Digital Commons Network^™

Disappearance Of High Incidence Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis And Parkinsonism Dementia In The Western Pacific: Clues To Their Etiology, Stephanie Barrett, Shruti Venkatesh

Research Days Posters 2022

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinsonism Dementia (PD) are two important neurodegenerative disorders that exhibited extremely high incidence rates within 3 foci of the Western Pacific: the Kii Peninsula of Japan, the Auyu and Jakai speaking people of Western New Guinea, and the Chamorros of Guam in the Mariana Islands. ALS is caused by a degradation of the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord leading to a progressive weakness and atrophy of skeletal muscles. Patients with PD exhibit slowness of motor activity, disturbances in gait and a loss of cognitive function. From the latter half of the 20th …

Examining Role Of Impulsive Action In Bxd Mice To Understand Heritability In Drug Addiction, Lauren Demarco, Lauren Bailey, David Jentsch

Research Days Posters 2022

Drug addiction susceptibility results from many individual factors, one of which is genetic variation. Impulsivity, defined as rash or uncontrolled reward pursuit and consumption, is itself a genetically influenced trait that positively correlates with an individual’s likelihood of developing a substance use disorder. The BXD recombinant inbred mouse panel is a powerful tool that allows for assessments of genetic correlations between phenotypes and the heritability of such behaviors. Six strains of BXD mice have been selected based on low or high impulsive action in a previous reversal learning study. Male and female mice underwent reversal learning testing. Total trials to …

Architecture Of Power In Philadelphia, An Analysis Of The Comcast City Campus, Ryan Killenbeck

Research Days Posters 2022

Before 1987, Philadelphia had no significant skyscrapers to speak of due to an old “gentleman's agreement” to preserve the architecture of power of the civic monument of city hall. This situation in which the power of the city was presented as above all else was shattered by the forces of capitalism which, from the late 1980s, have determined the city skyline. The two tallest buildings in the city both bear the name of the telecommunications conglomerate Comcast. Humans have long used architecture to convey power, from soaring cathedrals to massive castles. From the kings of antiquity building palaces to the …

Some Day My Prince Will Come: Archival Analysis Of The Disney Prince, Relationship Portrayal And “Happily Ever After”, Danielle Kinches

Research Days Posters 2022

Disney is one of the largest distributors of media to children, portraying romance, love, and the happily-ever-after endings in its popular collection of animated films (DiPirro 2007). The purpose of this study is to examine the Disney princes and the phenomenon of chasing after a prince for that “happily ever after” ending. Studies have previously explored aspects of the princess and her story, therefore this research investigates another angle of this franchise. The hypothesis of the current study is that Disney Princess movies will end in “Happily Ever After” with Princes with no character or character development in the earlier …

Does Artificial Light At Night Influence Amphibian Development And Color Changing Abilities?, Kelsey Horn, Grascen Shidemantle, Isabela Velasquez Gutierrez, Emily Ronan, Jurnee Blackwood

Research Days Posters 2022

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is a pervasive contaminant characterized by the presence of excessive manmade light at times not consistent with the natural day/night cycle. ALAN has several physiological and morphological effects on humans and wildlife, including altering amphibians’ development and skin pigmentation, both of which affect amphibians’ susceptibility to predators and their subsequent fitness. For instance, many amphibians can change their pigmentation to blend in with their surroundings (and hide from predators) through a process called background adaptation. While exposure to ALAN can make tadpoles darker, it is unclear how this pollutant affects background adaptation overall. To test …

Public Health Implications Of Chronic Wasting Disease: A Fifteen Year Follow-Up To A Point Source Exposure In Upstate New York, Cambria Weeden, Amanda Roome, Kathryn Olszowy

Research Days Posters 2022

Prion diseases have become increasingly important within biomedical research over the past several decades due to the increasing prevalence of these diseases among human and non-human animal populations and their potential to cross the species barrier. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) represents one condition with a troubling potential for cross-species transmission from cervids to humans. Prion diseases are 100% fatal and no treatment currently exists. According to USGS, CWD has been identified among both free-ranging and commercially captive cervids in Asia, Europe, and North America. The Oneida County Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Project involves a collaborative effort between the Oneida County …

Behavioral And Environmental Residential Risk Factors For Lyme Disease In The Southern Tier Of New York, Diana Weiss, Danielle Carucci, Margaret Duris, Megan Gauck, Katherine Lacy, Anna Lynch, Ralph M. Garruto

Research Days Posters 2022

During the past 40 years, Lyme disease has emerged as the most widely reported vector-borne illness in the U.S., with the majority of cases occurring in the Northeastern United States. The pathogenic bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi relies on the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, the primary enzootic vector responsible for the passage of the bacteria to humans. Behavioral risk factors for tick-borne diseases include those that increase the likelihood of being bit by a tick, including contact with vegetation, exposed skin, and spending time outdoors, all of which can occur within one’s residential yard. Risk factors within the assumed safety net of …

Detecting Apparent Competition By Shared Parasitoid Enemies Between A Native And A Range-Expanding Oak Insect, Leslie Huang, Rachel Chen, Aly Milks, Dylan G. Jones, Kirsten M. Prior

Research Days Posters 2022

The expansion of a species’ range due to anthropogenic change leads to changes in species interactions with cascading effects in ecosystems. Oak gall wasps and their parasitoid enemies are a diverse community of insects that are structured by a network of interactions. One important interaction is “apparent competition,” in which a gall wasp species can indirectly compete with another species through shared parasitoids. Neuroterus saltatorius, an oak gall wasp, is experiencing a range expansion on the west coast of North America, where it outbreaks and causes damage in oak ecosystems. A co-occurring oak gall wasp, Andricus opertus, shares its range …

Evaluation Of A Novel Reduced Enrichment Rat Model Of Depression Using Elevated Plus Maze And Cortical Monoamine Analysis, Hope Kellner, Alice Mazur, Chelsea Mcnamara

Research Days Posters 2022

Depression is a serious mental illness that affects one in fifteen adults. However, 30% of patients with depression do not reach the treatment goal of full recovery, showing the need for more adequate treatments. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to elevated levels of depression. This experiment investigated a novel animal model for depression caused by the removal from a high enrichment environment. Two anxiety-like behaviors, open and closed arm entries, were measured in the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) to gather behavioral differences. Removal of enrichment caused female rats to enter fewer open arms, which indicated that they were more anxious. …

Developing Middle School Students’ Identities As A Stem Person Through An Archaeology Afterschool Program, Jada Mccann

Research Days Posters 2022

Identity, or “an individual’s sense of self," is defined “a set of physical, psychological, and interpersonal characteristics” that are unique to each individual (APA Dictionary of Psychology). Defining one's identity takes place “within and is influenced by multiple timescales” (Carlone, 2012), such as a period of years, months, or even weeks. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible ways in which middle school participation in an archaeological STEM afterschool program might shape and shift their identity as a STEM person. Data was collected from twenty-four students in grades sixth through eight who attended two rural middle schools …

Exclusion Of Overabundant White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Results In Shifts In Soil Microbial Communities And Abiotic Soil Condition In A Northeastern Deciduous Forest, Jonathan Chong, Brendan Enochs, Miranda Kearney

Research Days Posters 2022

Past and current anthropogenic practices have resulted in dramatic alterations to ungulate population densities worldwide. When ungulate populations are overabundant, they can alter the dynamics, and function of ecosystems. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can occur at densities far greater than their historical records in parts of their native range, which includes forests in the northeastern U.S. They have been shown to alter native vegetative community structure, indirectly impact animal communities, and promote the success of invasive species. Despite much research into the effects of overabundant ungulates and deer in particular, less is known about the effects of deer on soil …

The Aesthetics Of May Stevens’ Big Daddy Series: How An Artist’S Stylistic Choice Influences Political Symbolism, Juliette Sakmar

Research Days Posters 2022

Political art and aesthetics are undoubtedly intertwined. An artist's stylistic choices will affect the final outcome of the artwork, and in turn how its political symbolism is perceived. May Stevens, an activist, feminist, and artist was conscious of the aesthetics of her intensely political artwork. This is especially evident in her Big Daddy series, which is anchored by a grotesque male figure that Stevens treats as a vessel representing the blasé American attitude towards culture and politics. The series was completed between 1967 to 1976 and follows major political events, including the Vietnam War. Initial inspiration, however, was found in …

Yes-And/Or/Not: Information Literacy And Instruction Through An Improvisational Lens, Jay A. Edwards

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2022

No abstract provided.

Underage Thinking: Building Tomorrow's Researchers Through New Campus Collaborations, Rebecca K. Miller, Kyrille Goldbeck Debose, Carolyn Meier

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2015

No abstract provided.

Increased Cd11b+ Immune Cells Contribute To Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Rupture, Lucynda Pham

Wayne State University Theses

A life-threatening clinical manifestation of Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) which can lead to dissection and or rupture. MFS is caused by mutations in extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, Fibrillin-1 (FBN1) which forms the structural component of elastic microfibrils. It is unclear how mutations in FBN1 cause aneurysm development and progression. In recent years, inflammation and immune cells are being considered an important biological process that contributes to TAA. However, the exact roles of the immune cells are unknown. Here we find increased CD11b+ cells recruited and infiltrated into the vessel wall and their spatial …

What Will The “Foreseeable Future” Bring For Climate- Imperiled Species?, Olivia Bauer

Indiana Law Journal

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is the strongest source of federal protection for species that are at risk of extinction, and the ESA is becoming increasingly important as climate change threatens species and their habitats more than ever. In 2019, the Trump Administration amended the ESA to provide clarity and predictability when making decisions to list a species as threatened or endangered under the ESA. The Administration defined “foreseeable future” in a way that starkly limits how far into the future the listing agencies may look when assessing risks to species. Prior to the 2019 definition of “foreseeable future,” the …

Guide To Military Vertical Files, Eugenio Cantu

Finding Aids

Consists of 217 files relating to military history topics. The files mostly contain articles and other publications and are arranged in alphabetical order.

Fruits Of Our Labor: Exploring The Impacts Of A Nonprofit Seed Bank On Indigenous Communities In The Southwestern United States, Rachel Mary Davis

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the ways that the nonprofit Native Seeds/SEARCH, of Tucson, Arizona interfaces with Indigenous communities and the local seed and food systems in the Southwest United States. The thesis argues that Native seed and food sovereignty have different meanings for different Indigenous people, and that nonprofits working with Indigenous communities need to consider input from them when deciding how to catalogue, regenerate and sustain healthy grow outs for the future, especially in the light of climate change and drought.

The Sun, The Moon, And The Truth, Sarah Cosgrove Gaumond

Playwriting (MFA) Theses

The Sun, The Moon, and The Truth is a collection of two plays: North Wind and I Lived To Tell. Both plays explore the human condition through differing lenses.

In North Wind, a play deeply rooted in magical realism, a trio of characters search for freedom from the past in a snow-bound Midwestern bar. The dramatic question of North Wind is: How do you move forward when everything you see reminds you of what you’ve lost?

I Lived To Tell, a non-linear play, takes place in the character's imagination. The play's dramatic question is: How does a …

Assessing Sex-Specific Circadian, Metabolic, And Cognitive Phenotypes In The Aβpp/Ps1 And Appnl-F/Nl-F Models Of Alzheimer's Disease., Jesse Britz, Emmanuel Ojo, Asmita Dhukhwa, Takashi Saito, Takaomi C Saido, Erin R Hascup, Kevin N Hascup, Shelley A Tischkau

Articles

BACKGROUND: Circadian disruption has long been recognized as a symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, emerging data suggests that circadian dysfunction occurs early on in disease development, potentially preceding any noticeable cognitive deficits.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the onset of AD in male and female wild type (C57BL6/J), transgenic (AβPP/PS1), and knock-in (APPNL-F/NL-F) AD mouse models from the period of plaque initiation (6 months) through 12 months.

METHODS: Rhythmic daily activity patterns, glucose sensitivity, cognitive function (Morris water maze, MWM), and AD pathology (plaques formation) were assessed. A comparison was made across sexes.

RESULTS: Sex-dependent hyperactivity in AβPP/PS1 mice was …

Evaluating The Effects Of Medium Chain Fatty Acids On Sow Reproductive Characteristics, Offspring Biological Health Markers, And Growth Performance, Analicia J. Swanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A sow’s diet can influence and her offspring not only in the suckling period, but well after weaning. The objective of this study was to determine how supplementing medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) in gestation and lactation impacted offspring growth performance as well as the biological markers of pig quality from the suckling period until week 6 of the nursery period. A total of 77 primparious and multiparious females and their 438 offspring were utilized in this study. Sows and gilts (218.15 kg ± 32.15 kg BW at d28 of gestation) were assigned to one of 2 dietary treatments: Control …

Role Of Micrornas In Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma, Mehak Ismail Rajani, Yumna Mirza, Rohan Advani, Syed Muhammad Adnan Ali, Ather Enam

Centre for Innovation in Medical Education

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas account for 30% of anterior pituitary tumours. Based on their inability to secrete hormones, these are often diagnosed incidentally or due to pressure symptoms. Understanding the pathogenesis of these adenomas can provide insight into factors leading to its progression and serving as biomarkers for early recognition. A literature search was performed in the current narrative review for articles published in PubMed for the last 10 years till January 2020 on micro-ribonucleic acid involved in the pathogenesis of non-functioning pituitary adenomas. Of the 478 articles found, 21(4.4%) were filtered. In total, 106 micro-ribonucleic acids were identified, 25(23.5%) of …

The Discovery Of Lilly Pulitzer And Her Business Of Fashion, Susan Mallott

Theses

This thesis will be an investigative look at fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer. The significance of this project is based on the discovery of Lilly Pulitzer as one of the most successful women entrepreneurs in the fashion industry. Despite Lilly Pulitzer’s success, not much has been written about her. The few articles found written about her restated the same information. The writings about her talk of her privileged background and her social status but do not delve into who she was as a person or the social stigmas that she dealt with by being a businesswoman during the 1960’s. The purpose …

Growing Meat On Plants: Using Intermediate Cbd-Rgd Fusion Proteins To Improve Bovine Satellite Cell Attachment On Cellulose-Based Scaffolds, Julian Cohen

Pitzer Senior Theses

Cellular agriculture is an emerging technology aiming to replace existing methods for animal agriculture with tissue engineering and cell culture-based technologies. Cultured meat falls within this purview, using a biomimetic approach to recreate animal muscle tissue through tissue engineering. In the attempt to diminish the necessity of animal-derived materials within this process, plant-based scaffolds can be used as a substrate upon which stem cells are cultured. Due to the unfavorable environment of cellulose for mammalian cell-surface proteins, the approach was taken of coating cellulose nanofiber films with a fusion protein composed of a cellulose binding domain (CBD) protein and the …

The Heirloom As Evidence: Investigating The Colonial Trace Preserved Within My Family’S Sandalwood Box, Olivia Meehan

Pitzer Senior Theses

This paper accompanies my senior art exhibition Picturing the Colonial Trace. Pulling from a wide range of interdisciplinary scholars, I theorize the practice of critical white auto-ethnography through visual interrogations of family heirlooms. The heirloom as evidence holds within its form a colonial trace. I investigate this trace through my creative practice, revealing the environmental, economic, and interpersonal histories of the British colonization of the Indian subcontinent. My art disrupts my family’s narrative of a benevolent British Empire and redirects attention to the silences of my family archive. This thesis proposes a potential model for white scholars of Environmental …

Phosphodiesterase (Pde) Iii Inhibitor, Cilostazol, Improved Memory Impairment In Aluminum Chloride-Treated Rats: Modulation Of Camp/Creb Pathway, Marwa Safar

Pharmacy

No abstract provided.

Rhetorical Criticism Of Trevor, Alexis Johnson

Schultz-Werth Award Papers

Released in 1994, the short film, Trevor, shares the story of a 13-year-old boy as he navigates the complexities of sexual orientation in America. Written by James Lecesne, the short film incorporates his personal experiences with growing up as a queer individual in the LGBTQ+ community and the socio-political concerns of rising suicide rates of LGBTQ+ youth. Throughout the film, Trevor must traverse the intricacies of sexual orientation in 1981, while facing a lack of support from his parents, and harsh criticism from his friends and peers. Trevor, as a rhetorical act, holds great significance in the United States with …

An Experiential Pathway To Conversion, Robert K. Christensen, Matthew D. Wride, Neil R. Lundberg

BYU Studies

Joseph Smith’s formal education did not extend beyond the third grade. His life did not extend beyond the final years of his thirties. The person he became and his work in restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ, however, extend into eternity. John Taylor observed that “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.”

The Name Of The Lord, Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, John S. Thompson

BYU Studies

On two occasions in the Book of Abraham, the Lord reveals to Abraham his true name: Jehovah. The first incident was when Abraham had a “vision of the Almighty,” wherein “the angel of [the Lord’s] presence” rescued him from being sacrificed in Ur of the Chaldees and made early allusions to a future covenant relationship (Abr. 1:15). “And his voice was unto me: Abraham, Abraham, behold, my name is Jehovah, and I have heard thee, and have come down to deliver thee, and to take thee away from thy father’s house, and from all thy kinsfolk, into a strange …

The Hathor Cow, Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, John S. Thompson

BYU Studies

Figure 5 in Facsimile 2 of the Book of Abraham, a figure of an upside-down cow, is identified by Joseph Smith with this elaborate explanation.