Digital Commons Network^™

Using Vaginal Cytology To Confirm Estrus In Swine - Pilot Study, Carly J. Johnson

Honors College Theses

This study aims to determine whether there is a correlation between cellular changes observed in vaginal cytology and the physical signs of estrus in swine. Vaginal cytology is a technique commonly used in dogs, cats, and rodents, and if proven effective in swine, it could serve as a practical tool for producers to confirm estrus status and improve reproductive management.

Assessment Of Fish Community Dynamics, Movement, And Morphology In Relation To Stream Barriers In The Upper Illinois Bayou Watershed, Risa Mccollough

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Intermittent streams are increasingly recognized as vital components of river networks by supporting dynamic fish communities shaped by variable hydrology and habitat connectivity. They are becoming increasingly vulnerable to fragmentation by anthropogenic activities, namely road crossings, dams, and climate shifts that intensify seasonal drying. In response, I conducted two studies in the Illinois Bayou watershed in Arkansas to assess the effects of fragmentation on fish community dynamics and morphology in intermittent streams.

In the first study, I examined temporal fish community dynamics across two barriers: a natural waterfall in Dare Creek and a low-water crossing in Dry Creek. Simultaneously, I …

Patient-Derived Ovarian Cancer Models Provide Insight Into Cancer Cell-Intrinsic And Immune Cell-Dependent Effects On Therapeutic Response, Parisa Nikeghbal

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, largely due to late diagnosis and resistance to chemotherapy. This dissertation applies patient-derived organoids (PDOs), xenograft-derived organoids (PDXOs), and humanized xenografts (huPDX) to investigate therapeutic responses and immune interactions. Organoids were shown to retain critical features of the original malignancy. Across platinum-sensitive, -resistant, and -refractory cases, both PDOs and PDXOs exhibited drug sensitivities that aligned with patients’ clinical classifications. Building on this foundation, a drug screen revealed novel strategies. Auranofin restored platinum sensitivity in Notch3-active models, afatinib broadly reduced viability, and adavosertib–gemcitabine and sorafenib–topotecan combinations produced synergy. Extending this work, immune interactions …

Recreating Fiber Recruitment With Fiber Recruitment Using Additive Manufacturing, Natalia D. Mciver

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Injured ligaments are often repaired with tendon grafts which may over or under constrain the joint; there is a need for an artificial graft option with the mechanical properties of a native ligament. Crimped fibers within ligaments allow for recruitment which means the viscoelastic properties of stress relaxation and creep are not inversely related. A feasibility study using ACLs and large-scale crimp models to study viscoelasticity, led to an in-depth analysis of the scapholunate interosseous ligament. Using the Modified Kelvin spring-dashpot model, for describing viscoelasticity with a variable stiffness property (time dependent fiber recruitment), we defined the relationship between creep …

Stress During Adolescence: A Characterization Of Anxiety-Like Behavior, And The Mrna Expression Of Neuroimmune Factors, Clock And Stress Genes In Corticolimbic Areas., Annette Fernandez Oropeza, Annette K. Fernandez Oropeza

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Adolescence represents a critical window of frontal cortex (FC) maturation and corticolimbic circuit refinement that supports stress and emotion regulation. Disruption of these processes by early-life insults such as prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) or adolescent stress increases vulnerability to anxiety and mood disorders, in part through circadian–immune dysregulation. The circadian transcription factor Bmal1 and the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) have emerged as key regulators of neuroimmune signaling and synaptic communication, yet their interactions across developmental risk contexts remain poorly understood. This dissertation examined the effects of mild adolescent isolation stress, with and without PAE, on anxiety-like behaviors and …

Listen To The Birds: Sound Ecology At The Piano, Anna Showalter

Dissertations, 2020-current

This document explores the intersection between birdsong and piano music using four cases studies from the piano repertoire in the Western classical tradition. Using Jeff Titon’s framework of “sound ecology” as a lens, I ask whether the following pieces of music could in some way function as an “acoustic tissue among human and bird communities that becomes the basis for a healthy economy and a just community.” After exploring the history of birdsong in the piano literature as a microcosm of shifting attitudes toward birdsong in Western art music this study focuses on four pieces as case studies for analysis—Amy …

Dynamic Admittance Parameterization For Non-Prehensile Multi-Robot Transport With Optimal Coordinated Planning, Calvin J. Stahoviak

Computer Science ETDs

The Dynamic Admittance Parameterization of Non-Prehensile Multi-Robot Trans- port with Optimal Coordinated Planning (DYNAMO) architecture offers a practical framework for cooperative payload transportation using two robots equipped with nonholonomic mobile bases and four-degree-of-freedom manipulators. Coordinated mobile manipulation is a difficult problem in robotics, and the non-prehensile case is even more challenging than its prehensile counterpart because the robot bases and the payload are dynamically coupled. DYNAMO adapts arm motion in response to interaction forces and generates coordinated base trajectories that account for this coupling. Robust payload transport is achieved through the combination of opti- mal planning and adaptive compliant control, …

The Pathophysiological Role Of Mitochondrial Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 1a In Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension, Megan N. Tuineau

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by increased pulmonary arterial constriction, pulmonary arterial remodeling, and right ventricular dysfunction. While metabolic and mitochondrial derangements are increasingly recognized as central pathogenic features, the underlying mechanisms and effectors are not yet fully understood. Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is a proton-gated cation channel involved in the development of chronic hypoxia (CH)-induced PH. ASIC1a represents a potential candidate involved in metabolic-mitochondrial dysfunction, as metabolic byproducts can act as ligands for ASIC1a. Additionally, ASIC1a has recently been identified as a mitochondrial ion channel involved in neuronal death following oxidative stress. Therefore, we hypothesize that ASIC1a functions …

A Halloween Decoration’S Scary Implications For Real Bats, Coralie Carlson

Capstones

This investigative article examines the online illegal trade of taxidermied bats and how the sales are threatening one particularly showy species: the painted woolly bat.

My OSINT research shows where the bats are still sold – from Amazon to independent websites offering bulk orders – and tracks the sellers and buyers, while weaving in the scientific and cultural history this little-known colorful bat and the conservationists’ race against time to protect them.

The very existence of the painted woolly bat is threatened by Americans who want to display the dead bats in their homes as spooky decorations. Researchers (including a …

Paper Straws At Usd, Rodrigo J. Mor Gimeno

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This learning journal reflects my experience throughout the semester learning about sustainability, climate change, and supply chains. Through class discussions, documentaries, and assignments, I explored topics such as carbon footprint, circular economy, ethics, and life cycle analysis. The paper on plastic straws and the group life cycle project helped me understand how everyday products have environmental, social, and economic impacts, and how consumer choices and global systems are strongly connected.

Protein-Nucleic Acid Language Model-Assisted Design Of Precise And Compact Adenine Base Editor, Jingxuan Ren, Jiawei Yao, Qiuyu Cao, Yinuo Li, Yang Li, Ziyi Zhang, Xiyu Ge, Shengfang Wang, Yang Zhang, Xiaogang Wang, Xiaohui Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Adenine base editors (ABEs) are powerful tools for gene therapy. However, efficient version of ABEs (e.g. ABE8e) always induce excessive bystander and off-target editing events and are large in size, hindering their potential in clinical disease treatment. Here, we develop a pre-trained Protein-Nucleic Acid Constrained Language Model to design ABE8e with high activity, reduced editing window and decreased size. By further engineering, the smallest ABE8e- PNLM-pcABE- with a 27% size reduction, exhibits high activity, precise 3-nt editing window, and reduced off-target events near background level in HEK293T cells. Compared to ABE8e, PNLM-pcABE has up to 133.5-fold precision improvement in pathogenic …

Needs Analysis: Ar As An Innovative Learning Media Solution For Elementary School Students, Rosfaniarti Rosfaniarti, Makmum Raharjo, Meilinda Meilinda

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study aims to identify the need for the development of Augmented Reality (AR)-based learning media as an innovative solution in elementary school learning. The needs analysis method was conducted using a mixed methods approach through questionnaires and interviews with 103 students and 5 teachers. The data were analyzed descriptively and quantitatively to obtain a comprehensive picture of instructional needs. The results showed that student needs were in the high category, with a percentage of 80.64%-85.30%. The socio-cultural aspect was the highest need (85.30%), followed by the pedagogical and technical aspects, while the cognitive aspect had the lowest value (80.64%). …

Founder Worship, Effective Altruism, And Corporate Governance, Jennifer S. Fan, Xuan-Thao Nguyen

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Affordability And Usability Of Digital Learning Resources In Higher Education: A Case Of Online Mathematics Tutorials For Engineering Students At The University Of Dar Es Salaam, Fatuma S. Ikuja, Idrissa S. Amour, Abdi T. Abdalla

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Effective learning requires engagements with both learning contents and instructor’s personalized support. Large class sizes often limit opportunities for personalized instruction and timely feedback. Digital resources offer a viable solution to enhanced engagement and independent learning. This study investigated the affordability and usability of online digital learning resources for mathematics tutorials, specifically targeting engineering students at the University of Dar es Salaam. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted, focusing on digitization of undergraduate course: Matrices and Basic Calculus for Non-Majors (MT161). The course was delivered through the Moodle Learning Management System integrating STACK to support Mathematics questions. Data was collected …

In-Depth Review Of Animal Anatomy In Veterinary Medicine, Fatima Ayad Hasan, Sarah Kamal Naser

Al-Bahir

This review explores the significance of animal anatomy across different fields, emphasizing both microscopic and macroscopic structures. The text covers teaching methods in veterinary medicine, with a focus on diagnostics and surgery. It also delves into various anatomical and moral issues, alongside contemporary teaching approaches. The importance of anatomy in both biological and clinical contexts continues to be central in advancing veterinary education, even with the presence of various digital tools and cutting-edge imaging technologies.

Health Implications Of Heavy Metal Contamination In Commercially Available Deodorant And Antiperspirant Products Sold In Benghazi, Libya, Maysson Yaghi, Khaled Elsherif

Al-Bahir

The extensive usage of deodorants and antiperspirants raises concerns about the potential health risks posed by heavy metal content. This study quantified the levels of five heavy metals: Aluminum, Zirconium, Lead, Cadmium, and Chromium in 22 commercial products widely used in Benghazi, Libya, and assessed the associated health risks. Samples, categorized into gel, stick, and roll-on formulations, were analyzed using iCAP TQ ICP-MS. Al and Zr showed the widest concentration ranges, reflecting their intentional use as active ingredients. Al levels ranged from trace amounts (0.032 mg/kg) up to a maximum of 99.10 mg/kg, while Zr was found exclusively in gel …

Editor's Note, John B. Craig

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Metamaterial-Based Microstrip Antenna For Safe Detection Of Tiny Breast Tumors, Shrouk E. El-Sawy, Mohamed G. Abdelfattah, Nihal F.F. Areed, Ahmed Shaban Samra

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study describes the construction of a compact microstrip patch antenna (MPA) with a triangular-shaped metamaterial layer for the safe detection of tiny breast tumors at 2.4 GHz. The metamaterial considerably improves the antenna's gain and directivity when compared to typical designs that do not include it, resulting in improved detection performance. The radiating patch of proposed antenna measures 29.3 × 38 × 1.6 mm and has been tested through simulations and experimental tests, exhibiting successful tumor identification in a realistic breast phantom. The results of both calculations and testing demonstrate a sensitivity of 6.643 dB/mm, allowing for precise detection …

Potential Cost Savings At A Single Tertiary Care Center Through Implementation Of A 340b-Compliant Multiuse Drop Protocol For Cataract Surgery, Carla Baaklini, Sabrina Duong, Jieon Jenny Kim, Samer Hajji, Aaron D. Webel

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

The University of Missouri Healthcare system is seeking to implement a multiuse drop protocol for cataract surgeries, allowing preoperative eye drop bottles to be utilized for multiple patients rather than being discarded after single use. This presents an opportunity for reducing medical waste and achieving considerable cost savings. A key challenge, however, lies in maintaining compliance with the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which currently limits our ability to fully adopt this practice. We additionally encountered barriers including infection control concerns and staff adaptation to new workflows. We detail the barriers we have encountered thus far and present a potential 340B-compliant …

In Recent Research: Exosomal And Molecular Regulators Of Browning And Thermogenesis In Adipose Tissues, Merve İnel, Bahadir Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms regulating brown, white, and beige adipose tissues, with particular emphasis on the browning process of white adipose tissue. Rather than considering adipose tissue as a passive energy reservoir, this review underscores its active role as a dynamic endocrine and metabolic organ. Brown and beige adipose tissues, recognized for their thermogenic capacity and contribution to energy expenditure, have emerged as promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic disorders. The review draws upon recent findings on adrenergic signaling, transcription factors, exosomal microRNAs, and other novel regulatory …

The Impact Of Hypophosphatemia On Biochemical Profile And Renal Outcomes In Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Nationwide Retrospective Study, Nai̇m Ata, Beki̇r Uçan, Hali̇l Durantaş, Oğulcan Boz, Mustafa Şahi̇n, Mustafa Mahi̇r Ülgü, Şuayi̇p Bi̇ri̇nci̇, Muhammed Kizilgül

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Although low phosphorus (P) concentrations are a recognized feature of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), they are not among the diagnostic or surgical criteria. The present study evaluates the association between serum phosphorus levels and clinical outcomes in PHPT patients.

Materials and methods: A search of the Turkish Ministry of Health’s National Electronic Database was conducted using ICD-10 diagnostic codes and laboratory data to identify PHPT cases within the Turkish population from 2017 to 2022.

Results: The records of a total of 113,330 PHPT patients (77.5% female; mean age 58.9 ± 15.6 years) were analyzed, revealing a mean serum phosphorus level …

Relcovaptan: A Promising Therapeutic Agent In Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury That Acts By Modulating Newly Identified Transcriptional Regulators Of Aquaporins Compared To Tolvaptan, Şeyma İş, Duygu Ceman, Meri̇h İş, Neşe Keser, Şaban Teki̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Every year, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide suffer from traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI), which causes irreversible damage, edema, and inflammation. Despite its devastating impact, no safe and effective medication is available. Edema formation is one of the earliest pathological events in tSCI, beginning within minutes after injury. Cytotoxic edema progresses to vasogenic edema, exacerbating irreversible damage. Our study aimed to investigate a therapeutic approach targeting cytotoxic edema in the acute phase of tSCI to improve treatment outcomes. Aquaporins (AQPs) are crucial in edema formation and tSCI pathogenesis. Vasopressin, also known as the antidiuretic hormone, modulates Aqp expression …

The Impact Of Tizanidine, Thiocolchicoside, And Cyclobenzaprine On Vascular Function In Ovariectomized Rats, Sümeyye Nur Gürsoy, Tolga Esmerli̇gi̇l, Uğur Berkay İnce, Turhan Dost, Buket Demi̇rci̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Menopause is associated with increased vascular risk. This study investigated the effects of 3 centrally acting muscle relaxants—tizanidine (TZ), thiocolchicoside (TCC), and cyclobenzaprine (CBZ)—on vascular reactivity in ovariectomized (OVX) rats as a model of menopause.

Materials and methods: Body weight, blood glucose, blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded, and the rats underwent oophorectomy surgery. Eight weeks after the operation, the rats were divided into 5 groups: sham operated rats, OVX rats, OVX rats treated with TZ (OVX + TZ), OVX rats treated with TCC (OVX + TCC), and OVX rats treated with CBZ (OVX + CBZ). All drug …

Natural Progression Of Meningeal Lymphatic Dysfunction In App/Ps1 Mice Creates A Critical Window For Alzheimer’S Disease Intervention, Zilong Shen, Xibin Zhou, Chunxiang Zhou

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs) facilitate the clearance of toxic metabolites like amyloid-beta (Aβ) from the central nervous system. Dysfunction in MLVs is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, current knowledge relies on exogenous intervention models that fail to capture spontaneous mLV decline during AD progression. In this study, we investigated the age-dependent correlation between mLV/deep cervical lymph node (dCLN) dysfunction and Aβ pathology in APP/PS1 mice under noninterventional conditions.

Materials and methods: APP/PS1 and wild-type (WT) mice at 3, 6, and 9 months of age were evaluated. Cognitive function was tested using the Morris water maze. mLV/dCLN drainage was …

Moltkia Coerulea Extracts Alleviate Caspase-3 Activity Via Reducing Oxidative Stress In Lps-Induced Neurotoxicity In Bv-2 Cells, Asli Can Ağca, Derya Altay, Hüdaverdi̇ Kul, Asli F. Ceylan, Betül Sever Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Moltkia coerulea, a medicinal plant traditionally used for its neuroprotective properties, contains diverse phenolic compounds. However, its mechanisms of action in neuroinflammation remain unclear. We hypothesized that extracts of M. coerulea may protect microglial cells from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase-3 activity.

Materials and methods: Aqueous and methanol extracts (5–50 μg/mL) were tested in BV-2 microglial cells. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, while ROS generation and caspase-3 activity were measured using fluorescence-based kits. The effective concentration (10 μg/mL) was selected for mechanistic assays based on viability data and …

Geologic And Geochemical Investigation Of The Ruby Graphite Deposit, Mikayla Taylor

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Ruby Graphite project (RGP, also known as the Crystal Graphite deposit) is located in the southern Ruby Mountains, Beaverhead County. The deposit contains coarse-grained and highly crystalline graphite, which is a sought-after critical commodity in today’s global economy. The graphite is hosted by high-grade meta-sedimentary and meta-igneous rocks that reached peak metamorphism during the ~ 1.7 Ma Big Sky Orogeny. In this study, samples were collected from outcrops, mine dumps, and new (2023) drill core from the Ground Hog and Bird’s Nest locations. Rock types include calcitic marble, biotite-garnet schist, pegmatite, diopside-rich skarn, altered ultramafic intrusions, and a possible …

Development And Evaluation Of Wireless Monitoring Systems For Touchless Respiratory Monitor Validation, Dustin Marquardt

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Touchless Respiratory Monitor (TRM) is a non-invasive system that uses contactless methods to measure respiratory rate and tidal volume. The main technologies employed are LiDAR for tidal volume measurement and a thermal camera for respiratory rate monitoring. These novel methods require validation against established techniques such as capnometry and respiratory inductance plethysmography. Commercial respiratory monitoring equipment is often expensive and dependent on proprietary software, creating barriers to widespread use. To address this, a custom, modular, and low-cost evaluation system was developed to streamline the validation of the TRM. The prototype system integrates a pulse oximeter, capnometer, spirometer, and respiratory …

The Witch, The Fairy, And The Woman: Femininity, Morality, And The Supernatural In Hungarian Fairy Tales, Emese Izso

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the ways female supernatural beings are portrayed in Hungarian fairy tales, with a special focus on how their femininity, morality, and power manifest in their depiction. A close reading of fifty-two Hungarian fairy tales with prevalent female supernatural characters reveals that the spaces they occupy, the forms they take, and the gender roles they fulfill both influence each other and the portrayal of women in these stories. Depending on the space they reside in (whether that is the human domestic sphere, a magical kingdom ruled by a specific species, or a liminal zone of magical wilderness), women …

Library Newsletter: December ‘25, Iwasaki Library

Iwasaki Newsletters

This Library Newsletter reached faculty, staff, and students of Emerson College on December 12th, 2025. This is the only published issue of December. This is the seventh issue of the 3rd volume. It includes top stories such as a thank you for joining us at Relaxapalooza, a reminder about when the library is open over the winter break, a congratulations piece to the winners of the Liberal Arts survey, and a poll on which streaming film matches your creative energy.

Fcf India, Arturo Torres Torres Landa, Rachel Lin-Peistrup

Miller Center Fellowship

Afforestation has critically emerged and been widely adopted for ecological restoration and climate change resilience in rural India.

There is a rise in carbon credit schemes and their integration of small farmers into global environmental markets; the relevance of such schemes, however, must not be measured solely by carbon returns. This research explores the larger social, economic, and cultural context of afforestation by conducting a mixed-methods analysis of tree-planting actions undertaken by FCF India, with special regard to the experiences of farmers in Assam. We seek to gauge whether such non-carbon aspects offer transparent and measurable channels of value, and …