Digital Commons Network^™

Optogenetic Deactivation Of Amygdalo-Auditory Cortex Circuit, Mustafa Ansari, Jessica Swaby, Diana Peterson

Research Day

Introduction: While the functions of many amygdalar circuits have been widely studied, the role of the direct amygdalo-auditory cortex (AM-AC) circuit is unknown.

Objective: Understand the function of the direct projection from the amygdala to the auditory cortex.

Methods: Two experiments were performed. In Experiment 1:Electrophysiology was utilized to record single and multi-unit responses from the auditory cortex. Optogenetic activation or deactivation of the amygdalo-auditory cortex circuit was then utilized to examine changes to auditory neuron firing rate during normal and deactivation scenarios. In Experiment 2, the protocols for experiment 1 were tested in animals with a sound-induced tinnitus to …

Recently Reported Adverse Effects Of Miscellaneous Antibiotics, Essie Samuel, Jeffrey D. Mccanless, Zuhal M. Saadut, Victoria Vo, Andrew Wilson, Komal Bhut

Research Day

Purpose

Antibiotics are utilized for the treatment of various infections though they are not used entirely without any safety concerns. Antibiotics are known to be associated with various adverse effects and literature review can be utilized in not only learning about these adverse effects but also how to manage them. Our research focuses on the adverse effects published in the literature during 2023 on multiple antibiotic drug classes. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated collection of information to healthcare professionals from all disciplines on both pre-existing and new or uncommon side effects of antibiotics.

Methods

A …

The Global Economic And Financial Crisis: An Overview Of The Effects On African Countries, Oluwole Owoye

Journal of African Policy Studies

In the wake of the global economic and financial cnsts, experts and analysts agreed that the initial effects on African financial sectors would be minimal because of the limited exposure to the international financial markets. However, African countries are more integrated than before with the world economy through the following transmission channels: international trade, foreign direct and portfolio investments, foreign aid flows, private remittances, and tourism; and since they are predominantly primary commodity exporters, their economies was negatively affected by the recession in many developed countries due to the sharp decline in world demand for commodities and in their prices. …

Micro Finance In Eritrea: A Catalyst For Women Development, Ravinder Rena

Journal of African Policy Studies

The microfinance refers to small-scale financial services (primarily credit and savings) provided to people who engage in the farming, fishing and operate micro-enterprises to gain subsistence income from these activities and subsequently support the rural economy. Microfinance is a highly accepted and recognized development tool. It has been playing a vital role in many developing countries of the world. The women are considered to be a pillar of the society and economy. For example, 45 per cent of the measurable Gross Domestic Income comes from the work of women in the world's richest countries. Eritrea, a poor but young nation …

Fostering Constructive Public And Private Sector Linkages For Agricultural Research And Development In Sub Saharan Africa, Kefasi Nyikahadzoi, Adewale Adekunle

Journal of African Policy Studies

Investing in agricultural research and development is critical for improving livelihoods of the resource poor in Sub Saharan Africans and also for the conservation of natural resource. While on the global level, the contribution of public sector to agriculture research and development investment is declining; the private sector is coming in to fill the gap. In Sub Saharan Africa, private sector involvement in agriculture research and development is still very limited. This paper uses secondary data and information coming out of the Sub Saharan Africa Challenge Programme to discuss the constraints that inhibit private sector involvement in agriculture research and …

How Kirby’S Return To Dream Land Deluxe Subverts Narrative Expectations, Kelley I. Hale

Aurora

The Kirby series has been around for over 30 years, and very little has been done to research it. This is a shame, as I believed (and still do believe) the series has a lot to offer in terms of research. For this paper, I analyzed Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, a Switch remake of the Wii game Kirby's Return to Dream Land. I analyzed the cutscenes found within the game using fantasy theme criticism. I did this to explore how the game subverts narrative expectations, as well as show that Kirby games have value when it comes to …

Praxly: An Online Ide For The Praxis Cs Test Pseudocode, Benjamin Saupp

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

No abstract provided.

Interpersonal Communication, Paul A. Soukup S.J.

Communication Research Trends

No abstract provided.

Nexus Between Land Redistribution And Poverty Reduction: A Qualitative Overview Of The Fast Track Land Reform In Rural Zimbabwe 2000-2007, Percyslage Chigora, Edson Ziso, Niya Mtombeni

Journal of African Policy Studies

Imposition of colonial rule in Zimbabwe saw millions of hectares of productive land expropriated from the native inhabitants relegating them to perpetual poverty and deprivation. Out of this predicament, native Zimbabweans resorted to armed struggle to reclaim their land in two historical periods leading to independence in 1980. Consequently, land repossession was a primary grievance during the armed struggle and thus, land redistribution was high on the agenda at the attainment of independence but not much was done in the first two decades. In the first decade, obligatory clauses in the Lancaster House constitution effectively made popular land reform impossible. …

Cpa - New Sudan, Old Sudan Or Two Sudan? A Review Of The Implementation Of The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Johan Brosche

Journal of African Policy Studies

On 9 January 2005 the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Government of Sudan (GoS) signed a peace agreement called the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended the conflict in southern Sudan that had been going on since 1983 and had resulted in at least 54 000 battle-related deaths. In total it is estimated that two million people have died during the war as a result of violence, famine and disease. The CPA was the final outcome of the so-called Machakos peace process which began in July 2002. Overall the implementation of this agreement is lacking in momentum. Some …

Population Increase, Environment, Food Access And Development In Africa: The Role Of The African Union, Amado J. Kaba

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper examines the impact of the massive population increase in Africa in the post World War II era and the environmental challenges the continent confronts in trying to feed such a high number of people. The paper is divided into three sections. The first section examines the demographics of Africa, which show that the continent has increased its total population by 750 million people from 1950 to 2008. The second section of this paper then presents arguments by scholars pertaining to the environmental challenges, especially for agriculture, facing Africa as it finds ways to feed this massive number of …

This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land: The Keys To Unlocking Eight Million Acres Of Checkerboarded Public Land, Dalton Springer

Arkansas Law Review

The term “checkerboarded land” has become associated with alternating public and private square-mile lots in Western states such as Wyoming, Colorado, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. In the mid-19th century, the United States was in the throes of Manifest Destiny. President Abraham Lincoln signed the 1862 Pacific Railway Act which aimed to connect the eastern United States with the newly acquired western territories by developing the Transcontinental Railroad. As an incentive for building the rail line, the federal government granted the even-numbered one-square-mile sections of land to the railroad companies, while retaining the odd-numbered one-square-mile sections for itself. …

Memory Wars: Korean Popular Culture And The Politics Of Historical Justice With Japan, Grace Lee

Prologue: A First-Year Writing Journal

No abstract provided.

Representation Of Blackness In Insecure By Issa Rae, Cameryn Polk

Prologue: A First-Year Writing Journal

No abstract provided.

Prologue Vol. 16

Prologue: A First-Year Writing Journal

No abstract provided.

Shakespeare’S Murderous World: Not A Doomed Reality, Afton Fay

The Criterion

No abstract provided.

Getting An “A” In Category A Waste, Christa Arguinchona

Conferences

No abstract provided.

Influenza Talk Proposed Titles, Henry Arguinchona

Conferences

No abstract provided.

When Zebras Attack: Special Pathogens Preparedness In An Ever-Changing World, Jonathan Grien

Conferences

No abstract provided.

The Small Worlds Of Childhood: Philosophy, Poetics, And The Queer Temporalities Of Early Life, Lauren Shizuko Stone

Gender & Sexuality

The Small Worlds of Childhood argues that prose representations of bourgeois childhood contain surprising opportunities to reflect on the temporality of experience. In their narratives of children at home in their everyday worlds, Adalbert Stifter, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Walter Benjamin are not only able to shed a unique light on key issues in the history of philosophy. They also offer a queer critique of the normative expectation that the literature of childhood is oriented toward the future.

Stone shows that when writers engage in philosophical storytelling, showing children tarrying in quotidian experience, they dislodge childhood from its nostalgic value …

Link - A New Interface: Bridging Social Isolation Through Immersive Discovery, Andrew Phillips

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Link: A New Interface explores how public spaces—historically designed to encourage social interaction—have declined in vibrancy due to shifting behaviors, remote work, and the long-term effects of the Covid pandemic. Modern digitalization, while offering convenience, has also contributed to decreased face-to-face engagement, reduced attention spans, and increased social isolation. This thesis proposes a revitalization of public social spaces by reimagining digitalization not as a distraction, but as a tool to foster immersive, multisensory experiences that reconnect people. The project focuses on bridging generational divides, nurturing meaningful social interactions, and creating inclusive spaces that support intergenerational engagement. The methodology introduces a …

Sculpting Healing Spaces: Bridging The Gaps In Cancer Care Facilities, Mayra B. Mendez

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Healthcare environments become a vital component in patient outcomes, particularly in Cancer Care Facilities, where the emotional and physical requirements of treatment are profound. Exploring how the reconsideration of cancer care facilities can reshape the patient’s experience and improve the healing outcomes. Traditional clinical spaces, often sterile and impersonal, can increase patient stress, anxiety, and discomfort. Cancer care facilities in the Atlanta region are struggling to meet the demands of modern cancer treatment due to architectural limitations such as overcrowded spaces, inefficient layouts, and a lack of patient-centered environments. How can the integration and experience of Biophilic Design Principles bridge …

From Farmers To Architects To Artists: Who Lived And Worked In The David Adler Estate, Libertyville, Illinois, 1864-2020, Rebecca D. Katz

Honors Capstones

The thesis of this paper investigates the transformation of the David Adler Estate from its creation in 1864 to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. The way our communities’ function is based in local histories, yet many individuals fail to see the importance of it. Through research focused on census data, newspapers, and oral histories, a clear timeline was formed in how the David Adler Estate was utilized. By examining the estate’s progression through agricultural, architectural, and artistic phases, this paper shows how a single house can reflect the growth of a region. Grounded in the belief that local history holds …

Getting Back To The Root Of Kindergarten: Using Literacy-Based Materials To Enhance Play Centers, Lauren E. Mcmahon

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This mixed methods action research study aimed to determine what kindergarten students do when literacy-based materials are integrated into pre-existing play centers. Additionally, the researchers wanted to discover student and teacher perceptions of literacy-based materials used to enhance play in the classroom. To do this, a pre- and post-survey was given to student participants and field notes were taken daily during center time. A pre- and post-focus group was facilitated with student participants, and a pre- and post-interview was facilitated with the teacher participant. The data collected over four weeks was analyzed using the constant comparative method. Researchers found that …

Charles Bennett V. Bayer Corporation

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

How Extreme Rainfall And Failing Dams Unleashed The Derna Flood Disaster, Ayman Mokhtar Nemnem, Ahad Hasan Tanim, Audrika Nahian, Sadik Khan, Erfan Goharian, Jasim Imran

Faculty Publications

On September 11, 2023, Storm Daniel unleashed unprecedented rainfall over the Wadi Derna watershed, triggering one of the most devastating floods in modern history, striking Derna, a coastal city in Libya. This study reconstructs the disaster using an integrated modeling approach that combines satellite imagery, hydrologic, hydraulic, and geotechnical simulations, machine learning, eyewitness accounts, and digital elevation data to assess the impact of cascading dam failures. Our findings reveal that the region’s dams, even if structurally sound, would have provided minimal protection against the extreme runoff. However, their failure unleashed a destructive surge wave, amplifying the disaster’s magnitude and devastation. …

Performative Biomechanics : Evolving Buildings Into Inhabitable Organisms, Josh Lopez

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

There has always been a connection between biology and architecture. Michael Pawlyn, in Biomimicry in Architecture, coined “biomechanical designs” to describe structural techniques derived from creatures. This study investigates chitin-based creatures. Crustaceans, insects, and microscopic organisms all have exoskeletons in nature. With a focus on crabs, other crustaceans and bugs, this study examines and evaluates the formal characteristics of chitin-based organisms. The architectural creations of OXMAN, NOX, which was founded by Lars Spuybroek; and Lebbeus Woods are among those that are analyzed and studied due to their inspiration from living things. They follow functional effectiveness in nature, which is why …

Folk Art As A Catalyst: Unfolding Salvadoran Identity Through Design., Kevin E. Lopez

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This research explores how folk art can act as a catalyst to revitalize spaces and deepen connections to Salvadoran culture. It examines works of folk art as cultural artifacts that embody Salvadoran identity, revealing their underlying structures, patterns, and meanings. This understanding of form and symbolism within these artistic expressions will serve as a foundation for translating cultural identity into architectural design.

Ideas and experiences can be ephemeral, but through design, these concepts can be translated into architectural forms. Knoespel argued in “Diagrammatic Transformation of Architectural Space” that diagrams conveys architectural information, suggesting that by analyzing an element, new information …

Understanding Loss Of Beta-Cell Identity And Progression Of Diabetes In Polygenic Mouse Models Of T2dm, Sumitkumar Patel

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is caused by the complex interaction of multiple genes and environmental factors. T2DM is characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and impaired insulin secretion by the pancreas. While the decline in insulin production and secretion was previously attributed to apoptosis of insulin-producing β-cells, recent studies indicate that β cell apoptosis rates are relatively low in diabetes. In this dissertation, I investigated β-cell failure in diabetes using KK and KKAy mouse models of polygenic T2DM, which spontaneously develop hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, glucosuria, impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance. I found that β-cell failure in KK …

Investigating The Roles Of Sox10 And Etv4 In Melanocyte And Melanoma Development, Catherine Marie Newsom-Stewart

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The neural crest is a transient, multipotent cell population unique to vertebrates that gives rise to diverse lineages, including craniofacial cartilage, peripheral neurons, glia, and pigment-producing melanocytes. Proper specification and differentiation of neural crest derivatives are orchestrated by tightly regulated gene regulatory networks, and disruption of these developmental programs can lead to congenital disorders and malignancies. Melanocytes, derived from the neural crest, are best known for their role in skin pigmentation but also contribute to homeostasis and specialized functions in the eye, ear, and heart. These cells produce melanin to protect tissues from ultraviolet radiation and oxidative damage, and they …