Digital Commons Network^™

A Review Of Literature Regarding Use Of Bloom’S Taxonomy Of Educational Objectives In The Context Of Writing Education, James Herrod

Theses and Dissertations

Under theory of composition instruction or literacy instruction has Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives developed into a tool for lesson scaffolding? How are learning taxonomies, with a sharper focus on Bloom’s Taxonomy, being used? An adjacent question: How has Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives influenced the development of tools like “Marzano’s Higher-Order Thinking Questions” or “Webb’s Depth of Knowledge”? Here, the line of research questioning may be understood through a Fabergé egg analogy. This analogy can explain individual, relational, and macro structures that work toward literacy and synthesis. Like a Faberge egg, each level of writing and literacy instruction should …

“The Dead Cold Light Of Tomorrow”: Historical Grief In Literature In The Aftermath Of Influenza, Caitlin Liana Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

During the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, commonly referred to as The Spanish Flu, somewhere between 20 and 100 million lives were lost globally, but this tragedy has faded from history in many Western cultures. World War I, while far less deadly, has been memorialized far more frequently and has been overshadowing the devastation of the pandemic since its inception. The grief that survivors experienced–for loved ones and for themselves–was not given an external outlet and as a result there are few contemporary historical sources to turn to when looking for evidence of that grief. In the absence of more traditional …

Existence And Uniqueness Of Solutions Of Fourth Order Iterative Boundary Value Problems, Zach Whaley

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we study the fourth-order iterative differential equation \begin{displaymath} x^{(4)}(t) = \f(t, x(t), x^{[2]}(t), \dots, x^{[m]}(t)) \end{displaymath} where $x^{[2]}(t) = x(x(t))$ and $x^{[j]}(t) = x(x^{[j - 1]}(t))$ for $j > 2$. We consider the above equation with multiple sets of boundary conditions, and we state results on the existence and uniqueness of solutions for each set of boundary conditions. In Chapter 2, the boundary conditions are conjugate boundary conditions, \begin{align*} &x(-a) = -a, \ x'(-a) = b, \ x''(-a) = c, \ x(a) = a \\ &x(-a) = -a, \ x(a) = a, \ x'(a) = b, \ x''(a) …

Mammalian Trait Evolution: Macroevolutionary And Comparative Genomic Analyses Of Diet And Ursid-Specific Adaptations, Matthew David Pollard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Complex traits such as diet have shaped the evolutionary success of species, driving the diversity of form and function that we observe across the tree of life. My research investigates the genomic and macroevolutionary forces behind diet and other complex traits, revealing how they mediate evolutionary change across Mammalia. I utilized two complementary approaches for understanding the evolution of diet in mammals. First, I created two continuous dietary variables—degree of carnivory and degree of dietary specialization—to quantify the impact of diet on mammalian speciation. I found that degree of carnivory, rather than dietary specialization, significantly influenced speciation, but did not …

December 17, 2024 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Investigation And Computational Analysis Of The Iqd Gene Family In Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.): Expression Profiling Under Salt Stress, Tarik Kirlioğlu, Aybüke Okay, Emi̇ne Sümer Aras, İlker Büyük

Turkish Journal of Botany

Common bean is one of the most nutritionally important legumes because of its high-quality protein content. While its genome has been widely studied however, the IQD gene family has not been extensively investigated in common bean to date. The IQD proteins (IQ-67 domain), a type of calmodulin-binding protein, are involved in plant growth and development, as well as the plant's response to environmental stressors. In this study, thirty-six PvIQD genes were discovered and their proteins were found to be classified into four groups according to the phylogenetic tree. The proteins which are encoded by PvIQD genes with similar exon-intron pattern …

Primary Distribution And Rt-Pcr-Based Detection Of Citrus Dwarfing Viroid (Cdvd) In Citrus Cultivars Of Pakistan, Zia Ul Haq, Amjad Ali, Syed A.H. Naqvi, Faheem Shehzad Baloch, Ummad U.D. Umar

Turkish Journal of Botany

Viroid diseases have emerged as a significant threat to citrus orchards globally. In Pakistan, viroid infections have rapidly spread across different citrus cultivar, posing serious challenges to the survival of orchards. This study encompasses the determination of the prevalence and detection of Citrus dwarfing viroid (CDVd) in both reported and newly introduced citrus cultivars in Pakistan using RT-PCR. RNA was extracted from 122 infected citrus samples and examined for the presence of viroids following the successful optimization of newly designed CDVd primers (CDVd AF1/AR1). This led to the confirmation of CDVd in 72 samples (59.01%).. Biological indexing was performed using …

Functional Characterization Of Haloarchaeal Udp-Glucose 4-Epimerase And 3-Hydroxybutyryl-Coa Dehydrogenase Genes In Nicotiana Tabacum, Çi̇ğdem Otur, Sezer Okay, Aslihan Kurt Kizildoğan

Turkish Journal of Botany

The objective of the studyAbiotic stress poses a significant threat to plant survival. In response to the challenging conditions, plants have evolved various resistance mechanisms. Recently, genetic strategies have become increasingly prevalent in efforts to enhance abiotic stress tolerance and develop stress-resistant plant varieties. In this study, we employed heterologous expression of two metabolism-related haloarchaeal genes in the Nicotiana tabacum genome to improve its mechanism for salt and drought tolerance.Experimental procedure(s)The U2642 and CL165 genes encoding 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase and UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, respectively, were subcloned into the pIPKb004 vector under the control of Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (CaMV35S) promoter using the …

Genome-Wide Identification And Characterization Of The Lea Gene Family In Common Bean And The Role Of The Dehydrin Gene Pvhdn3 In Enhancing Salt And Drought Tolerance In Transgenic Tobacco Plant., Gökhan Gökdemi̇r, Zafer Seçgin, Karam Mostafa, Mohamed Farah Abdulla, Musa Kavas

Turkish Journal of Botany

Global climate change exposes crops to numerous abiotic and biotic stress factors, significantly threatening their growth, development, and overall productivity. Among the various abiotic stresses, salt and drought are the most detrimental, having a severe impact on yield stability. Late Embryogenesis Abundant proteins (LEA) represent a broad and varied class of polypeptides that accumulate in response to cellular dehydration across diverse organisms. Nonetheless, there has been a scarcity of studies on this protein family in common beans prior to this investigation. In this study, we identified 69 members of the LEA gene family in common bean, characterized by conserved LEA …

Phylogenomics Of The Tribe Leonureae Reveals A New Genus: Paraleonurus (Lamiaceae, Lamioideae), Mei-Lin Qian, Ya-Ping Chen, Tuncay Di̇rmenci̇, Yue Zhao, Guo-Xiong Hu, Fei Zhao, Ferhat Celep, Bo Li, Chunlei Xiang

Turkish Journal of Botany

With approximately 80 species across six genera (Leonurus, Lagopsis, Panzerina, Lagochilus, Chaiturus, and Loxocalyx), the tribe Leonureae represents one of the most morphologically diverse tribes within the subfamily Lamioideae of Lamiaceae. Previous studies indicated that Leonurus and Lagopsis are not monophyletic, and relationships among and within these genera remain unclear due to limited sampling and DNA markers. In this study, we present the most comprehensive phylogenomic analyses of Leonureae based on complete plastome sequences and 127 nuclear loci retrieved from next-generation sequencing data. Our results provide strong evidence for the monophyly of Leonureae, which can be further divided into six …

Heterologous Expression Of Haloarchaeal Transporter Genes In Nicotiana Tabacum Under Salt And Drought Stresses, Çi̇ğdem Otur, Musa Kavas, Aslihan Kurt Kizildoğan

Turkish Journal of Botany

The objective of the study: Climate change and human activities impose severe biotic and abiotic stresses that threaten plant survival. To cope with these extreme conditions, plants have evolved various resistance mechanisms. In recent years, genetic approaches have been increasingly employed to enhance abiotic stress tolerance and develop stress-resistant plants. In this study, we introduced three transporter-related genes from extreme haloarchaea, which thrive in saturated NaCl environments, into the Nicotiana tabacum genome to improve its salt and drought tolerance mechanisms.E xperimental procedure(s) : The U2845, U3508, and CL165 genes were subcloned into the pIPKb004 vector, which includes the cauliflower mosaic …

Brain Endothelial Permeability, Transport, And Flow Assessed Over 10 Orders Of Magnitude Using The In Situ Brain Perfusion Technique, Quentin R. Smith, Haritha Mandula, Jagan Mohan R. Parepally, Jun Oki, Fancy Thomas, Helen R. Thorsheim, Abraham J. Al‑Ahmad, Thomas J. Abbruscato, Per Ask, David S. Hage, Peter J. Robinson

David Hage Publications

Background Cerebral blood flow normally places a limit on the magnitude of brain vascular permeability (P) that can be measured in vivo. At normal cerebral blood flow, this limit falls at the lower end of lipophilicity for most FDAapproved CNS drugs. In this study, we report on two methods that can be used to overcome this limitation and measure brain vascular permeability values that are up to ~1000 times higher using the in situ brain perfusion technique.

Methods Rat brain was perfused with physiological saline at increased flow rate and in the presence of various concentrations of plasma protein, serum …

Artificial Intelligence-Based Methodologies For Early Diagnostic Precision And Personalized Therapeutic Strategies In Neuro-Ophthalmic And Neurodegenerative Pathologies, Rahul Kumar, Ethan Waisberg, Joshua Ong, Phani Paladugu, Dylan Amiri, Jeremy Saintyl, Jahnavi Yelamanchi, Robert Nahouraii, Ram Jagadeesan, Alireza Tavakkoli

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Advancements in neuroimaging, particularly diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques and molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET), have significantly enhanced the early detection of biomarkers in neurodegenerative and neuro-ophthalmic disorders. These include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease. This review highlights the transformative role of advanced diffusion MRI techniques-Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging and Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging-in identifying subtle microstructural changes in the brain and visual pathways that precede clinical symptoms. When integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, these techniques achieve unprecedented diagnostic precision, facilitating early detection of neurodegeneration and …

The Teacher Mental Health Crisis: A Mixed Methods Examination Of The Factors Contributing To Teacher Burnout, Minerva Carrasco

Masters Theses (Archived)

For decades, teachers' mental health and burnout have been an issue nationwide (Sewell, 1971). This has been an even larger struggle in the education field in recent years because turnover is high, the COVID-19 pandemic, and districts are struggling to find ways to retain teachers to stay in their profession. There are things that administrators and teachers can do to guide districts to ensure that teachers are comfortable in their classrooms and their school campus. There are coping strategies that teachers can do to prevent teacher mental health and burnout and there are ways that administrators can support their teachers …

Silent Stories: Exposing The Controversial Themes Behind Banned And Challenged Books, Catherine Chipongian

Masters Theses (Archived)

This study, titled Silenced Stories: Exposing the Controversial Themes Behind Banned, and Challenged Books, captures the recurring themes of characteristics in books that have been banned or challenged in various contexts. The research dives deep into the cultural and socio-political aspects that target censorship; many of the challenged and banned texts include I Am Jazz, The Lorax, and The Name Jar. The study identifies the common themes that have been perceived as controversial or improper, such as LGBTQ Identities, Cultural Heritage, Stereotypes among children’s books, and Social Justice. These themes have been censorship targets and are examined due to their …

When Not Remembering Is Memorable: How Confidence Reveals Subjective Distinctiveness Heuristics Through A Double Test Paradigm, Eylul Ardic

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the influence of confidence ratings during recognition decisions using a novel double-test paradigm through three experiments. Under this paradigm, all the recognition probes during the first test (hit, correct rejection, false alarm, and miss trials) are retested for recognition (along with a new set of lures) during an immediate second test. Consistent with predictions of signal detection theory (SDT), data demonstrated that the confidence of Test 1 hits positively correlated with both Test 2 recognition accuracy and confidence. However, SDT failed to account for the behavior of correct rejections. Specifically, SDT predicts that confidence during Test 1 …

Improving Clinical Information Extraction From Electronic Health Records: Leveraging Large Language Models And Evaluating Their Outputs, Kriti Bhattarai

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Accurate extraction of clinical entities and phenotypes from unstructured electronic health record (EHR) text is crucial for various clinical research tasks, including cohort identification, tracking temporal patterns in disease progression and deciding treatment course. However, this task remains challenging due to the complexity and ambiguity of medical language. This dissertation explores the application of advanced generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) models, such as GPT-4, GPT-3.5-turbo, Llama-3.1, Llama-3 and Flan-T5, for clinical entity and phenotype extraction from EHRs. Building upon these findings, this dissertation also investigates a hybrid approach where integration of external knowledge sources, such as Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) …

Understanding Sequence Determinants Of Functional Protein Dynamics Using Biophysical Simulations And Experiments, Upasana Lakshmi Mallimadugula

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Mutations in the sequence of proteins associated with a disease often increase its risk or severity. They can also be a barrier to developing effective therapeutics for such diseases. One way in which mutations affect function is by altering dynamics that elude structural studies. Observing these changes requires methods that can report on movements of the protein on various timescales and is an ongoing challenge in biophysics and biochemistry. In this study I will use both experimental and computational techniques that can report on such dynamics to explore how small sequence changes shift the conformational landscape and consequently the function …

Avian Adaptation To Thermal Gradients, Justin Wheeler Baldwin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Life on Earth has adapted to extremely different temperatures worldwide. However, across distant branches of the tree of life, animals in similar temperature environments often share similar phenotypic traits. Specifically, traits that bear on the ratio between an individual’s surface area (e.g. appendage length) and its volume (e.g. body size) are particularly important for temperature regulation and are codified in canonical biogeographical rules. Although these global patterns of finding larger-bodied (Bergmann’s Rule) and shorter-limbed (Allen’s Rule) animals in colder regions are widely upheld, they also show substantial variation. It remains poorly understood why some animals conform to these biogeographical rules …

Sustainable Plastics From Plastic Metabolisms: Leveraging Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria For Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthesis, Eric Michael Conners

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) are a taxonomically diverse group of gram-negative bacteria representing some of Earth’s most metabolically versatile life, with many genera capable of switching between the four major metabolic modes – chemoheterotrophy, chemoautotrophy, photoheterotrophy, and photoautotrophy. Today, we exploit this diversity to explore fundamental questions about microbial metabolism. At the same time, many researchers are eager to use PNSB as tools for biotechnological innovations. Yet there exists a gap between fundamental biology and applied science. Part of the challenge is that we rely on a handful of model organisms – namely, members of the genera Rhodopseudomonas and Rhodobacter …

Small- And Medium-Sized Enterprises Strategies For Sustainability And Profitability Beyond 5 Years, Bawi Ming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Up to 80% of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) fail within the first 5 years due to factors like financial mismanagement, market challenges, and insufficient long-term planning. To prevent these failures, organizational leaders must adopt effective sustainability strategies, as SME closures lead to job losses, economic instability, and lost innovation opportunities. Grounded in the resource-based view and general systems theories, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore successful strategies that SME leaders in Maryland used to sustain their businesses beyond their initial 5 years. Data were collected from six SME leaders using semistructured interviews and reviews …

Does Emotion Regulation Capacity Moderate Social Anxiety Risk Given Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions In Black/African American Undergraduate Students?, Alisha M. Sylvester

Honors College Theses

Racial microaggressions are intentional or unintentional slights toward members of a marginalized community that may come in the form of verbal, behavioral, or environmental insults. Black/African Americans experience racial microaggressions frequently, and these experiences threaten mental health. Specifically, experiencing more racial microaggressions is linked with a risk for social anxiety. However, not all individuals within the community go on to experience social anxiety. Therefore, the present study sought to identify which individuals are more vulnerable to social anxiety given experiences of racism. Poorer emotion regulation (i.e., the ability to manage emotions) is a known risk factor for anxiety. Thus, I …

Compositions And Methods To Remove Ammonia In Freshwater And Saltwater Fish Storage Systems, Norma Arcelia Alcantar, Wen Zhao

USF Patents

Compositions, systems and methods of removing ammonia from fish storage systems are presented. A chemical water conditioner comprised of sodium formaldehyde bisulfite, cornstarch, dye and alcohol was found to have a high ammonia removal efficiency in seawater. A combination of this chemical water conditioner with modified chabazite and phosphate buffer exhibited high ammonia removal efficiency in both seawater and freshwater.

The Activity And Origin Of The Chitinases In The Gut Of The Mediterranean House Gecko, Alec John

Masters Theses (Archived)

Chitin is a major component of the exoskeleton of arthropods as well as the cell wall of fungi. This amino polysaccharide polymer provides structure and protection to these organisms and represents a significant barrier to digestion of arthropod prey and fighting fungal infections. Chitinases are enzymes that break down chitin. Smaller insectivores, based upon the higher surface-to-volume ratio of their even smaller prey, ingest a large amount of chitin per unit prey item. Therefore, they represent high-likelihood opportunities to bio prospect for novel chitinases that may be effective against pathogenic fungi. Fungal infections are notoriously difficult to treat, and they …

Workforce Training Through Expert Collaboration: Video And Andragogy Integration, Fred Chapa

Masters Theses (Archived)

The purpose of this study was to examine how a video producer and a subject matter expert (SME) collaborate on creating a workforce training video, specifically to ensure that the andragogical intent of the training remains clear throughout production. While research exists on SME-Instructional Designer (ID) partnerships and the effectiveness of video in training, there is limited study on SME and video producer collaboration. This research used an autoethnographic, qualitative approach, involving interviews and reflections, to explore the history and dynamics of a video producer-SME partnership in training video creation. Key findings reveal the importance of understanding expertise, foundational adult …

Teaching Dena'ina Language Through Dena'ina Culturally Based Reading Practices, Joel Isaak Yes

Indigenous Studies

The Dena'ina language is a well-documented Northern Dene Alaska Native language in south-central Alaska. The Dena'ina language is on the brink of going to sleep. The Dena'ina community strongly desires for the Dena'ina language to once again thrive in the community. Language-use within the community is a contributing factor to the health of the community. As Dena'ina tribes work towards bringing back the Dena'ina language, the community grapples with the role of reading and writing, both potentially harmful and aiding community language work. A Classroom-Based Action Research qualitative study was conducted to determine if reading instruction in the Dena'ina language …

Detection Of Overflow Using Synthetic Aperture Radar, Cristina Ornelas

Natural Resources

Overflow is a common and dangerous ice condition that challenges travel, presents risks to people, and impacts the growth and structure of ice. Overflow occurs due to ice cracking and water seeping through. The resulting water and slush from flooded snow that overlies the ice cover can complicate all modes of travel (e.g., snow machines, dog sled teams, skiing, on foot) and introduce the hazards associated with getting wet and stuck amid the cold air temperatures of winter. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) bounces microwave signals off the Earth’s surface to detect physical properties and is not affected by cloudy or …

The Imposition Of Power: Modernity And Nature In Hemingway And Mccarthy, Danielle Ball

Honors College Theses

This thesis focuses on the role of nature in opposition to modernity in Ernest Hemingway's “The Last Good Country” and “The End of Something” as well as Cormac McCarthy’s The Orchard Keeper. Each author places the forces of modernity, such as the logging industry or the introduction of the railroad, at odds with the untouched state of the natural world. Specifically, I emphasize the different portrayals of the natural world from each author. Hemingway’s nature is very closely tied to Romanticism, as nature is a spiritual and healing force for those who choose to commune with it. However, McCarthy portrays …

A Study On The Physical Health Consequences Of Excessive Online Gaming In Ui Vocational Students, Salva Feyza Najwa Zaferina, Auliya Zahra, Haura Shalihah Desti Gunawan, Nayla Nirmala Izzati, Nindya Fairuzi Pradipta, Duray Philip Rompas, Micho Gunawan

Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Terapan

This study investigates the impact of online gaming on the physical health of vocational program students at the University of Indonesia, amidst the growing popularity of this activity in the digital age. Utilizing a survey method, data were collected through questionnaires to assess gaming habits and their associated health effects. Findings reveal that while students report feelings of happiness and satisfaction from gaming, they also acknowledge adverse health outcomes. Notable issues include fatigue from prolonged gaming sessions, poor dietary habits, and sleep disturbances. Although a significant majority (94%) feel in control of their gaming time, a considerable portion (84%) recognizes …

Salmon, Stewardship, And Indigenous Livelihoods: Bridging Knowledge Systems And Reshaping Research Relationality In The Kuskokwim Region Of Southwestern Alaska, Janessa Esquible

Fisheries

This dissertation research is situated in southwestern Alaska, in the communities of Kongiganak, Quinhagak, Bethel, Aniak, and McGrath, spanning the Kuskokwim Bay and Kuskokwim River, and with Alaska Native Peoples (primarily Yup'ik and Athabascan fishing families) who have been salmon peoples and stewards of their ancestral homelands since time immemorial. This Indigenous-led project documented historical and current ways in which Yup'ik and Athabascan Peoples have served as salmon stewards, and the values and governance mechanisms pertaining to salmon stewardship. We utilized a participatory approach by involving Tribal governments, communities, and Indigenous local youth in all aspects of our research. We …