Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Kelley N. Cooper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) is etiologically associated with chronic periodontitis, a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of hard and soft tissues of the periodontium. Pg is adapted to live in the human oral subgingival niche, a hostile environment dominated by excessive numbers of activated neutrophils and antimicrobial mediators. Its survival is contingent upon prompt and effective inactivation of neutrophil effector functions. In this dissertation, I uncover a novel pathogenic mechanism employed by Pg that disarms the antimicrobial capacity of live neutrophils and simultaneously sequesters them within macrophages. Mechanistically, RgpB, a cysteine protease produced by Pg …

Defining The Peripheral Plasticity Of Nociceptive Afferents Following Spinal Cord Injury And Physical Therapy Intervention., Morgan Julianna Forston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation is to explore the peripheral plasticity of nociceptive afferents following spinal cord injury (SCI) and whether it is exacerbated or induced when physical therapy-based muscle stretching, a therapy we have shown to be detrimental to locomotor recovery in rodents, is implemented post-SCI. Chapter I provides a brief introduction on sensory afferents with particular emphasis on nociceptive afferents and their multifaceted role within the peripheral and central nervous systems. Chapter II describes SCI epidemiology and common sensory related complications that occur in patients as well and pharmaco- and physical therapies that are employed post-SCI. Chapter III …

Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Based Metabolomics, Lipidomics And Epitranscriptomics., Raobo Xu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metabolomics and lipidomics are the comprehensive studies of metabolites and lipids in cells, biological fluids, tissues, or organisms. These distinct chemical fingerprints are left behind by cellular processes. Epitranscriptomics is the field that focuses on examining chemical modifications on RNA molecules at the transcriptome level. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has been widely used in those omics studies. In this dissertation, I developed and applied both untargeted and targeted approaches using LC-MS based various analytical platforms to conduct omics studies. Firstly, I investigated caffeine metabolites in human urine and discovered three potential functional biomarkers to differentiate the stages of alcohol-associated liver …