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2026

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Who Leaves Home? Parenting Style And Personality As Predictors Of College Students’ Intent To Study Abroad, Katelyn Sutton Apr 2026

Who Leaves Home? Parenting Style And Personality As Predictors Of College Students’ Intent To Study Abroad, Katelyn Sutton

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This study examines how parenting styles and personality factors influence college students’ intentions to study abroad. Using the Five-Factor Model and Baumrind’s parenting framework, it explores how authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting relate to personality and students’ likelihood of pursuing international education, addressing a gap in research on early developmental influences. A sample of 156 undergraduate students from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University completed measures of personality (NEO-FFI), parenting style (Parental Authority Questionnaire), and study-abroad intention. Participants were divided into two groups: those who intend to study abroad and those who do not, allowing for direct …

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Nonenzymatic Glycation Of Human Serum Albumin Affects Its Structure, Properties, And Binding Interactions With Silver Nanoparticles, Monica Fairchild, Megan Kirk, Collin Kray Apr 2026

Nonenzymatic Glycation Of Human Serum Albumin Affects Its Structure, Properties, And Binding Interactions With Silver Nanoparticles, Monica Fairchild, Megan Kirk, Collin Kray

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Most nanoparticles (1-100 nm), upon contact with proteins, form a “protein corona” which can alter the structure and function of proteins. Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant protein in blood plasma and acts as a major transport protein for numerous endogenous and exogenous compounds. In healthy individuals, 1-10% HSA is found in a glycated state, but significantly higher levels of glycated HSA (30% or more) are found in Diabetic individuals. This project investigates the effects of glycation on the structure, enzymatic activity, and antioxidant capacity of HSA and its binding interactions with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a variety …

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Jtc 26: Creative Writing Graduate’S World Revolves Around Faith And Fantasy, Benita Whitehorn Apr 2026

Jtc 26: Creative Writing Graduate’S World Revolves Around Faith And Fantasy, Benita Whitehorn

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2026 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

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Expression And Functional Characterization Of Nell2 In Neural Development, Autumn M. Underwood, Jelena Kolundzija, Jessica Lumakovska, Chizu M. Nakamoto M.D. Phd., Masaru Nakamoto M.D. Phd. Apr 2026

Expression And Functional Characterization Of Nell2 In Neural Development, Autumn M. Underwood, Jelena Kolundzija, Jessica Lumakovska, Chizu M. Nakamoto M.D. Phd., Masaru Nakamoto M.D. Phd.

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Correct functioning of the nervous system is critically dependent on the formation of precise neuronal networks. These networks are established during development through navigation of axons guided by external molecular cues that attract or repel growing axons. In mammals, binocular vision is established by axon projections from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of each eye to both sides of the brain. RGC axons from the right and left eyes are segregated in different layers/domains in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the thalamus, the main target of RGC axons. This projection pattern provides the anatomical basis for disparity-based stereopsis. Nell2 …

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Discovering Antimicrobial Compounds In Valparaiso University’S Medicinal Garden, Gracie Holt, Megan Wolf, Hannah Gabriel Apr 2026

Discovering Antimicrobial Compounds In Valparaiso University’S Medicinal Garden, Gracie Holt, Megan Wolf, Hannah Gabriel

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Abstract: According to the W.H.O. (2024 data), infectious diseases account for three of the top ten global causes of death. Antimicrobial drug discovery surged in the mid-twentieth century but has sharply declined in recent years. At the same time, antimicrobial-resistant “superbug” infections are on the rise. Plants produce a robust array of novel metabolic compounds including many antimicrobial agents. However, with the advent of modern antibiotic drugs, natural plant-derived antibiotic sources have largely been left unexplored. Therefore, our work focuses on screening medicinal plants in hopes of discovering novel antimicrobial drugs. To accomplish this, we have been testing extracts of …

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Mechanistic Insights Into Enterolactone-Mediated Glut4-Dependent Glucose Uptake, Merritt Smith Apr 2026

Mechanistic Insights Into Enterolactone-Mediated Glut4-Dependent Glucose Uptake, Merritt Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with approximately 25% of healthcare expenditures directed toward its management and associated metabolic complications. In response to the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies, recent research has focused on bioactive compounds derived from dietary sources. In light of that, we identified the plant lignan matairesinol (MA) and its gut-derived metabolite, enterolactone (ENL), as agents capable of enhancing glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes. These results suggest that enterolactone may represent a promising dietary supplement for improving glycemic control in patients with …

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Making Learning Engaging With Formative Assessment, Michelle A. Arroyo Apr 2026

Making Learning Engaging With Formative Assessment, Michelle A. Arroyo

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Benefits of formative assessment: increases student engagement, provides immediate feedback for teachers and students, helps differentiate instruction, encourages self-reflection and self-regulated learning, and improves overall student achievement.

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Transparency And Personalized Feedback Curb Ai Misuse In Asynchronous Online Biology, Elana A. Paladino Apr 2026

Transparency And Personalized Feedback Curb Ai Misuse In Asynchronous Online Biology, Elana A. Paladino

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The rapid expansion of generative AI (Gen-AI) has reshaped teaching and assessment in online, asynchronous introductory biology courses, creating new challenges for academic integrity and meaningful learning. This poster examines practical strategies to promote ethical AI use while maintaining student engagement. Transparency of instructions and timely, personalized feedback were found to curb AI misuse in online discussion posts. Structured use of AI tutors encouraged responsible engagement with Gen-AI, and surveillance methods for summative exams had mixed effects.

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Evaluating The Benefits Of “Science Of Learning To Learn” In Foundational Undergraduate Biology Courses, Kathryn M. Rafferty, Jenifer Utz, Christy Strong, Matthew Bernacki Apr 2026

Evaluating The Benefits Of “Science Of Learning To Learn” In Foundational Undergraduate Biology Courses, Kathryn M. Rafferty, Jenifer Utz, Christy Strong, Matthew Bernacki

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Our objective was to foster increased retention of freshman student and subsequent progression into upper division coursework by incorporating learning skill development and motivational activities into the Introductory Biology courses (BIOL190/191). Enhancement of the introductory biology courses at UNLV has the potential to improve the educational experiences of thousands of students, since about 600 to 800 students enroll in the introductory biology courses each semester. We have previously developed a multimedia learning skill intervention called "The Science of Learning to Learn" which covers the importance of self-testing, spacing out and scheduling study sessions, and managing one's goals, habits, and learning …

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Analysis Of The Flavonoid Composition Of Honey Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Bryce Phillips Apr 2026

Analysis Of The Flavonoid Composition Of Honey Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Bryce Phillips

Honors Theses

Honey is a naturally occurring substance that has a complex composition including compounds such as flavonoids, that contribute to potential health benefits. Quantitative analysis of flavonoids in honey can be challenging due to their similar structural characteristics, matrix effects, and chromatographic peak separation issues. This study aimed to establish calibration curves for five flavonoids–kaempferol, luteolin, chrysin, myricetin, and quercetin– to estimate their concentrations in five honey samples from varying geographic origins. Liquid-liquid extraction was used to isolate the flavonoids from honey. High Performance Liquid Chromatography was utilized to establish calibration curves and analyze honey samples. The calibration curves assembled demonstrated …

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Greeting Death “Sitting Up:” How Children’S Literature Provides Modern Death Education, Reilly Kendrick Apr 2026

Greeting Death “Sitting Up:” How Children’S Literature Provides Modern Death Education, Reilly Kendrick

Honors Theses

Western culture places a lot of importance on legacy and friendship as important lessons to learn from death. However, children do not have as much experience with death due to changing cultural customs, and our society lacks a formal death education system that can promote these values and teach children how to respond to death in their lives. Literature, though, can fill this gap in children’s knowledge by teaching the basic physical components of death and philosophical understandings of death. These ideas are learned through vicarious reading, in which children experience the character’s emotions and reactions as they read. The …

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Silicone Wristband Based Passive Sampling Methods Development And Evaluation For Use In Community Exposure Studies, Emily Broniewicz, Sophie Novak, Kenneth Brown, Julie Peller Apr 2026

Silicone Wristband Based Passive Sampling Methods Development And Evaluation For Use In Community Exposure Studies, Emily Broniewicz, Sophie Novak, Kenneth Brown, Julie Peller

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Indoor air quality is a critical determinant of human health, particularly in communities located near industrial activity, where residents experience disproportionate exposure to harmful pollutants and spend a greater proportion of time indoors. Outdoor sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) include emissions from industrial processes, vehicle exhaust, fuel storage, and manufacturing operations. Indoor environments further contribute to personal exposure, as they are emitted from building materials, paints, adhesives, carpets, furniture, cleaning agents, personal care products, and consumer electronics. Combined, these sources create complex exposure profiles associated with adverse health outcomes, including respiratory disease, neurological impairment, endocrine disruption, and cancer. As …

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Effect Of Simulated Microgravity On Candida Albicans Resistance To Caspofungin And Fluconazole, Kendall Carter, James Livengood, Gracie Holt, Liwia Zachara, Patrice G. Bouyer Apr 2026

Effect Of Simulated Microgravity On Candida Albicans Resistance To Caspofungin And Fluconazole, Kendall Carter, James Livengood, Gracie Holt, Liwia Zachara, Patrice G. Bouyer

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is an opportunistic commensal fungus that can alter its behavior under low-shear stress modeled microgravity by exhibiting phenotypes associated with increased virulence. For instance, it has been previously reported that microgravity increased C. albicans resistance to amphotericin , but did not change its resistance to caspofungin. Here, we investigated how microgravity (5 and 6 days) influences the resistance of two C. albicans strains (SC5314 and NCCLS11) to fluconazole (25 µg) and caspofungin (5 µg). Drug susceptibility was assessed by measuring the zone of inhibition (ZOI) around the treatment discs after 24h of exposure under microgravity and …

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Climate Change-Related Effects On Carbon Emissions And Net Ammonification Across Lowland To Upland Soils From A High-Latitude Coastal Ecosystem, Jenna M. Ross, Karen H. Beard, Katharine C. Kelsey, Matteo Petit Bon, A. Joshua Leffler Apr 2026

Climate Change-Related Effects On Carbon Emissions And Net Ammonification Across Lowland To Upland Soils From A High-Latitude Coastal Ecosystem, Jenna M. Ross, Karen H. Beard, Katharine C. Kelsey, Matteo Petit Bon, A. Joshua Leffler

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Warming, sea-level rise, and changing herbivory patterns are affecting ecosystem processes in northern coastal soils, including carbon and nitrogen cycling, although their combined effects are poorly understood. We studied the impact of these changes in a full-factorial microcosm experiment using four distinct soil types from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta of western Alaska. Soil was collected from three coastal wetlands, which differ in flooding frequency and use by migratory geese, and one rarely-flooded upland tundra used by geese in late summer. Microcosms containing these soils were incubated for 16 weeks at 10°C or 18°C, with or without three short-term floods, and with …

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Vo: The Vaccine Ontology, Jie Zheng, Asiyah Yu Lin, Anthony Huffman, Anna Maria Masci, Rebecca Racz, Guanming Wu, Kallan Roan, Edison Ong, Sirarat Sarntivijai, Joy Hu, Eliyas Asfaw, Hayleigh Kahn, Xingxian Li, Xumeng Zhang, Joshua Monickaraj, Nilufer Kosar, Jianfu Li, Warren Manuel, Rashmie Abeysinghe, Hasin Rehana, Benu Bansal, Yuanyi Pan, Jinjing Guo, Virginia He, Justin Song, Andrey I Seleznev, Katelyn Hur, Anna He, Alexander Davydov, Qi Yang, Anna Ostropolets, Randi Vita, Bjoern Peters, Alan Ruttenberg, Alexander D Diehl, Charles Tapley Hoyt, Paola Roncaglia, Rachael P Huntley, Richard H Scheuermann, Melanie Courtot, Thomas Todd, Samantha Sayers, Fang Chen, Xinna Li, Feng-Yu Yeh, Zuoshuang Xiang, Arzucan Ozgur, Patricia L Whetzel, Mark A Musen, Christopher J Mungall, Wolfgang W Leitner, Licong Cui, Lesley A Colby, Harry L T Mobley, Brian D Athey, Gilbert S Omenn, Lindsay G Cowell, Cui Tao, Junguk Hur, Barry Smith, Yongqun He Apr 2026

Vo: The Vaccine Ontology, Jie Zheng, Asiyah Yu Lin, Anthony Huffman, Anna Maria Masci, Rebecca Racz, Guanming Wu, Kallan Roan, Edison Ong, Sirarat Sarntivijai, Joy Hu, Eliyas Asfaw, Hayleigh Kahn, Xingxian Li, Xumeng Zhang, Joshua Monickaraj, Nilufer Kosar, Jianfu Li, Warren Manuel, Rashmie Abeysinghe, Hasin Rehana, Benu Bansal, Yuanyi Pan, Jinjing Guo, Virginia He, Justin Song, Andrey I Seleznev, Katelyn Hur, Anna He, Alexander Davydov, Qi Yang, Anna Ostropolets, Randi Vita, Bjoern Peters, Alan Ruttenberg, Alexander D Diehl, Charles Tapley Hoyt, Paola Roncaglia, Rachael P Huntley, Richard H Scheuermann, Melanie Courtot, Thomas Todd, Samantha Sayers, Fang Chen, Xinna Li, Feng-Yu Yeh, Zuoshuang Xiang, Arzucan Ozgur, Patricia L Whetzel, Mark A Musen, Christopher J Mungall, Wolfgang W Leitner, Licong Cui, Lesley A Colby, Harry L T Mobley, Brian D Athey, Gilbert S Omenn, Lindsay G Cowell, Cui Tao, Junguk Hur, Barry Smith, Yongqun He

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Vaccines are widely used in both research and clinical settings. To facilitate FAIR data practices, we urgently need to standardize vaccine representation, integrate information across diverse vaccine types, and support computer-assisted reasoning. Accordingly, we have since 2007 developed the community-based Vaccine Ontology (VO), which aligns with the Basic Formal Ontology and adheres to OBO Foundry principles. VO ontologically models vaccines, vaccine components, vaccine immune responses, vaccine investigation studies and other vaccine-related topics. VO represents more than 10,000 vaccines targeting 289 infectious pathogens and cancers in humans and over 30 nonhuman animal species. VO provides mappings to external resources such as …

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Survival Of The Fittest: Extremophilic Actinomycetes As The Future Of Antibiotic Treatment, Kyley Nelson, Ben Reddan Apr 2026

Survival Of The Fittest: Extremophilic Actinomycetes As The Future Of Antibiotic Treatment, Kyley Nelson, Ben Reddan

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

The antibiotic resistance crisis is an emerging global health threat. In 2019 alone, 1.27 million deaths were attributed to antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and researchers predict the problem will worsen without intervention. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a primary model for this crisis because it utilizes genomic adaptations to bypass β-lactam antibiotics. Although temperate actinomycetes have historically provided the majority of clinical antibiotics, recent bioprospecting has revealed that extremophilic actinomycetes represent a critical untapped resource. These organisms exhibit several adaptations to thrive in extreme environments, which results in the production of novel secondary metabolites and resilient extracellular enzymes. This literature review …

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Beyond The Brain: Environmental Forces Driving Α-Synuclein Misfolding And Toxic Aggregation In Parkinson's Disease, Emily Mccarthy Apr 2026

Beyond The Brain: Environmental Forces Driving Α-Synuclein Misfolding And Toxic Aggregation In Parkinson's Disease, Emily Mccarthy

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an advanced neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the proliferation of protein aggregates within the brain. This capstone thesis investigates the unique biochemical environment of the gastrointestinal tract and whether it contributes to the formation of distinctive α-Synuclein (αSyn) aggregates affecting PD. Key promoters of αSyn aggregation include genetic mutations, oxidative stress, post-translational modifications, interactions with metal ions, and dopamine (DA) oxidation. These factors result in diverse structures such as oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils, which result in unique functional outcomes, with oligomeric conformations leading to the highest level of neuronal toxicity. Evidence …

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Target-Site Resistance To Glyphosate In Eleusine Indica Biotypes From South Sulawesi And Lampung, Indonesia, Ahmad Nur Lazuardi, Denny Kurniadie, Uum Umiyati, Ryan Widianto Apr 2026

Target-Site Resistance To Glyphosate In Eleusine Indica Biotypes From South Sulawesi And Lampung, Indonesia, Ahmad Nur Lazuardi, Denny Kurniadie, Uum Umiyati, Ryan Widianto

Jurnal Kultivasi

Glyphosate is a non-selective systemic herbicide that has been widely used to control weeds by local corn farmers in South Sulawesi and Lampung Provinces of Indonesia. However, some corn farmers in these two regions were considered that glyphosate herbicide at the standard field dose no longer effective against goosegrass (Eleusine indica). To confirms the level of its resistance to glyphosate, seeds of E. indica suspected to be glyphosate-resistant were collected from corn fields in Soppeng Regency-South Sulawesi and South Lampung Regency-Lampung (designated as GR-1 and GR-2 respectively), along with a known susceptible biotype from Sumedang Regency-West Java (GS) as a …

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The Effect Of Liquid Foliar Fertilizer And Pruning Combinations On The Growth Of Productive Phase Arabica Coffee Plants (Coffea Arabica L.), Syifa Djuita Putri, Alvito Krishna Balapradhana, Mira Ariyanti, Intan Ratna Dewi Anjarsari, Yudithia Maxiselly Apr 2026

The Effect Of Liquid Foliar Fertilizer And Pruning Combinations On The Growth Of Productive Phase Arabica Coffee Plants (Coffea Arabica L.), Syifa Djuita Putri, Alvito Krishna Balapradhana, Mira Ariyanti, Intan Ratna Dewi Anjarsari, Yudithia Maxiselly

Jurnal Kultivasi

In recent years, productivity decline in arabica coffee has become a real issue in Indonesia. This decay has been brought about by various external and internal factors that are beyond human control. Various factors, including suboptimal cultivation practices, take part in this process. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pruning combined with foliar fertilizer application (coconut water and sugarcane molasses) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) on the vegetative growth of arabica coffee plants during the production phase. The research was conducted at Ciparanje Experimental Field, Universitas Padjadjaran, using a randomized complete block design with seven treatments …

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Discovering The Genetics Underlying Speciation Traits In Heuchera (Coral Bells), Tajinder Singh Apr 2026

Discovering The Genetics Underlying Speciation Traits In Heuchera (Coral Bells), Tajinder Singh

Honors Theses

Hybridization is a key evolutionary mechanism for generating biological diversity, ultimately shaping diversification and adaptation of plant lineages in natural and agroecosystems.  Our understanding of the frequency, distribution, and significance of hybridization is rapidly increasing, but the external driving forces that dictate why certain species hybridize, and others do not remain obscure. The physical traits that shape gene flow and trait sharing among species are likely to be among the key factors that directly control hybridization. Gene flow in most plants is mediated by pollinating insects and thus by pollination syndromes, which are suites of floral traits that have evolved …

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Creating A Unique Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carrier, Clayton Fuller Apr 2026

Creating A Unique Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carrier, Clayton Fuller

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

The purpose of this thesis is to explain the current state of alternative oxygen carriers and propose a new hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) as a blood substitute/ blood therapeutic. Blood donation has drawbacks: risk of spread of infection, short storage time, and blood typing, and the current shortage. There are several possible modifications for hemoglobin to create a carrier (HBOC) which address specific issues related to allowing free hemoglobin to exist extra cellularly. One issue to address is vasoconstriction caused by nitric oxide scavenging, which has been solved by increasing the molecular weight of the HBOC via (co)polymerization, or by …

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Mapping Mgmt Methylation Sites That May Predict Chemotherapy Success In Glioblastoma, Kennedy Bueno Apr 2026

Mapping Mgmt Methylation Sites That May Predict Chemotherapy Success In Glioblastoma, Kennedy Bueno

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults, with a median survival of 15 months post-diagnosis. Resistance to standard temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy is common and is strongly influenced by O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a DNA repair enzyme that reverses TMZ induced DNA damage. Reduced MGMT expression is associated with greater TMZ sensitivity and improved survival. Although MGMT promoter cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) methylation is linked to treatment response, the individual CpG sites responsible for MGMT silencing remain unclear. This research aims to identify which sites are necessary to suppress MGMT expression and increase TMZ sensitivity. This project will map …

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The Scripted Body: A Historical Analysis Of How Vituperative Narratives Shaped Disparities In Women’S Healthcare, Eva Fava-Rodrigues Apr 2026

The Scripted Body: A Historical Analysis Of How Vituperative Narratives Shaped Disparities In Women’S Healthcare, Eva Fava-Rodrigues

Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

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Rex Gothorum, Patres Conscripti, Et Senes Barbarorum: Balancing Monarchical And Aristocratic Power In The Ostrogothic Kingdom, Max Deloach Apr 2026

Rex Gothorum, Patres Conscripti, Et Senes Barbarorum: Balancing Monarchical And Aristocratic Power In The Ostrogothic Kingdom, Max Deloach

Honors Theses

The fourth and fifth-century migrations of “barbarian” peoples from beyond the Roman frontier to the heart of the Empire exacerbated an already unparalleled crisis of self in Roman society. With the settlement of these “barbarians” in the West, the facade of Roman dominion over its own territory and institutions had crumbled. In Italy, the Roman Senate, along with the Catholic Church and the Eastern Roman Emperor, became essential to the peninsula’s “barbarian” kings. At the same time, post-Roman monarchs were obliged to patronize their own nobility—the elite military class. This work evaluates the trilateral negotiation of power between post-Roman monarchs, …

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Investigating The Synthesis And Antibacterial Activity Of A Main-Chain Cationic Polymer, Emily Smith Apr 2026

Investigating The Synthesis And Antibacterial Activity Of A Main-Chain Cationic Polymer, Emily Smith

Honors Theses

Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to public health. Due to the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture, the overprescription of antibiotics, and the misuse of antibiotics by patients, antibiotic resistance is spreading at an alarming rate. As antibiotic resistance spreads, the antibiotics we depend on to treat common infections become ineffective. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel treatments for infections that do not increase the prevalence of antibiotic resistance. One treatment being explored is the use of synthetic polymers with antibacterial properties. Synthetic polymers are advantageous because they can be synthesized from widely available precursors and their structure is …

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Cleft Palate And The Coordination Of Wnt Signaling And Pax9 In Murine Palatogenesis, Landon Wyatt Apr 2026

Cleft Palate And The Coordination Of Wnt Signaling And Pax9 In Murine Palatogenesis, Landon Wyatt

Honors Theses

Cleft palate is a common craniofacial birth defect that arises when the molecular and morphogenetic events guiding secondary palate formation lose coordination during a narrow developmental window. In mice, successful palatogenesis requires the paired palatal shelves to grow vertically, elevate above the tongue, and fuse at the midline; disruption of any of these steps can result in clefting. Two important regulators of this process are canonical Wnt signaling and the transcription factor Pax9, both of which contribute to normal palatal mesenchymal growth and patterning during early development. This paper first examines whether altered Dkk1/Wnt signaling contributes to the Pax9-null palate …

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Network Analysis: An Application Of Graph Theory In Biology, Kiana Dunbar Apr 2026

Network Analysis: An Application Of Graph Theory In Biology, Kiana Dunbar

Honors Theses

Graphs are simple, visual representations of entities as nodes connected by edges. They are used to convey relationships within a system. Networks are comprised of interrelated entities that are not easily separable, producing complex, structured data. These can be seen in social groups, highway systems, and even in biological systems. This paper surveys concepts in graph theory for application to the analysis of network data to understand disease. The features of graphs provide a useful framework for thinking about relationships between different genes or proteins. The structure of graphs is also compatible with a variety of machine learning tools. Especially …

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Sex Or Survival: Does Wounding Elicit A Somatic Reproductive Tradeoff In Narnia Femorata Males?, Lillian E. Burbulis Apr 2026

Sex Or Survival: Does Wounding Elicit A Somatic Reproductive Tradeoff In Narnia Femorata Males?, Lillian E. Burbulis

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Animals must partition resources into different life history traits resulting in tradeoffs because resources are finite. A tradeoff is the allocation of resources to one trait over another. Theory states that energy is allocated in a hierarchical fashion. For example, somatic maintenance should be a higher priority than reproduction, resulting in more resources being allocated to somatic maintenance compared to reproductive traits. The metabolic investment hypothesis states that energy must follow a hierarchical order prioritizing somatic maintenance over reproduction. Another hypothesis for energy allocation is the terminal investment hypothesis. This hypothesis states that energy will be allocated to reproduction over …

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Ai-Driven Multispectral Drone Monitoring For Afforestation In Arid Environments, Hesham Morgan, Ali Elgendy, Brandon Tran, Tamer Ismail, Mohamed M. Moursy, Yehya Kh. Shehadeh, Ahmed Elgharib, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Dughairi, Ali El Mubarak, Khaled Allam Harhash, Hesham El-Askary Apr 2026

Ai-Driven Multispectral Drone Monitoring For Afforestation In Arid Environments, Hesham Morgan, Ali Elgendy, Brandon Tran, Tamer Ismail, Mohamed M. Moursy, Yehya Kh. Shehadeh, Ahmed Elgharib, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Dughairi, Ali El Mubarak, Khaled Allam Harhash, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Monitoring large-scale afforestation projects in arid and semi-arid environments requires accurate, high-resolution, and repeatable methods to assess tree survival and growth. In this study, we integrated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral imaging with an advanced object detection framework to evaluate vegetation establishment in the Shuayb Al-Budai afforestation site, part of the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Natural Reserve, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Multispectral datasets were acquired using a MicaSense Altum-PT sensor and processed through a masked Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (RCNN) with two backbone architectures: ResNet-101 and VGG19-BN. The Mask R-CNN–ResNet-101 model achieved superior performance, with an overall accuracy …

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Physical Therapy Treatments In Rotator Cuff Muscular Tear Injuries Without Surgical Operation, Rickeisha Caesar Apr 2026

Physical Therapy Treatments In Rotator Cuff Muscular Tear Injuries Without Surgical Operation, Rickeisha Caesar

Honors Capstones

This study highlights physical therapy treatment options available for patients who have a rotator cuff tear but are unable to receive surgery. Cadaver dissections and plastic model photos of the rotator cuff are included to give a visual of the anatomy and importance of the muscles. Interviews with licensed physical therapists are conducted for direct information on the process of understanding the limitations of a rotator cuff tear and what treatments are most effective in patients’ recovery process, whether it’s a partial or full tear. Collectively, the project findings enhance the understanding of why specific anatomical structures are intentionally targeted …

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