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Antibacterial Effect Of Ethanol Extracts Of Murraya Paniculata Leaves, Smallanthus Sonchifolius Leaves, Apis Trigona Honey, And Their Combination Against Staphylococcus Epidermidis, Sri Agung Fitri Kusuma, Irma Erika Herawati, Felika Nugrahaningtiyas

Chimica et Natura Acta

Several studies have reported that combining plant extracts may enhance their efficacy against specific bacterial infections. This study aimed to analyze the antibacterial interaction of ethanol extracts of Murraya paniculata leaves, Smallanthus sonchifolius leaves, Apis trigona honey, and their combinations against Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, as each component has shown individual antibacterial activity against this bacterium. The antibacterial interactions of the test materials, both individually and in combination, were evaluated using the agar diffusion method with clindamycin phosphate as the standard antibiotic. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the most potent extract was determined through the microdilution method according to …

Effect Of Fermentation On The Phsyco And Functional Properties Of Red Sorghum Flour (Sorghum Bicolor L.), Elazmanawati Lembong, Endah Wulandari, Putri Widyanti Harlina, Syifa Tsalitsu

Chimica et Natura Acta

Modification of red sorghum flour by fermentation method can improve the physical, chemical, and functional properties of the resulting sorghum flour. The purpose of this study was to determine the fermentation time that can affect the physical and functional characteristics of red sorghum flour fermented spontaneous (TSS) and non-spontaneous (TTS). Results indicated that the best treatment was red sorghum flour fermented at 24 hours both spontaneous and non-spontaneous. TSS at 24 hours had a water absorption capacity of 1.04%, oil binding capacity of 1.04%, swelling volume of 7.47%, solubility of 7.57%, initial gelatinization temperature of 76.56oC, peak viscosity of 2855 …

In-Silico Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (Vegfr-2) Inhibitors Of Seven Bioactive Compounds From Sonneratia Alba, Madyawati Latief, Fitria Melani, Yusnaidar Yusnaidar, Indra Lasmana Tarigan

Chimica et Natura Acta

Cancer is a disorder resulting from genetic changes, abnormal growth, and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer treatment is commonly administered through chemotherapy, which often results in adverse side effects. Therefore, research is essential to identify safer alternative cancer therapies. This study aims to identify potential bioactive compound ligand receptor targets from Sonneratia alba as anticancer candidates in silico by identifying VEGFR target proteins based on their pharmacophores and studying their interactions through the reverse docking method. Docking simulations between the native ligand (Tivozanib) and the receptor yielded promising results, with a free energy value of -12.76 kcal/mol …

Synthesis Of 1,2-Di(Phenyl)Ethan-1,2-Dione Through Oxidation Of 2-Hydroxy-1,2-Dipheniletanone By Using Copper(Ii) Citrate, Winda Seviani, Arif Fadlan, Vania Wirastuti

Chimica et Natura Acta

1,2-Di(phenyl)-1,2-dione widely used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries and found as a framework in secondary metabolites can be obtained through oxidation of 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone using strong acids, homogeneous, heterogeneous, and metal catalysts. However, these oxidation methods exhibit various drawbacks. This study reported the oxidation of 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone by using copper(II) citrate to produce 1,2-di(phenyl)-1,2-dione. The oxidation performed with copper(II) citrate and ammonium nitrate in glacial acetic acid as solvent yielded 1,2-di(phenyl)-1,2-dione in 88% yield higher than the nitric acid method (79% yield). The FTIR, NMR spectriscopies, and mass analysis confirmed the structure of 1,2-di(phenyl)ethane-1,2-dione. The oxidation of 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone using copper(II) citrate is …

Cytotoxicity Of Chromanone Acid From The Steam Bark Of Calophyllum Incrassatum Against P-388 Leukemia Murine Cells, Ulfatun Hasanah, Robi’Atul Andawiyah, Barrotut Taqiyah, Ratih Dewi Saputri, Tjitjik Srie Tjahtjandarie

Chimica et Natura Acta

Calophyllum incrassatum is one of the plant species of the Calophylloceae family and is found endemic in Kalimantan and Sumatra. This study aims to isolate chromanone acid compounds from the stem bark of C. incrassatum and determine the relationship between structure and activity against murine Leukemia P-388 cells. The extraction method used was maceration using methanol solvent, partitioned with n-hexane and ethyl acetate solvents. Separation and purification of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts by vacuum liquid chromatography, pressed column, and radial. Two chromanone acids derivatives, isoapetalic acid (1), and methyl isoapetalic (2), have been successfully isolated from the stem bark …

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Expansive, And Queer+ Client Experiences Discussing Consensual Nonmonogamy In Therapy: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Evan Wendell Engle-Newman

Dissertations

This dissertation presents the findings from an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study on how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender expansive, and queer+ (LGBTGEQ+) clients experience discussing consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) in therapy. This study explored how five individuals made meaning of their experiences discussing CNM with current or prior therapists. The meaning they made of these experiences were situated in the context of social and cultural factors that influenced their discussions of CNM in therapy.

There were three research questions for this study including one primary question and two guiding sub-questions. The primary question was: what are the experiences of LGBTGEQ+ …

From Foster Care To College Graduation: A Qualitative Study Of The Experiences Of College Graduates Who Aged Out Of Foster Care, Antonia Irene Thomas

Dissertations

Students who have spent time in the foster care system encounter a myriad of barriers and challenges to academic success. Among these challenges is attending post-secondary school and completing a college degree. High school academic performance, knowledge of the college application process, and lack of financial support are some factors that act as barriers to post-secondary attendance. Lack of support and difficulty navigating the college experience can negatively impact the ability to complete college. Even in instances of desire and academic ability to attend college, many of these students never attend, or do not complete and obtain a degree. Between …

Beliefs Of California And Colorado Parents, School Professionals, And School Administrators Around Providing Comprehensive Sexuality Education To School-Aged Youth With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Michelle Aleen Kalos

Dissertations

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are victims of sexual assault at a rate seven times higher than people without IDD (Shapiro, 2018a). “One of the best ways to stop sexual assault is to give people with intellectual disabilities the ability to identify abuse and to know how to develop the healthy relationships they want” (Shapiro, 2018b, p. 1). Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) could be a scientifically accurate, evidence-based, age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and inclusive educational experience for youth with IDD (Koch et al., 2024). However, only around 16% of students with IDD were likely to receive sex education in …

Students’ Ability To Transfer Organic Chemistry Concepts To Metabolic Reactions, Timothy Jones

Dissertations

Bridging foundational knowledge learned in prerequisite courses like organic chemistry to higher-level courses like biochemistry represents a significant challenge in science education, often hindering deeper student understanding and future knowledge application. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate students’ ability to transfer and apply their understanding of organic chemistry when reasoning through metabolic reaction problems often seen in biochemistry courses. The research questions guiding the project were two-fold:

Q1 What are the organic chemistry reaction concepts deemed foundational to understanding metabolism by experts in the field?

Q2 What is the student’s ability to transfer knowledge of organic chemistry reactions …

Teacher Leadership In Social Studies: The Search For Meaning And Identity, Zachary F. Lawson

Dissertations

This qualitative research study brings together social studies education and teacher leadership. Social studies lacks study in the teacher leader literature. This study aimed to understand whether the disciplinary nature of social studies education influenced the enactment of teacher leadership. This study sought an answer to the central research question: What does it mean to be a social studies teacher leader? Using a hermeneutic phenomenology research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews across two groups of participants. Seven social studies teacher leaders made up one group, and five social studies teachers without leadership roles comprised the other. Findings indicated …

Radiation Induced Vaporization Of Exoskeletal Droplets As Potential X-Ray Acoustic Contrast Agents, Mohamed E. Eldib, William N. Frantz, Mark A. Borden, Ryan Lanning, Moyed Miften, David H. Thomas

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: In vivo dosimetry is a crucial component of ensuring accurate and safe radiation therapy (RT) delivery, but many existing techniques face challenges such as low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which can limit their clinical applicability.

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigate a novel contrast agent sensitive to megavoltage (MV) radiation in vitro, ultimately aiming for in vivo dosimetry.

METHODS: Vaporizable exoskeletal droplets were engineered to phase-change into ultrasound-responsive microbubbles upon exposure to MV photon radiation. These droplets comprised a hydrocarbon (HC) exoskeleton doped with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) surrounding a liquid fluorocarbon (FC) core. Radiation absorbed by the GNPs induced localized …

College Leaders’ Perspectives Of Diversity At A Community College System In Texas: A Phenomenological Study Of Validation, Xandelyn Wright Washington

All Dissertations

The United States has undergone dramatic changes in student demographics over the last 40 years. Nowhere is this reflected more than in the field of education (Center for Public Education, 2012; Fabina et al., 2023). Disaggregation of student demographics is a useful and common method for measuring student outcomes, and in the United States, non-majority students consistently have lower student outcomes (Gay, 2013; Howard, 2010; Ocay et al., 2023).

Ma and Baum (2016) and McNair et al. (2015) stated that the role of community colleges is pivotal in postsecondary education. As such, college leaders and administrators have focused attention on …

Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems In Southeastern Utah: An Integrated Analysis Of Hydrology, Ecology, And Landscape Change, Colten Lay

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

In Southeastern Utah, springs play a critical role in sustaining groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in a semi-arid environment. However, they remain understudied and face growing threats from climate change, land use modifications, and hydrologic alterations. This study addresses knowledge gaps in spring occurrence, hydrologic function, and ecological condition by integrating field surveys, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis across multiple spatial scales. It provides a comprehensive assessment of spring hydrology, water quality, and ecological conditions using field surveys, remote sensing, and GIS analysis to establish a foundational baseline of GDE resources in the region. I applied a multi-scale monitoring approach across the …

Warming Of The Southern Ocean During The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum: Inferences From Foraminifera At Site U1580, Samina Anee

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, ~56 million years ago) represents an ancient episode of rapid global warming, offering critical insights into climate dynamics and the Earth's response to increased greenhouse gases. This project aims to quantify the magnitude of warming across the PETM at newly recovered IODP Site U1580 (Agulhas Plateau, Southern Ocean) through the analysis of Mg/Ca and δ¹⁸O ratios of planktic foraminifera. Understanding the extent of warming at Site U1580 is crucial for comprehending past climate variability and improving future climate predictions. Site U1580 is particularly well-suited to foraminiferal geochemistry because of high carbonate content throughout …

Challenging The Gaze: A Feminist Interpretation Of The S.M.S. Mail Art Collection, Karissa A. Krievins

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

In the late 1960s, many people called for radical, immediate change to America’s political, societal, and cultural structures. The artistic practices of the time reflected the social and political realities of the moment and played a crucial role in advocating for change. The title of the 1968 S.M.S. (Shit Must Stop) subscription art portfolios was a bold and urgent call for action, challenging artists and audiences alike to confront the pressing injustices of the era and inspire a collective awakening to the necessity of transformative change across the United States. Despite a fifty-six-year gap, today we are …

Living Pantry: Affordable Housing And Traditional Agriculture, Alanna S. Nafziger

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Utah is a beautiful and unique landscape with a vibrant food history that is, as I write this in 2025, undergoing some dramatic changes in both climate and population.

The population is projected to almost double by 2065, increasing by 2.8 million people over a 50-year period. Cache Valley, in the Northern part of the state, is projected to increase its population by 93% in that same time frame (Perlich et. al., 2017).

This population growth represents a huge increase in demand for housing, but while demand grows, the market becomes less affordable, with the median home price 6.26 times …

Effective Transformer Networks For Undersampled Magnetic Resonance Image Reconstruction, Tahsin Rahman

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The proliferation of data-driven tools for solving problems in every possible domain, coupled with rapid advances in computing technology, has led to an arms race of AI development and application research in industry and academia. One field of research that stands to gain immeasurably from this revolution is medical imaging. It is a critical part of modern diagnostics, and advancements in this area can directly benefit the average person by making healthcare more accessible, accurate, and affordable. Breakthroughs in mainstream image processing and computer vision have long fueled development in medical imaging, and it is now common to see cutting …

Experimental Investigation Of Photovoltaic Soiling Losses And Aerosol Absorption And Scattering Related To Dust In The Chihuahuan Desert Region, German Rodriguez Ortiz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the interaction between mineral dust and solar radiation in the Chihuahuan Desert, one of the dustiest areas in North America. I focused on two main aspects: (1) the characterization of atmospheric aerosol optical properties during dust events, and (2) the effects of dust deposition (soiling) on the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules. I characterized the intrinsic optical properties of aerosols in El Paso, Texas during the peak of the 2021 dust season. Ground-level, high-resolution optical and meteorological data were collected at the Black and Brown Carbon (BC^2) study site, whereas particulate matter and additional meteorological parameters were …

Examining The Development Of Collective Classroom Efficacy At The Secondary Level, Bradley K. Dutson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

How can educators develop cohesive and productive learning communities at the secondary level? Prior research has investigated how classrooms develop collective classroom efficacy (CCE) or the shared belief that, as a classroom, they can achieve their learning goals together as a community. Previous studies suggest that CCE at the elementary level is developed with a teacher acting in the role of a community organizer. The teacher employs social and academic practices which incorporate the use of relevance, relationship, and responsibility. These help to establish four key elements of developing CCE which include: 1) a positive classroom environment, (2) persistence and …

The Validation Of The Patient’S Endorsement Of The Biopsychosocial Model Of Chronic Pain (Peb) Scale In Young Adults, Mathias M. Sanyer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This research examined a new tool designed to measure how patients view their chronic pain. While healthcare providers increasingly recognize that chronic pain involves biological, psychological, and social factors (a "biopsychosocial approach"), no previous tool existed to assess whether patients share this perspective. This study tested the reliability and effectiveness of the Patient's Endorsement of a Biopsychosocial Model of Chronic Pain (PEB) Scale in young adults with chronic pain. Results confirmed the scale accurately measures a single, consistent concept and correlates with patients' willingness to consider new pain management approaches. Unlike in older adults, the scale didn't predict active maintenance …

Evaluating The Effects Of 3d User Interactions And Virtual Displays On Human Cognition And Perception For Immersive Analytics, Dongyun Han

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This research investigates how virtual reality (VR) can be utilized effectively for users to explore data. Traditional data analysis typically takes place on flat, two-dimensional computer screens. In contrast, immersive technologies like VR offer a three-dimensional environment where users can engage with data more naturally and intuitively. Such immersive experiences have the potential to improve comprehension, memory, and insight during data analysis tasks. Despite this potential, several challenges remain in making immersive analytics practical and effective. Key questions include which types of 3D interaction techniques are most helpful and how accurately people perceive visual information in immersive environments. To address …

A Provable Semi-Infinite Programming Approach For Solving Dynamic Nash Games, Tyler C. Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Many engineering problems must account for the non-cooperative decisions and actions of multiple players. These problems can be modeled within a game-theoretic framework. The approach herein is to model problems as Nash games, convert them to semi-infinite programs, and leverage provable semi-infinite algorithms to solve the original problem. A particular algorithm that leverages off-the-shelf solvers is used to solve four low-dimensional benchmark problems successfully. Two types of linear quadratic dynamic games are then investigated: ones where each player’s problem is convex and ones where at least one player’s problem is nonconvex. Within each type, variations based on information structure, communication …

Alevi-Bektashi Ballads: Malady, Melody And Remedy, Mustafa Cingoz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This research focuses on how ballads play a central role in the cultural and spiritual life of the Alevi-Bektashi community in Türkiye. These ballads, performed by folk poets known as aşık (minstrel) with the stringed instrument bağlama are the inseparable elements of their daily life and sacred rituals. As rooted in the path of Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam, and the teachings of 13th-century Sufi saint Haji Bektash Veli, Alevi-Bektashi ballads express shared emotions, struggles, and hopes. Therefore, my point of view argues that these ballads do more than preserve the Anatolian ballad tradition. They create a sense of …

Evaluating Cyanotoxins In Surface Water And Aerosols Near Utah Lake, Dylan R. Mcpeake

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Utah Lake is a freshwater lake in Utah County near Provo, Utah. It is the third- largest lake in Utah and is important for recreation and local businesses. However, from June to October, the lake often has cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cHABs), which contain a toxin called cyanotoxin. These toxins can be dangerous to people who come into contact with the water. Government agencies regularly check for cHABs and warn people when the water is unsafe for activities like swimming. Collecting water samples to test for cHABs can be risky because it can possibly result in direct contact with the …

Effects Of Elevation, Fire Age, Burn Severity, And Pre-Fire Vegetation On Post-Fire Sagebrush Songbird Communities, William D. Harrod

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Sagebrush Biome of western North America has been threatened by a combination of interconnected threats. In the Great and Columbian Basins, a large portion of sagebrush loss has been due to an increase in higher-severity wildfires, caused by invasive annual grasses. As sagebrush declines, numerous wildlife species that rely on the biome have experienced similar trends. Sagebrush-adapted songbirds such as sage thrasher, Brewer's sparrow, and sagebrush sparrow as well as steppe-songbirds, have all experienced population declines. Currently, limited information exists as to how fire severity or recovery affect these songbirds or what resource managers can do to improve their …

Optimization Of The Root Zone In Controlled Environment Agriculture, Brendan Fatzinger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) helps grow plants in spaces where resources like water and nutrients are limited, such as deserts or spacecraft. Effective management of water in the root zone, the area where plant roots grow, is vital to keeping plants healthy, especially in closed-loop systems where water cannot be wasted, as will be necessary for long-duration space missions.

An improved automated watering system designed for use in space-like environments was developed over several trials. Early designs using suction to draw water through tubes faced problems with uneven watering and roots blocking the tubes. Switching to a system that pushed …

Cutting Propagation And Out-Planting Of White-Margined Beardtongue (Penstemon Albomarginatus M.E. Jones), A Vulnerable Herbaceous Perennial Of The Mojave Desert), Alexander Stosich

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Plant biodiversity is crucial for the proper functioning of ecosystems, with many species needed to maintain the variety of functions provided, especially with increasing environmental change. However, plant biodiversity is threatened in many different ecosystems, primarily through habitat loss. Species can be conserved by protecting their original habitat and mitigating for threats such as invasive species or altered disturbance regimes (plant conservation); however, with declining population numbers and continued habitat loss and/or disturbance, it may be necessary to actively move plants (plant restoration). Plant restoration is dependent on developing the capacity to a) reliably propagate plants in a nursery and …

Adapting To Change In Amenity-Oriented Communities: Innovative Strategies For Shifting Social And Environmental Needs, Emma L. R. Epperson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Amenity-oriented communities are places with significant and desirable natural amenities that are highly visited and plentiful within the Intermountain West. These high rates of visitation create complex challenges such as congestion in recreation spaces and in towns and increase costs of living. These communities are typically rural and often do not have the resources, funding, or infrastructure to combat these challenges. Although tourists provide financial stability and other amenities to these towns, local wellbeing is highly impacted. Outdoor recreation and the nature connections derived from outdoor experiences are major contributors to wellbeing in amenity communities. This research investigates the changes …

Aquatic Habitat Representation For Robust Water Resources Management And Fish Conservation Decision-Making, Gregory C. Goodrum

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

We rely on rivers to provide water supply, flood control, and hydroelectricity for people and to sustain aquatic ecosystems. The development of dams and reservoirs to provide water for people did not consider environmental impacts to rivers, leading to widespread decline of freshwater species and habitat. Improving environmental outcomes of water management is needed to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems. However, rivers are complex and variable, making them difficult to represent as objectives for water management. This dissertation explores approaches to improve aquatic habitat representation and environmental objectives for water resources management and river conservation and restoration.

Chapter 2 uses …

Linking Variation In Mule Deer Nutritional Condition And Age To Population Performance In A Temperate Environment, Kent R. Hersey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The amount of body fat animals have as they enter and exit winter can have major impacts on how well they survive and reproduce. Mule deer are widely distributed herbivores whose survival and reproduction are strongly tied to weather patterns and the quality of vegetation they consume, which in turn impacts nutritional condition. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify the factors (animal specific, climatic, or habitat) influencing mule deer body fat during both summer and winter in Utah and examine how nutritional condition influences survival. We found December body fat was most affected by December lactation …