Digital Commons Network^™

Nutrient-Driven Transcription Factor-Dna Interactions And Their Signaling Mechanisms In Metabolic Disease, Evelyn A. Bates

Theses and Dissertations--Nutritional Sciences

Metabolic homeostasis is maintained through tightly coordinated signaling networks that integrate diverse physiological inputs. Central to this regulation are transcription factors, which sense nutrient, hormonal, and vitamin-derived signals and translate them into coordinated gene expression programs. Transcription factor activity is governed by DNA binding, recruitment of coregulatory proteins, and interactions with specific response elements in gene promoters, which allows them to selectively modulate diverse metabolic pathways. Owing to their multifactorial and tunable nature, transcription factors have emerged as promising targets for the treatment and diagnosis of metabolic diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This dissertation explores the molecular …

Reversible Fluorescence Quenching And Recovery In Pvp-Supported Copper Nanoparticles, Sara Rayan

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Copper nanoclusters stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) exhibit unique fluorescence properties that are highly sensitive to changes in their chemical environment, making them promising candidates for sensing applications. This study investigates the reversible fluorescence quenching and recovery behavior of PVP-supported copper nanoparticles in response to iron(III) ions and evaluates the selectivity of this response across different chemical conditions. Fluorescence quenching was examined using Fe³⁺ introduced as FeCl₃, followed by recovery experiments using ascorbic acid to assess reversibility through redox-driven interactions. To determine whether the observed response is specific to iron, potassium ferricyanide was used as an alternative Fe³⁺ source. Additional comparisons …

Investigating The Effects Of Atg3 On Autophagosome Size And Number, Keeran R. Senthil Kumar

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Macroautophagy, or autophagy, is a highly conserved catabolic process in all eukaryotes which allows for the degradation of large cytosolic contents. It occurs in two forms: bulk autophagy, which is induced by nutrient deprivation and targets nonspecific cargo, and selective autophagy, which is induced by cellular stress and sequesters specific substrates. The process of autophagosome formation is carried out by a group of Atg (autophagy-related) proteins, one of which is Atg3. Atg3 functions as an E2-like enzyme by conjugating Atg8 — a ubiquitin-like protein — to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a step required for autophagosome membrane formation. This lipidation process is catalyzed …

Efficient Organic Molecular Crystal Structure Prediction Using The Density Functional Tight-Binding Method, Maureen M. Kitheka, Yan Jing, Yan Yao, Puja Goyal

Faculty Publications – Chemistry

Over the years, computational crystal structure prediction (CSP) for organic molecules has thrived as an area of research, spanning various scientific disciplines and having significant applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Within the field of batteries, redox-active organic materials (ROMs) such as quinones have received increased attention as promising electrode materials for rechargeable batteries. However, experimental determination of the crystal structure of intermediate species formed during the discharge/charge cycle can often be challenging. Incomplete X-ray diffraction patterns can also lead to difficulties in crystal structure determination for ROMs used in batteries. Use of a semiempirical electronic structure method …

Seasonal And Lunar Patterns Of Peach Blossom Jellyfish (Craspedacusta Sowerbii) In Michigan, Claire Kozal

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The peach blossom jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii) is the only freshwater medusa found in the United States, yet its distribution, abundance, and mechanisms of dispersal remain poorly understood. Given its uncertain status, understanding the ecology of this species is a priority. To characterize population dynamics during the medusa season, surface water temperature and medusa abundance were surveyed at six inland lakes in Michigan. Occurrence records of C. sowerbii in Michigan were then used to compare co-occurrence patterns with nine aquatic invasives as a window into potential dispersal mechanisms and to create a regional ecological niche model. Medusae were observed in one …

Vegetation Species And Bed Position May Drive Epifaunal But Not Nekton Habitat Use In Estuarine Submerged Vegetation In The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Alabama, Steven Vroljik, Kathryn O'Shaughnessy, Ashley Mcdonald, Zoey Hendrickson, Bethany Kiley, Anna Reimer, Sierra Robertson, Samantha Smith, Edward Sullivan, Charles Martin

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) supports nekton and epifaunal macroinvertebrates, sustaining food webs and ecosystem services in estuaries. Invasive SAV can alter these dynamics by displacing native vegetation and restructuring communities. In Alabama’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta (MTD), Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) is rapidly expanding and outcompeting native wild celery (Vallisneria americana). This study compared nekton and epifaunal assemblages between M. spicatum and V. americana, focusing on edge versus interior positions. Nekton surveys identified 22 taxa (M. spicatum, n = 13; V. americana, n = 18), but assemblages did not differ significantly between vegetation types …

Responding To Suicide Loss: A Guide For Clinicians In Therapy With Suicidal, Grieving Adolescents, Brianna Jurosic

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Psychologists have spent years attempting to conceptualize what causes individuals to become suicidal and ultimately understand why individuals choose to die by suicide. Dr. Thomas Joiner (2005) developed the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide in an attempt to summarize and build upon previous models. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide is built upon three factors: perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and the acquired ability to enact lethal self-injury. Joiner theorized that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness together create the desire for suicide, and the ability to enact lethal self-injury adds the final piece that moves the desire toward action (i.e., a suicide attempt). …

Carbon Source-Induced Changes In The Transcriptional Landscape Of Novacetimonas Hansenii, Bashir A. Akhoon, Jordan Corley, Jia W. Tan, Roberta Magnani, Rachel R. Schendel, Andrew Lipton, Carlos M. Rodriguez Lopez, Kendall R. Corbin

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Novacetimonas hansenii is a model organism for bacterial cellulose (BC) production, a biopolymer with broad industrial applications. To better understand its carbon source-dependent metabolism, we conducted the first time-resolved transcriptomic analysis of N. hansenii ATCC 23769 grown on five carbon sources (glucose, fructose, mannitol, galactose, and sucrose) across five time points (24–120 h). Glucose, fructose, and mannitol supported growth and efficient BC production, whereas galactose and sucrose resulted in poor yields, likely due to limited transport and enzymatic capacity. Solid-state NMR revealed that cellulose crystallinity and polymorphism were carbon source-dependent, with reduced bcsD expression correlating with lower crystallinity. Transcriptomic profiling …

A 725-Bp Quadruple Repeat In The Promoter Of Smmyb113 Is Associated With Light-Independent Anthocyanin Regulation In Eggplant, Zhilei Xia, Meng Yang, Yinggemei Huang, Bingxin Yu, Tingxia Wan, Duanhua Wang, Qian Li, Manoj Sapkota, Shuangshuang Yan, Bihao Cao, Zhengkun Qiu

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Eggplant exhibits a diverse range of fruit colors, making it an excellent model for studying fruit pigmentation and its genetic regulation. While genes responsible for green and photosensitive purple fruit have been identified, the genetic basis of the nonphotosensitive (NPS) fruit trait in eggplant has remained elusive. In this study, we characterized a major quantitative trait locus (QTL), SmNPS10.1, on chromosome 10 using QTL-seq. By combining linkage-based gene mapping with progeny testing, we fine-mapped SmNPS10.1 to a 33.58-kb interval, within which we identified SmMYB113, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor that regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis, as the candidate gene. Sequence analysis …

Impact Of Powdered Tart Cherry Supplementation On Performance Recovery Following Repeated Sprint Exercise, Anthony M. Hagele, Kyle S. Levers, Kevin F. Holley, Alex C. Schrautemeier, Joesi M. Krieger, Joshua M. Iannotti, Connor J. Gaige, Ralf Jäger, Chad Kerksick

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Due to its high polyphenol content and purported capability to mitigate post-exercise muscle soreness and promote recovery, tart cherry (TC) supplementation has been proposed to enhance recovery and athletic performance. This study examined the effects of powdered TC supplementation on various recovery and performance metrics following a repeated sprint exercise protocol in physically active young adults.

Methods: 40 (18 M, 22 F) healthy, active participants (24.6 ± 5.5 yrs, 171.5 ± 11 cm, 71.7 ± 14.5 kg, 24.2 ± 3.1 kg·m−2) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study design. Placebo (PLA) or powdered TC supplementation (500 …

Aging On The Fringes: Understanding Inequities Among Older Adults Impacted By Poverty, Mental Health Challenges, And Drug Use, William O’Leary, David Howson-Jan, Marjorie Knight, Soo Chan Carusone

Lyle S. Hallman Social Work Faculty Publications

This report provides an overview of government reports and academic literature examining aging and its intersection with poverty, homelessness, drug use, and mental health challenges. It pairs national and Ontario trends with data from Waterloo Region to illustrate how aging on the fringes is unfolding locally.

Throughout the report, “Local Lens: Waterloo Region” callouts highlight key regional indicators and their implications for programs and policy. The purpose of this report is to support discussion and action to advance equity-informed research and advocacy for people aging on the fringes. It is written for community members, service providers, and organizations seeking to …

Adding Family Complications To Birthright Citizenship, Scott Titshaw

Articles

On the first day of his second administration, President Trump issued an executive order purporting to restrict citizenship of U.S.-born children based on their parents’ citizenship or immigration status. In the process, it discriminates between mothers and fathers and adopts genetic definitions of “mother” and “father” to exclude any parent, who is not the child’s “immediate … biological progenitor.”

Courts and scholars have condemned this attempt to restrict birthplace citizenship as a violation of both the Fourteenth Amendment and the Immigration and Nationality Act. Yet there has been little, if any, discussion of the new family-based conditions in the order. …

Labor Market Impacts Of Immigration Enforcement: Evidence From The Second Trump Administration, Rachel Letts

Economics Honors Papers

The onset of the second Trump Administration saw a stark immigration policy shock in the U.S. with record numbers of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions. This paper seeks to understand the labor market impacts of this immigration enforcement that have disproportionately affected the risk of being detained for non-white individuals. To estimate the effect of this policy shock, a triple difference model is used comparing non-white individuals to white individuals living in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with above or below average concentrations of immigration detentions before and after this immigration shock. The regression analysis finds that since the beginning of …

Learning Without Training, Ryan O'Dowd

CGU Theses & Dissertations

We live in an era of big data. Whether it be algorithms designed to help corporations efficiently allocate the use of their resources, systems to block or intercept transmissions in times of war, or the helpful pocket companion known as ChatGPT, machine learning is at the heart of managing the real-world problems associated with massive data. With the success of neural networks on such large-scale problems, more research in machine learning is being conducted now than ever before. This dissertation focuses on three different projects rooted in mathematical theory for machine learning applications. Common themes throughout involve the synthesis of …

Institutional Responses To Racial Incidents In California Public Higher Education: A Qualitative Historical Document Analysis, Shannon Dominique Quihuiz

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Despite stated commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, racial incidents remain a persistent structural problem on college and university campuses. These incidents encompass a wide taxonomy of racialized harm, ranging from bias-motivated violence and hate symbols to controversial White supremacist speakers, structural inequities, and interpersonal microaggressions. Administrators responding to these incidents must navigate complex, often competing tensions between fostering safe, inclusive learning environments and upholding civil liberties protections, all while operating under intense political scrutiny, public relations pressures, and legal risk. To understand how these tensions are rhetorically managed, this qualitative historical document study examined how California public higher education …

On The Influence Of Faraday Waves On Transport In Resonant Acoustic Mixing, Preston David Silverstein

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Resonant acoustic mixing (RAM) uses low frequency high acceleration oscillatory forcing to combine fluids, particles, and powders. Although progress has been in adjacent RAM fields, there are still gaps in understanding how Faraday surface instabilities affect momentum transport to the bulk fluid and particles therein. This work investigates the energy pathways that an oscillatory mixer has and connects surface deformation to bulk rotational flow and particle forcing. This study is conducted in three phases. In phase 1, a thermodynamic first- and second-law analysis couples the surface features with the scale of subsurface rotational features. Experimental surface measurements showed that for …

The Epistemic Limits Of Evolutionary Debunking: An Evaluation Of Evolutionary Arguments Against Moral Realism, José Ernesto Guzmán

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Evolutionary debunking arguments contend that the evolutionary origins of moral belief undermine the epistemic standing of moral realism. Sharon Street's Darwinian Dilemma and Richard Joyce's genealogical undercutting argument represent the two most influential formulations of this challenge. This project subjects both to sustained internal critique and finds them wanting. The central contribution is a bridge-requirement framework identifying four principles (BR₁ through BR₄) that any evolutionary debunking argument must supply to move validly from genealogical premises to epistemic conclusions. BR₁ connects genealogy to justification. BR₂ connects population-level evolutionary explanations to individual-level epistemic consequences. BR₃ connects semantic features of moral discourse to …

Beyond Ssris: Omega-3 Fatty Acids And The Neurobiology Of Impulsivity In Borderline Personality Disorder, Sujean Doo

Scripps Senior Theses

Impulsivity is a central and clinically significant dimension of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and is strongly associated with self-harm, aggression, and suicide risk. Despite its prognostic importance, pharmacologic management of impulsivity in BPD remains inconsistent. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently prescribed; however, randomized controlled trials demonstrate limited efficacy for impulsive-aggression, and some patients experience a paradoxical behavioral activation. Meta-analytic and systematic reviews further suggest that mood stabilizers and second-generation antipsychotics may outperform antidepressants, yet no specific medication is indicated to target impulsive behavioral dyscontrol.

This thesis synthesizes findings from systematic reviews, randomized trials, and neuroimaging research to evaluate …

The Rise Learning Theory: A New Paths-Way For Teaching Social Emotional Learning Curricula, Rebecca L. Demeo

Scripps Senior Theses

This study aims to look at the effectiveness of the Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies (PATHS) Social Emotional Learning curriculum when taught through the second and fourth principles of the RISE learning theory. The implementation will take effect within United States elementary schools, and consenting students will participate in the quasi-experimental design where classrooms will either be assigned to the control group, PATHS program taught as normal, or the experiment, PATHS taught with the RISE principles. During the study, participants will complete pre-experiment, post-experiment, and follow-up assessments to measure differences in mean scores of competence and application throughout the implementation. I …

The Effects Of The Opioid Crisis On Contraceptive Decisions And Fertility In Pakistan, Simren R. Khan

Scripps Senior Theses

This paper examines how the opioid epidemic influences household fertility behavior in Pakistan by analyzing contraceptive use and fertility outcomes across regions with differing levels of opioid prevalence. Using household-level data from the 2017–18 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and estimating OLS regression models, the study compares households in high-prevalence regions with those in low-prevalence regions. The results show that exposure to high-opioid regions is associated with lower fertility outcomes and a higher likelihood of respondents wanting their last child. These patterns suggest that households may respond to opioid-related economic and caregiving burdens by limiting family size and treating …

The Dunning-Kruger Effect In Sixth Grade Adolescents: Improving Metacognition For Self-Regulated Learning, Julie H. Chen

Scripps Senior Theses

The Dunning-Kruger (DK) effect is a cognitive bias where low-performing individuals overestimate their own abilities, and top-performing individuals underestimate their own abilities relative to their peers. The purpose of this proposed study is to investigate the DK effect in sixth grade adolescents and to use metacognition as an intervention to improve self-assessment calibrations. This study will investigate adolescents in Piaget’s formal operational stage, aiming to improve metacognition levels. The study will occur over 12 weeks, and participants will be given a preparation handbook with or without metacognition activities for the purpose of preparing for the California Assessment of Student Performance …

An Analysis Of Eating Disorders As A Comorbidity Of Autoimmune Diseases, Madeleine Shore

Scripps Senior Theses

For many autoimmune disease patients, psychiatric conditions are a common comorbidity. Although there are many shared mechanisms between autoimmune disease and psychiatric conditions, current research surrounding mental health among autoimmune disease patients often focuses on mood disorders rather than eating disorders. Despite the high risk for developing psychiatric conditions, most autoimmune disease patients are not screened for eating disorders. This lack of screening is significant, because if an eating disorder is missed by a healthcare provider, the autoimmune or eating disorder condition could be exacerbated, resulting in severe illness or even fatality. Given an existing link between comorbid psychiatric disorders, …

Effects Of Teacher Training On Identifying Inattentive Type Adhd In Afab Students, Gabrielle A. Boles

Scripps Senior Theses

Teachers are more likely to detect hyperactive ADHD symptoms than inattentive ones, which often results in students, especially girls with inattentive symptoms, being under-referred (Willcut, 2012). This study evaluates whether a targeted, inattentive-focused, and gender responsive teacher training reduces gendered and symptom-based biases in referral decisions. K-5 teachers will be randomly assigned to receive either standard general ADHD identification training or an inattentive-focused, gender-responsive training, and will then be asked to review vignettes depicting children with hyperactive and inattentive symptoms, with varying student genders. Referral accuracy and knowledge of ADHD will be measured. Training condition, symptom presentation, and student gender …

A Field Test Of The Role Of Biofluorescence In Territorial Salamanders, Kasey Watterson, Cari-Ann M. Hickerson, Carl Anthony

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Biofluorescence is recognized as an important form of visual communication, yet its function remains largely untested in many terrestrial species. In Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), fluorescence of the postcloacal gland is a sexually dimorphic trait most strongly expressed in males. Because fluorescence can be displayed during territorial contests, we hypothesized that fluorescence in male P. cinereus would be positively related to resource holding potential (RHP) of territorial residents in the field. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between fluorescence and two separate variables: body condition (as a proxy for RHP) and territory quality (the expected payoff from …

Does Voluntary Manslaughter Exist In South Dakota?, Gregory Brazeal

South Dakota Law Review

The American legal tradition generally distinguishes between cold-blooded, premeditated intentional killing and hot-blooded, spontaneous intentional killing. The former has traditionally been categorized as murder and the latter as the lesser crime of “voluntary manslaughter.” South Dakota’s homicide statutes, interpreted based on their plain meaning, depart from this deeply rooted tradition. The closest equivalent to the crime of voluntary manslaughter appears in South Dakota’s first-degree manslaughter statute, which includes a prohibition on homicide “[w]ithout any design to effect death . . . and in a heat of passion, but in a cruel and unusual manner.” The phrase “heat of passion” suggests …

Bundle Of Bytes: The Legal And Ethical Considerations For The Transfer, Ownership, And Disposition Of Digital Assets, Wendy Donelan Madsen

South Dakota Law Review

The right to transfer, own, and dispose of one’s assets after death is one of Americans’ most cherished rights. For most of the last century, Americans primarily held tangible assets, which were sufficiently managed through estate administration laws. Some key rights, such as transferring, owning, and disposing of tangible assets, are well understood by the bundle of sticks analogy common in property law. However, in the twenty-first century, Americans have accumulated significant digital assets that also require transfer, ownership, and disposition. Yet the current laws governing intangible assets do not adequately address these needs. Therefore, the bundle of bytes offers …

Climate Change And Species Interactions Jointly Shape Migration Timing And Growth At A Critical Ontogenetic Transition In Juvenile Sockeye Salmon, Margaret E. Veatch

Honors Theses

Climate change is shifting the timing of biological events globally, but the mechanisms linking environmental variation to phenological changes are poorly understood in many systems, particularly those where individuals undergo ontogenetic habitat shifts. Here, I examined the join influence of climate-driven environmental variability and species interactions migration timing and body size at migration in juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Lake Aleknagik, Alaska, using a multi-decadal dataset (1967–2024). Migration timing varied widely among years and was best explained by a combination of ice-out phenology, epilimnetic temperature, and fish densities in littoral habitats. Juvenile sockeye salmon migrated earlier in …

"It's A Dance": Examining Midwives As Choreographers Of Reproduction In Maine, Annie Goldstein

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the contemporary work of community-based Maine midwives through the theoretical framework of choreography. In the context of this work, choreography can be understood as the well-thought-out, purposeful undertaking of a process during which negotiation, coordination, and improvisation are required to adapt to constantly changing circumstances. Using choreography, this thesis attempts to understand how Maine midwives navigate global market processes and practice under authoritative forms of biomedicine, ultimately linking them to other midwives across various global sites. Situated within Maine’s maternal health landscape that is characterized by the ongoing closure of labor and delivery units and rural hospitals, …

The Role Of Mscs In The Il23/17 Pathway And Their Response To Mechanical Stress, Norma Aileen Dominguez Jimenez

Honors Theses

Mechanical stress plays a central role in shaping cellular behavior within skeletal tissues. At the enthesis, where tendons and ligaments attach to bone, repeated mechanical loading is strongly associated with inflammation and the development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to contribute to tissue structure and repair at these sites, their potential role in inflammatory signaling, particularly within the I 23/IL 17 pathway, remains unclear. In this thesis I investigated whether MSCs are capable of expressing cytokines involved in this pathway and how mechanical stress and differentiation influence this expression. Using the mouse derived C3H/10T1/2 …

Ultra-Processed Or Ultra-Addictive? A Demand-Based Redefinition Of Ultra-Processed Foods, Braden Jondro

Honors Theses

Ultra-processed foods now comprise the majority of the U.S. food supply and have been directly associated with 32 chronic diseases including obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Current classification systems such as NOVA provide a useful framework for identifying food processing, but rely on broad and subjective categorizations that may not capture the mechanisms most closely associated with promoting persistent overconsumption. In particular, existing classification systems remain limited in their ability to evaluate addiction-like behaviors associated with highly processed foods, including persistent purchasing patterns, reinforcement effects, and substitution responses. This paper introduces the Ultra-Processed Food Intensity (UPFI) index, an objective, …