Digital Commons Network^™

Geagrow: A Mobile Tool For Soil Nutrient Prediction And Fertilizer Optimization Using Artificial Neural Networks, Olusegun Folorunso, Oluwafolake Ojo, Mutiu Busari, Muftau Adebayo, Joshua Adejumobi, Daniel Folorunso, Femi Ayo, Orobosade Alabi, Olusola Olabanjo

All Grantees Publications

Introduction: Most farmers in Nigeria lack knowledge of their farmland’s nutrient content, often relying on intuition for crop cultivation. Even when aware, they struggle to interpret soil information, leading to improper fertilizer application, which can degrade soil and ground water quality. Traditional soil nutrient analysis requires field sample collection and laboratory analysis; a tedious and timeconsuming process. Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) leverages Machine Learning (ML) to create detailed soil maps, helping mitigate nutrient depletion. Despite its growing use, existing DSM-based ML methods face challenges in prediction accuracy and data representation. Aim: This study presents GeaGrow, an innovative mobile app that …

Therapeutic Potential Of Brassica Carinata Microgreens Extract In Alleviating Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes In Wistar Rats, Lilian Nakakaawa, Ifeoluwa D. Gbala, Joel L. Bargul, Xavier Cheseto, John M. Wesonga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Microgreens of Brassica plants have attracted increasing research interest in the management of the prevailing epidemic of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) because of their high nutritional value. This study evaluated the antidiabetic effects of Brassica carinata Microgreens Ethanolic Extract (BMEE) in type-2 diabetic rats. For the normoglycemic assay, rats were divided into five groups and received a single oral dose of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg of BMEE while the control groups received distilled water and Glibenclamide. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were determined on a weekly basis for 28 days in diabetic rats after treatment with BMEE at …

Comparing Patency Of Pulmonary Stent Implantation And Balloon Angioplasty In Pulmonary Vein Stenosis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Izza Batool, Muhammad K. Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Ibrahim A. Khan, Syed A. A. Bukhari, Shreeja Shah, Khaled Harmouch, Hussam Al Hennawi, Bruce D. Klugherz

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is an insidious diagnosis associated with morbidity and mortality. Pharmacologic therapy may suffice initially, but advanced stages demand mechanical intervention. Pulmonary stent implantation (PSI) and pulmonary balloon angioplasty (PBA) are common strategies, both carrying restenosis risks. This meta‐analysis compares PSI and PBA to determine the superior revascularization strategy. We systematically searched databases until November 2023, identifying 11 studies with 780 patients. Studies, including those involving patients undergoing balloon angioplasty (BA) or stent angioplasty (SA) for PVS, were selected. Case reports, editorials, and cross‐sectional studies were omitted. Primary outcomes included restenosis requiring reintervention, 5‐year freedom from restenosis, …

Quantum Immortality: A Perspective If Ai Doomers Are Probably Right, Alexey Turchin, James Miller

Economics: Faculty Publications

What should you believe will be the likely cause of your survival if you are an AI Doomer who believes in quantum immortality? An AI Doomer believes that if their understanding of AI existential risks is correct, humanity must get extremely lucky to survive. A person who believes in quantum immortality thinks that the many-worlds interpretation of quantum physics implies that their consciousness will necessarily continue in some branch of the multiverse. This article shows that combining these two beliefs requires rejecting or going beyond simple Bayesian reasoning when estimating one's most likely cause of survival. Such estimates may have …

Natural Bone Human Education Skeletons: Investigating Restoration And Ancestry, Emelye Josko

Annual Research Symposium

•Three real human skeletons owned by DSU were restored to a fully functional state for classroom usage, using anatomical guides and museum preservation techniques. •These skeletons have inspired the development of a new curriculum that promotes interactive learning, allowing students to engage with the skeletal remains in a hands-on environment. •Non-invasive DNA extraction methods are being employed to gather additional information about the heritage of the skeletons, enhancing the understanding of their origins and significance.

Legislating Trans Lives: An Archival Analysis On Trans Canadian Rights, Charlie E. C. Davis

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Previous research has outlined trans histories within the United States and Europe, illustrating historic transphobia, oppression and the origins of gender identity clinics. This type of historical literature is limited in the Canadian context, with more contemporary research demonstrating that trans people experience significant barriers to accessing healthcare, aversive health outcomes, and high rates of discrimination. Trans activists and advocates have always been and continue to resist these oppressive systems and have worked to improve the social and physical wellbeing of trans people in Canada. Utilizing archival data of trans activism and community mobilizing, I sought to address the gap …

Social Behavior & Personality In Corn Snakes, Maggie-Rose Johnston

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The sociality of snakes, long thought simplistic, has been shown to be governed by a host of different factors such as kinship, experience, sex, weight and personality. There is, however, still a need to untangle how snakes prioritize different kinds of information when interacting. I hypothesized that examining each dyad that composes a group could partly predict how individuals would behave in a larger group context, providing insight into the mechanisms governing aggregation. Six groups of six corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) had their personalities tested, then underwent dyadic interactions with each member of their cohort followed by a …

Scoping Review Of Machine Learning Techniques In Marker-Based Clinical Gait Analysis, Kevin N. Dibbern, Maddalena G. Krzak, Alejandro Olivas, Mark V. Albert, Joseph J. Krzak, Karen M. Kruger

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The recent proliferation of novel machine learning techniques in quantitative marker-based 3D gait analysis (3DGA) has shown promise for improving interpretations of clinical gait analysis. The objective of this study was to characterize the state of the literature on using machine learning in the analysis of marker-based 3D gait analysis to provide clinical insights that may be used to improve clinical analysis and care. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed and Web of Science databases. Search terms from eight relevant articles were identified by the authors and added to by experts in clinical gait …

Can Fungal Endophytes Suppress Trialeurodes Vaporariorum And The Transmission Of Tomato Infectious Chlorosis And Chlorosis Viruses In Field Conditions?, Marial Makur Zechariah Paweer, Everlyne Samita Namikoye, Shem Bonuke Nchore, Komivi Senyo Akutse

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Field trials were conducted for two seasons in two experimental sites (Mwea in Kirinyaga and Ngoliba in Kiambu counties of Kenya) to assess the efficacy of fungal endophytes Hypocrea lixii F3ST1 and Trichoderma asperellum M2RT4 in the control of Trialeurodes vaporariorum vector of tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV) and tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) through seeds inoculation. TICV and ToCV’s disease incidence, severity and the yield were also evaluated. All the fungal endophytes successfully colonized all the tomato plant parts, but the highest root colonization was observed in H. lixii F3ST1 compared to the T. asperellum M2RT4 in both seasons. The …

Nuclear Intron Sequence Variation Of The Bulinus Globosus Complex (Mollusca: Planorbidae): Implications For Molecular Systematic Analyses, Chairat Tantrawatpan, Kotchaphon Vaisusuk, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Warayutt Pilap, Naruemon Bunchom, Ross H. Andrews, Tongjit Thanchomnang, Wanchai Maleewong, Weerachai Saijuntha

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Urinary schistosomiasis is caused by the blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium, which is predominantly found in Africa. The freshwater snail Bulinus globosus is its main intermediate host. The species that make up the B. globosus group are genetically complex, and their taxonomic status remains controversial. Genetic variation, heterozygosity, and DNA recombination in B. globosus were examined using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and the intron 3 region of the arginine kinase gene (AkInt3). A total of 81 B. globosus snails were collected from three different localities in Kwale County, Kenya. Genomic diversity, heterozygosity, DNA recombination, and haplotype network …

Swatting Flies: Biting Insects As Non-Invasive Samplers For Mammalian Population Genomics, Anubhab Khan, Ryan Carter, Chengetai D. Mpamhanga, Daniel Masiga, Manun Channumsin, Marc Ciosi, Oliva Manangwa, Furaha Mramba, Umer Zeeshan Ijaz, Harriet Auty, Barbara K. Mable

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Advances in next-generation sequencing have allowed the use of DNA obtained from unusual sources for wildlife studies. However, these samples have been used predominantly to sequence mitochondrial DNA for species identification while population genetics analyses have been rare. Since next-generation sequencing allows indiscriminate detection of all DNA fragments in a sample, technically it should be possible to sequence whole genomes of animals from environmental samples. Here we used a blood-feeding insect, tsetse fly, to target whole genome sequences of wild animals. Using pools of flies, we compared the ability to recover genomic data from hosts using the short-read sequencing (Illumina) …

The Impact Of Stem Self-Efficacy And Sense Of Belonging On Academic Performance For Students Of Color In Introductory Stem Courses, Danyelle Nichole Stokes

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study explores the interplay between STEM identity development, race and gender in relation to academic performance in STEM at the beginning of post-secondary education. Statistical analyses of this study included descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests and a multiple linear regression. The quantitative results indicated no statistically significant differences in self-efficacy and sense of belonging scores between White students and students of color. However, participants’ open-ended responses warranted a holistic examination to look for qualitative differences in the STEM identities of students of color and White students. The findings supported existing literature on disparities in support, inclusion and access to …

Long-Term Abundance Estimates Of A Northeast Florida Estuarine Dolphin Community: Evaluating The Impacts Of The 2013–2015 Cetacean Morbillivirus Unusual Mortality Event, Allison L. Wilkins

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tamanend's bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops erebennus) in the St. Johns River (SJR), Jacksonville, FL, are subjected to substantial anthropogenic stressors (e.g., vessel traffic, dredging, fisheries interactions) and were heavily impacted by the 2013-2015 Mid-Atlantic cetacean morbillivirus unusual mortality event (UME). High prevalence of skin lesions and frequent sightings of emaciated dolphins suggest declining health and viability of the SJR dolphin community. Sighting data from Jul. 2011 to Oct. 2019 provided the rare opportunity to investigate long-term changes in dolphin abundance surrounding the UME. This study produced the first dolphin abundance estimate within the Jacksonville Estuarine System stock since 1997, …

Comparison Of Post-Exercise Lipid Oxidation Rates Between Lower And 1 Upper-Body Resistance Training In Well-Trained Females, Alyssa L. Parten

Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Lipid oxidation (LOx) is a relevant physiological process linked to metabolic health. Despite growing interest in resistance training (RT) as a means to influence substrate utilization LOx responses in females remain poorly characterized, with no study examining whether lower- and upper body RT elicits different LOx patterns during the recovery period following exercise. This distinction may  be relevant because lower-body exercises involves greater fat-free mass (FFM) and energy expenditure,  whereas upper-body exercises recruit less FFM, potentially influencing metabolic effects.

PURPOSE: To  determine if LOx rates after exercise differ between lower- and upper-body RT in well-trained females.

METHODS: Twenty-two females …

Menstrual Cycle Phase Exerts No Influence On Running Economy Parameters In Recreational Female Runners, Savanna K. Knight

Dissertations

Hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout the menstrual cycle (MC) have been shown to affect substrate utilization and oxygen uptake when running. These MC induced changes could manifest as altered running economy (RE) when expressed as energy cost (Ec) and oxygen cost (O2c). Therefore, the current study aimed to determine if RE differs between MC phases, the early follicular phase (E-FP) and the mid-luteal phase (M-LP). Twelve eumenorrheic female recreational runners (ages 25 ± 4y; VO2peak 40.9±4.6 ml/kg/min) completed submaximal RE bouts (60%, 70%, 80% of VO2peak) during the E-FP and M-LP. During each bout, oxygen consumption (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio …

Unique Challenges Of Small Special Educator Preparation Program Faculty At Hbcus, Priscilla Spencer, Rachel Juergensen

Journal of Case Learning & Exceptional Learners

Evolving special educator preparation programs face distinct challenges that impact faculty and influence the quality of the programs for preservice teachers. This unique challenge case study is designed to describe the experiences of two special educator preparation faculty members serving at Historically Black Universities with small, evolving special educator preparation programs. This paper discusses challenges such as mentorship, course loads, resources, service to the community, and collaboration that these faculty members face and the methods that have been developed to moderate these challenges. This case also highlights the value of acknowledging challenges that exist in small special educator preparation programs …

From Misinformation To Policy Solutions: Teaching Herd Immunity And Vaccine Hesitancy Through Real-World Case Studies Of Measles Outbreaks, Laurieann Klockow

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Vaccine hesitancy threatens herd immunity, contributing to the resurgence of measles outbreaks. This lesson engages upper-level biomedical science students in analyzing the complex interplay between vaccination rates, herd immunity and vaccine exemption policies through examination of the 2019 New York measles outbreak that threatened the United States’ measles elimination status. Students critically evaluate anti-vaccine misinformation, analyze epidemiological data and develop evidence-based policy recommendations to increase vaccination rates. The lesson combines team-based learning with authentic assessment through vaccine policy development, moving beyond knowledge acquisition and content to building scientific literacy and evidence-based reasoning skills essential for scientifically literate citizens and future …

Modifying The Miller Test To Supplement Board Of Education V. Pico: A Novel Approach For Resolving Censorship Cases In School Libraries, Michael Lee

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

In recent years, the increase in book censorship laws and attempts in school libraries across the United States has led to concerns about the propriety of such censorships. This has drawn much attention to the Supreme Court’s decision in Board of Education v. Pico, which established the standard for evaluating the constitutionality of removing books from school libraries. Yet, by analyzing, under the Pico standard, the constitutionality of Texas, Florida, and Illinois’s laws pertaining to book censorship, this Note demonstrates that the Pico standard is practically limited and difficult to apply. Therefore, a more applicable test for analyzing the …

Design Thinking For Health Environments: Case Study Research On Innovation, Design Leadership, And Healthcare Complexity, Diana S. Nicholas

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

As healthcare costs are skyrocketing, of the 6,093 hospitals in America, 53% will lose money in the current year (Coleman-Lochner, 2022). Design health innovation centers (DHICs) are formed in Europe and the United States to create efficiencies in healthcare related to budget challenges. DHICs exist in unique contexts both in America and Europe that are not yet well understood. These efforts are difficult to lead due to the lack of understanding of their worth and how their process is valuable to healthcare settings (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). The specific problem examined here is that little is known about how DHIC …

Distal Effects Of Teenage Pregnancy And Childbirth, Amy M. Sutherland

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

While pregnancy during adolescence is declining, research on the topic continues, particularly regarding: the reasons teenagers become pregnant and choose parenthood; their experiences as teen parents; and near-term outcomes for themselves and their children. The focus of this dissertation has received little study: how the experience of having been a birthing parent in adolescence continues to affect the personal experiences of individuals in midlife, if it does at all. Eight individuals between the ages of 30 and 43 who gave birth as teens were interviewed, and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to identify how they interpreted and made meaning …

The Inward Gaze: White Faculty's Self-Perceptions Of Racial Identity, Privilege, And Its Impact On Pedagogy, David E. Houle

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation examines the evolving self-perceptions of racial consciousness among White faculty in higher education and its impact on pedagogical practices for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. This study is guided by Mezirow’s transformative learning theory and Rowe et al.’s White racial consciousness model and uses interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore participants’ narratives of White racial identity, disorientating dilemmas, critical self-reflection, and pedagogical transformation. The research highlights key moments of self-reflection and transformation that influence inclusive teaching strategies, such as prioritizing marginalized voices in course content and rethinking classroom dynamics to respond to systemic inequities. The findings reveal how …

Professional Development Needs In Educational Support For The Waldorf Teacher, Leah M. Mrozinski

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In the past few years of immersion into the Waldorf world through both my work and my educational pursuits, I have recognized that there is an absence of basic special education knowledge in the practice of Waldorf education. My research sought to answer the question: What topics of educational support are most relevant and needed for Waldorf teachers and trainees today? My literature review explored best practices in special education and Waldorf education and connections with polyvagal theory. More specifically, it includes a basic review of special education law, best practices in special education, how a Waldorf education meets the …

Heart-Thinking Leadership: A Transformative Approach To Binary Hierarchies In Waldorf Schools, Chiaki Uchiyama

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explores heart-thinking leadership as a transformative approach to dismantling elitism, hierarchy, and binary structures in education, leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Grounded in insights from Damásio, Spinoza, Emerson, Hegelian dialectics, and wisdom traditions such as Manichaeism, African spirituality, and Indigenous feminism, it examines how third space thinking fosters inclusivity and dynamic leadership. By integrating intuition, intellect, and relational awareness, heart-thinking leadership moves beyond rigid dualisms—mind and body, self and other, power and subjugation—to cultivate a holistic way of knowing. This perspective critiques conventional DEI models that reinforce binaries of oppressor and oppressed, advocating instead for an …

The Role Of Floodplain Complexity In Wood Turtle Habitat Use, Laura S. Deming

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Wood turtles occupy cold, low-gradient riverine habitat throughout the northeastern United State and southeastern Canada. Stream alterations, such as dams, channel straightening, and floodplain development have diminished the natural hydrologic and sedimentation regimes that result in complex channel and floodplain geomorphology. Studies throughout the species’ range have quantified many aspects of their habitat, but none have quantified components of geomorphology of wood turtle sites. The goal of this study was to explore the role of stream channel and floodplain geomorphology in wood turtle habitat use, with specific objectives to (1) quantify components of stream channel and floodplain geomorphic complexity, (2) …

Experiences Of Dissertating Students: What Works?, Laura Durkin

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explores the experiences of doctoral graduates from Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) programs. Guided by theoretical frameworks on student attrition and institutional racism, the research investigates three primary questions: (1) What dissertation- specific programmatic factors influence time to completion for CES doctoral students? (2) What interventions most strongly promote a sense of social integration and belonging? and (3) What interventions most strongly promote academic integration and confidence in students’ ability to succeed? Data were collected anonymously through an online survey, which included demographic and open-ended questions. Twelve participants …

Empowering Futures Together: The Role Of Emotional Intelligence In Postsecondary Outcomes For Young Adults With Autism, Olivia Bliss

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Autistic young adults are disproportionately excluded from postsecondary education and employment opportunities, with significantly lower rates of college completion and higher levels of unemployment than their non-disabled peers. While social and emotional learning (SEL) has been widely promoted as a vehicle for student success, research on how emotional intelligence (EQ) shapes the postsecondary experiences of neurodivergent individuals remains limited. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study explores how emotional intelligence competencies influence postsecondary outcomes and satisfaction among autistic young adults. Participants completed the Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Assessment (SEI), and their results were analyzed alongside demographic and outcome data. The second …

Ethical Imperatives For Rational Paternalism In Advisor-Client Relationships, Igor A. Zey

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study seeks to understand the role of ethics and rational paternalism in the practice of financial advising. A significant amount of research examines the effects of rational paternalism on the governmental and institutional levels. Very little research has addressed the issues associated with rational paternalistic behavior by advisors toward their clients. Investopedia (2013) focuses on advisors’ ethics and moral responsibilities, underscoring the ethical standards clients should expect from their financial advisors. However, practically none of the literature examines the ethics, morals, and practical aspects of individual paternalism. In response, this study examines the concept of rational paternalism in advisor-client …

21st-Century Stewardship: Infusing Environmental Education With Global Citizenship, Ava Y. Goodale

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In today's interconnected world, where socioecological issues transcend political borders, integrating environmental stewardship education with global citizenship education offers valuable opportunities for student empowerment. The goal of this multi-article dissertation was to conceptualize and operationalize 21st-century stewardship in educational settings. Twenty-first-century stewardship is a pedagogical approach that recognizes the limitations of environmental stewardship education as it is traditionally taught and is defined in Chapter II as an updated stewardship model that is infused with global citizenship’s multiscalar perspectives, global compacts, and layered identities to achieve its maximum impact in our interconnected world. This goal was first accomplished in Chapter II …

My Body My Choice: A Qualitative Study Of Volitional Female Sterilization In The U. S. Latina And Hispanic Female Population, Heather Morris Tuip

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study, utilizing an interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology, elucidates the experience of Latina and Hispanic women living in the United States who have volitionally undergone sterilization or have sought the procedure out for birth control. Understanding the rich, contextual, lived experience of Latina and Hispanic women through an intersectional framework highlights how cultural influences and contemporary policies on reproductive rights informed their personal choice to undergo a female sterilization procedure. The participants of this study shared how they made meaning of their experiences. Within a homogenous sampling of study participants who share ethnicities and genders, six group experiential themes …

Childhood Aggression: A New Conceptualization, Hannah G. Harrison

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Childhood aggression is a frequently observed behavioral phenomenon, yet lacks a precise
definition in both the DSM-5-TR and current research literature. Definitional ambiguity and
construct enmeshment continue to create construct confusion for researchers, clinicians, and
informants. This empirical review of the current literature and diagnostic criteria examines how
childhood aggression has been historically conceptualized, defined, and described. The primary
aim was to identify and clarify inconsistencies in current definitions and to address knowledge
gaps to improve diagnostic clarity. Through a thematic synthesis of recent literature, several key
issues emerged: the absence of a precise definition of childhood aggression; reliance on …