Digital Commons Network^™

Parenting Practices And Attachment Levels In Relation To Externalizing Behaviors In Children Raised By Nonparental Caregivers, Kourtney Mia Barfield

Honors Theses

Current literature supports parenting practices and the quality of child-caregiver attachments are correlated with child externalizing behavior. However, these results typically come from samples of biological parents and their children. It is unknown if parenting practices (i.e. poor supervision, inconsistent discipline, and positive parenting) predict attachment and externalizing behavior among children of grandparents and foster parents. Previous studies have also found
that attachment mediates the relation between parenting practices and externalizing behavior among children raised by biological parents. This study aims to determine if similar relations will be found among grandchildren and foster children and if the level of attachment …

Integrative Human-Mouse Gene Expression And Phylogenetics Analysis To Prioritize Genes Of Evolutionary And Biomedical Importance In The Retina And Retinal Pigment Epithelium, Edson Ishengoma, Guglielmo Roma, Shola M. Richards

Tanzania Journal of Science

Mammalian models, such as mice, are often used to study human retinal diseases, but, owing to the evolutionary time-scale separating the two species, some physiological functions involved in vision differ between the two species. Here, public RNA-seq data sets were used to interrogate genome-wide gene expression patterns in mouse and human retina and retinal pigment epithelium in order to identify genes of significance underlying visual signal processing in the two species. Individual genes with distinct and conserved expression patterns across the retinal tissues were identified both within and between species, followed by an assessment of biomedical roles in visual functions, …

How Migratory Marine Life Connects Ecosystems From New England To Florida, Nicholas Gosling

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Carbon Nanotube-Enhanced Nanolubricants: Stability And Performance Improvements For Automotive Use, Sherif Elsoudy

Mechanical Engineering

Nanotechnology has been a promising technology over the years. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the principal technologies that are developed in the nanotechnology sector. This study investigated the implementation of CNTs as additives in automotive lubricants, focusing on their impact on performance metrics. The dispersion of CNTs in lubricants is influenced by several factors, the most critical of which is the dispersion stability. Key findings include improved dispersion stability of CNTs in lubricants through adding surfactants like oleic acid, which effectively managed the aggregation issues. The CNT-enhanced lubricants exhibited superior tribological, thermophysical and rheological properties compared to the bare …

Exploring The Sublime Through Sound Design: A Multiplatform Approach, Elsie Mader

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The world around us has always vibrated with constant sound. That audio provides context for everyday activity, the background against which all life is played. To highlight its significance in the human experience, this study explores the impact of audio on emotion through my sound design for Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins' morality play Everybody. Creating and describing the design process, this study seeks to discover how sound influences emotional response, shapes mood, and complements visual elements. Aiming to discern what soothes or incites audiences, the design focuses on a juxtaposition between familiar and unfamiliar sounds. Special attention is paid to base elements …

A Review Of The Association Between Dietary Intake And Brain Iron Levels In Older Adults: Preliminary Findings And Future Directions., Valentinos Zachariou, Christopher E. Bauer, Colleen A. Pappas, Brian T. Gold

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Non-heme iron is essential for critical neuronal functions such as ATP generation, synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter synthesis, and myelin formation. However, as non-heme iron accumulates with age, excessive levels can contribute to oxidative stress, potentially disrupting neuronal integrity and contributing to cognitive decline. Despite growing evidence linking high brain iron with poorer cognitive performance, there are currently no proven methods to reduce brain iron accumulation in aging or to protect cognitive function from iron’s negative effects. Recent studies suggest that nutrition may influence brain iron levels, though the evidence remains limited and mixed. Methods: In this review, we explore recent findings, …

The Challenges Of Diet Generalism In A Microbial Predator, Dictyostelium Discoideum, Shreenidhi Perukkaranai Madabhushi

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Organisms vary widely in their diet breadth, ranging from specialists that feed on few resources to generalists that feed on many. Specialists have honed their ability to catch and process specific prey, but generalists must deal with prey that differ in nutritional quality and defensive mechanisms. Have generalist predators overcome costs associated with consuming multiple prey species or do they experience costly trade-offs when handling different prey? Generalist predators also live in environments that vary in the type and abundance of prey species. How do generalists navigate this variation in prey abundance and profitability and seek out their preferred prey? …

December 4, 2024, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Lived Experiences Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Helping Professionals, Shairee Lackey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals in helping professions. The goal of the research was to understand the challenges BIPOC helping professionals face due to systemic racism, burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. These factors significantly impact the well-being and effectiveness of BIPOC professionals and are often overlooked in existing literature. Grounded in critical race theory, the study used a phenomenological research design, gathering data through semistructured interviews with 13 participants. The findings revealed challenges such as microaggressions, stereotypes, discrimination, lack of representation, and cultural invalidation. Participants showed resilience …

Contribution Of Fish To Food And Nutrition Security In Southern Africa: Challenges And Opportunities In Fish Production, Sahya Maulu, Confred Godfrey Musuka, Montshwari Molefe, Tlou Kevin Ngoepe, Ndakalimwe Naftal Gabriel, Joseph Mphande, Msumenji Phiri, Valdemiro Muhala, Messias Alfredo Macuiane, Mzime Regina Ndebele-Murisa, Oliver Jolezya Hasimuna, Thethela Bokhutlo, Mexford Mulumpwa, Victoria Ndinelago Erasmus, Wilson Jere, Chipo Hazel Dekesa, Chipo Plaxedes Mubaya, Manecas Francisco Baloi, Johannes Angala Iitembu, Enock Siankwilimba, Lin Zhang

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

This study investigated the role of fish in addressing food and nutrition security challenges in Southern Africa, focusing on 10 countries including Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Africa. It examined the current state of food and nutrition security, fish production, and fish consumption patterns. Additionally, the study investigated the challenges and opportunities to enhance fish production in these countries thereby enhancing food and nutrition security. The findings revealed persistent challenges such as a high prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition throughout the region. Fish production is hindered by overexploitation of fishery resources, inadequate fisheries …

Wearable Technology In Intercollegiate Sport: Ethical And Legal Considerations Of Collecting Student-Athlete Biometric Data, Taryn Deshane

Honors Theses

As wearable technology becomes increasingly integrated into athletic performance tracking, questions surrounding privacy, consent, and data ownership emerge. This research investigates how universities and athletic organizations navigate the complex issues surrounding athlete biometric data (ABD) collection and usage, with a particular emphasis on intercollegiate athletics. While the use of biometric data is widespread across both professional and amateur sports, this study hones in on the college sports environment, examining how ABD is collected, the ethical concerns it raises, and how it impacts student-athletes and institutions.

This pilot study centers on student-athletes at Western Michigan University, specifically focusing on Division 1 …

Developing A Digital Phenotype To Subdivide Adult Immunosuppressed Covid-19 Outcomes Within The English Primary Care Sentinel Network, Debasish Kar

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Adults classified as immunosuppressed have beendisproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to theimmunocompetent, certain patients are at increased risk of suboptimal vaccineresponse and adverse health outcomes if infected. However, there has beeninsufficient work to pinpoint where these risks concentrate within theimmunosuppressed spectrum; surveillance efforts typically treat theimmunosuppressed as a single entity, leading to wide confidence intervals. Aclinically meaningful and computerised medical record (CMR) compatiblemethod to subdivide immunosuppressed COVID-19 data is urgently needed.Methods: We conducted a rapid scoping review into COVID-19 mortality acrossUK immunosuppressed categories to assess if differential mortality risk was aviable means of subdivision. We converted the …

X-Chromosome-Wide Association Study For Alzheimer's Disease, Julie Le Borgne, Carlos Cruchaga, John Morris, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Trend And Awareness Of E-Cigarettes Among Students In A Private College In Sabah Malaysia, Vitalis Ronald Eden, Hazrina Hamid, Sreemoy Das, Regidor Iii Dioso

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Objective: This study aims to investigate the trend and awareness of e-cigarette use among students in a private college located in Sabah, Malaysia. Research Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in a private college in Sabah. A self-administered questionnaire was adapted and distributed to 300 randomly selected students regardless of their e-cigarettes vaping status. IBM SPSS Statistic 27 was utilized to analysed accumulated data. Results: A-245 students participated in the study with a response rate of 81.6%. Majority of the respondent were female (69.8%), Bumiputera Sabah (72.2%), Diploma students (90%) aged 22-25 years’ old. The study revealed that almost all …

Style, Nonetheless. Eight Good Reasons To Reject The Notion Of Style; Three Reasons To Use It Nonetheless, Béatrice Joyeux-Prunel

Artl@s Bulletin

This article examines why art historians have distanced themselves from the concept of “style” since the 1960s. It draws on the critiques of Meyer Schapiro and Ernst Gombrich, which were often cited and reinterpreted by post-constructivist and decolonial historiographies since the 1990s. It identifies eight key factors: variability of definitions, normative applications, tendency towards formalism, evolutionary implications, oversimplification, historical ties to racist assumptions, hierarchical effects, and modern Western biases. However, the article argues for distinguishing the cognitive relevance of “style” from its problematic uses, exploring its potential application within a socio-historical framework.

Cet article explore les raisons pour lesquelles les …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Epds) And Patient Health Questionnaire (Phq-9) In The Identification Of Postpartum Depression/Anxiety, Brianna A. Whitehead

DNP and Student Works

The purpose of this evidence-based improvement project was to evaluate the performance of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in identifying PPD and/or anxiety. The guiding question for the DNP Project was as follows: In a postpartum population, does the EPDS provide earlier identification of postpartum depression and/or anxiety for postpartum patients presenting at the two through six-week postpartum visit than the PHQ-9?

Review Of The Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, And Treatment Of Naegleria Fowleri-Induced Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, Terrance Zhang

MCB Articles

Naegleria fowleri is a thermophilic, ubiquitous, free-living amoeba, but is also known as the “brain-eating” amoeba. This is the etiological agent of a rare and fulminant waterborne disease known as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) that is acutely fatal in 90-99% of reported cases. Those who come into contact with infested waters are at risk of introducing the amoeba into their upper nasal canal, whence the trophozoite form is known to migrate along the olfactory nerve, through the cribriform plate, and enter the central nervous system. Although the exact pathogenesis of N. fowleri is not known, studies have demonstrated contact-dependent and …

Caffeine And Arrhythmias: A Critical Analysis Of Cardiovascular Responses And Arrhythmia Susceptibility, Adel Khalifa Sultan Hamad

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Caffeine is a frequently consumed stimulant in different foods and beverages: coffee, tea, chocolate, sodas, and energy drinks. While its effects on the cardiovascular system have been extensively studied, there remains controversy surrounding its potential risks, particularly in patients with heart disease. This review provides a complete overview of caffeine's pharmacological properties, sources, and cardiovascular effects, particularly emphasizing its arrhythmogenic potential. The proarrhythmic potential of caffeine, particularly on atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias, is conducted. It explains the mechanism of action, including adenosine receptor antagonism, phosphodiesterase inhibition, calcium mobilization, and catecholamine release of caffeine. Epidemiological evidence and mechanistic insights are …

Survey And Comparative Analysis Of Pollinator Diversity, Abundance, And Foraging Activity Of Diptera And Hymenoptera In Selected Habitats Of South Texas, Melissa Villarreal

Theses and Dissertations

With the declining bee population, non-bee pollinators can serve as an alternative source for pollination. Diptera is a potential source of untapped pollinator resources based on their abundance and visitation rate, but they are understudied in the field of pollination ecology. This study aimed to characterize the pollinator community in selected areas of South Texas. It focused on the Diptera and Hymenoptera families to compare their diversity, relative abundance, foraging behaviors, environmental influences, and vegetation associations. Active sampling and line transect were used in the survey to sample the Hymenoptera and Diptera communities to their family taxonomic rank. Statistical analyses …

The Influence Of Wind Energy Development On Occupancy Of Medium And Large-Sized Mammals In South Texas, Elwynn Sherman

Theses and Dissertations

Conservation paradigms have shifted from single to multi-species approaches for assessing and conserving mammalian populations and the habitats that they occupy. The effect of wind turbine development is an important anthropogenic change to study due to the increasing demand for wind energy in Texas. In this study, I gathered remote camera trap data on medium and large-sized mammal populations in south Texas Tamaulipan thornscrub habitat. The objectives were to determine species presence, the effect of habitat characteristics and anthropogenic disturbances on species occupancy, and the effect of temperature on species detection. The results showed that distance from wind turbines did …

December 3, 2024, Council On Graduate Studies

Minutes

No abstract provided.

Cross-National Prevalence And Legality Of Consanguinity & Its Implications For State Security, Emma Dart

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the impact of cousin marriage prevalence on state stability and the development and behaviors of terrorist organizations, with a special focus on the destabilization of states through the power of kinship networks. Cousin marriage, often intertwined with other social practices such as patrilocality and polygyny, creates an isolated power structure that reinforces the fraternal structure present in kinship networks. The kinship network then uses the power gained through the trust in the community to undermine the legitimate rule of law. This research emphasizes the importance of understanding cousin marriage and its contribution to state stability and finds …

Flying Under The Radar: Navigating Through Frustrations, Tears, And The Politics Of The Liberal Arts Curriculum, Sandra Houghton

Theses and Dissertations

The elements and principles of art continue to highly influence curriculum in the typical art foundations class. The reduction of art and artmaking to their formal properties constricts a student’s ability to engage in real-life artist processes, and many important contextual meanings are lost. Consequently, art foundations curriculum derived from the elements and principles of art narrows the lens through which we create, teach, and talk about art. In my own experience as an art teacher, I have found that this approach limits my teaching and makes it difficult to fully and authentically understand the works of other artists and …

Owning Health Equity Entrepreneurship, Capital, And Community-Owned Health, Thomas Wilson Williams

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Rings Of Power: Controlling Sod Mimic Activity By The Addition Of Pyridine Rings Within The Pyridinophane Scaffold, Katherine J. Smith, Timothy M. Schwartz, David M. Freire, Cameron Bowers, Sarah K. Dunn, Jackson F. Bonnell, Magy A. Mekhail, Giridhar Akkaraju, Kayla N. Green

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Superoxide dismutase enzymes are a major defense against superoxide, which is a potent reactive oxygen species. Misregulation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent neuronal damage are etiological hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease. Macrocyclic small molecules have offered inroads toward functional SOD1 mimics. Herein, we report a series of five tetra-aza macrocyclic ^RPy₂N₂ ligands, varied by 4-position substitution of the pyridine ring with both electron-donating (R = OMe) and withdrawing groups (R = Cl, I, and CF₃) to offer the first comparison to well-studied ^RPyN₃ congeners and other mimics in the literature. New ligands …

An In-Depth Investigation Into Yersinia Pestis Phages: Isolating A Yersinia Pestis Phage From Soil And Constructing A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis Of Known Yersinia Pestis Phages, Jacqueline Chavez

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the plague, has become increasingly resistant to many antibiotics; therefore, alternatives such as phage therapy are necessary. Phage therapy uses combinations of bacteriophages or phages, which are viruses that only infect bacteria. However, phages—especially Y. pestis phages —are severely understudied. Thus, this research has sought to specifically isolate a phage from soil that infects Y. pestis. There were 146 samples that were collected from across the US, focusing on those with reported cases of plague. These samples were enriched with Y. pestis to maximize the amount of potential phage that target Y. pestis. …

On The Logistic Polynomials And Logistic Kernels With Applications In Machine Learning, Alexander Saint Jefferson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Orthogonal polynomials have had vast historical applications in applied mathematics, particularly in differential equations and numerical analysis. In recent years, they have become instrumental as a natural basis for constructing kernel systems in machine learning (ML). In this thesis, we orthogonalize a set of polynomials, the Logistic Polynomials, first developed by George and Rousseau, using the Gram-Schmidt process. We show that this new Logistic Orthogonal Polynomial System (LOPS) satisfies the hypergeometric differential equation and we relate the system to the Legendre polynomials. The connection to the Legendre polynomials has motivated this study to explore applications of the LOPS in ML, …

Mechanical Degradation Of Plastics: An Implication For Agricultural Soil Health, Linkon Bhattacharjee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The growing public awareness of plastic pollution and its harmful environmental impacts on public health and ecological safety has raised multiple questions regarding the rate of its accumulation, long-term fate, and transport within the environment. However, the extent of plastic release into the terrestrial environment, such as farmlands, remains inadequately understood, though it is expected to exceed that of the ocean. Therefore, this dissertation focuses on investigating the mechanical degradation of plastics that leads to the generation of microplastics through fragmentation in agricultural farmlands. This dissertation addresses several knowledge gaps regarding the influence of environmental conditions on the mechanical degradation …

Roquea, A New Genus Of Lychnophorinae (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) From Brazil And Its Phylogenetic Placement, Benoit Loeuille, Roberto Baptista Pereira Almeida, Carolina Moriani Siniscalchi, Makeli G. Lusa, Guilherme Medeiros Antar

UL Publications

Lychnophorinae (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) consists of 21 genera and approximately 150 species, primarily distributed in the Brazilian Central Plateau, with several novelties recently described. With new botanical expeditions conducted in Serra da Formosa, state of Minas Gerais, a set of collections that belong to Lychnophorinae but were not easily assigned to a genus was discovered. After morphological and anatomical analyses and phylogenetic studies, we describe and illustrate Roquea, a new genus of Asteraceae from Brazil, to accommodate the new species Roquea multiserialis. Affinities of the new genus with other genera of Lychnophorinae are discussed along with a preliminary conservation …

Expandable Inter Vertebral Cage, Kamran Aghayev, James J. Doulgeris, Sabrina A. Gonzalez Blohm, Frank D. Vrionis

USF Patents

A method and system for performing bone fusion and/or securing one or more bones, such as adjacent vertebra, are disclosed.