Digital Commons Network^™

Molecular And Cellular Mechanisms Of Lim Protein Mechanotransduction, Donovan Yong Zhi Phua

Student Theses and Dissertations

For tissues to develop and maintain mechanical homeostasis, cells must be able to perceive and respond to mechanical cues in their local environments (mechanosense). While there has been significant progress in understanding the physiological significance of mechanosensation, the mechanisms by which proteins convert mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals (mechanotransduction) are poorly understood. The actin cytoskeleton serves as a nexus for cellular mechanotransduction, generating and transducing forces into intracellular signals that coordinate cell migration, cellular contractility, organelle dynamics, and gene expression. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which cytoskeletal mechanotransduction is achieved is limited. LIM domain proteins are a …

Effective Shoulder Width On Rural Highway System Related To Roadway Departure Crashes, Mario A. Barahona, Vamsi Krishna Bandaru, Mario A. Romero, Andrew Tarko

JTRP Technical Reports

Roadway design plays a crucial role in traffic safety, particularly on rural roads. This research investigates the safety effectiveness of shoulder width on Indiana’s rural two-lane highways, and to use this understanding to provide a basis for more effective shoulder improvement programs. Although previous studies have established the benefits of shoulder widening in other states, limited research has been conducted in Indiana conditions. This research aims to evaluate the safety effectiveness of shoulders on rural roads in Indiana and to propose a practical and systemic approach to identifying road segments that require additional attention and possible need for shoulder improvements. …

What’S So Compelling About Diversity Anyway?: How The Affirmative Action Diversity Rationale Was Built To Fail Under Today’S Equal Protection Doctrine, Fariza Hassan

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

No abstract provided.

Emboldened In The Rap “Game”: How Severely Stigmatized Video Models Navigate Disrespect And Vulnerability To Workplace Mistreatment., Payal Sharma, Kristie M. Rogers, Blake E. Ashforth

Management Faculty Research and Publications

Moral stigma attached to an occupation can scar workers through discrediting, shaming, and denying respect. It can also open the door to interpersonal mistreatment, but little is known about how morally stigmatized workers navigate anticipated disrespect to potentially avoid harm. We explore this issue in a study of an occupation carrying severe moral stigma and where disrespect and workplace mistreatment are pervasive: models in hip-hop and rap music videos. Through analyses of 71 interviews with 48 video models and 19 industry informants, field observations, and archival data, we show how severe moral stigma and industry constraints promote generalized disrespect of …

A Comparison Of Involved And Uninvolved College Students' Stress And Coping During Covid-19, Abbie Alsene

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I compare the stress and coping of involved students and uninvolved students at liberal arts colleges during COVID-19. The study seeks to understand if there are differences between the two student populations. Three research questions guide the study. First, how has COVID-19 affected the stress levels of involved students compared to uninvolved students at liberal arts colleges? Second, how do involved students cope with their stress related to COVID-19 compared to uninvolved students at liberal arts colleges? And lastly, what is the relationship between how involved college students view COVID-19 and their levels of stress in comparison …

Stimulating Focus And Calmness Through Soft Fabrication: A User-Centered Approach, Emmanuella A. Oku

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the potential of active attention objects embedded with technologies such as LEDs to enhance focus and calmness in individuals with inattentive ADHD, particularly in classroom settings. Individuals with inattentive ADHD often struggle with irritability, stress, and panic attacks when exposed to external stimuli such as loud sounds, varying light intensities, strong smells, or physical sensations, which significantly hinders their ability to concentrate and remain composed. My literature review discovered a connection between an individual’s blinking pattern and their focus, and my work explores how to design active attention objects to engage with blinking as a focus tactic. …

Investigation Of The Human Temporal Styloid Process As A Bony Indicator Of Speech, Sommer A. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

The temporal styloid process in humans serves as an attachment point for the styloglossus, stylohyoid, and stylopharyngeus, which are involved in tongue movement and deglutition. I hypothesized that the length of the ossified styloid process in humans is the result of selection for increased musculature that would support tongue movements involved in speech. This hypothesis assumes that the relative length of the ossified temporal styloid process is unique to humans. A comparative analysis of the presence or absence of the temporal styloid process was conducted on ten genera of Old-World primates, and it was found that the length of this …

Larval Environments Affect The Implementation Of The Sterile Insect Technique On Aedes Mosquitoes, Katherine G. Evans

Theses and Dissertations

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is an effective method for controlling pests and has been increasing in popularity to control Aedes mosquitoes. SIT involves inundating an area with sterilized male mosquitoes to reduce egg hatch and ultimately the number of wild adults. Previous research indicates that enacting mortality early in the larval life of Aedes mosquitoes can result in counter-productive effects, due to reduced competition among developing larvae. I hypothesize that the effectiveness of SIT at reducing adult populations is modified by densitydependent mortality and density-dependent growth among larvae. I performed two field-to-lab studies and developed an individual-based model to test …

Exploring How Political Affiliations Influence Trust In Ai Applications, Md Imran Ahsan

Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the impact of partisanship on public trust in the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by private and public institutions. This study utilizes data from the “Artificial Intelligence: American Attitudes and Trends” survey (Zhang & Dafoe, 2019). Survey-weighted OLS regression models are employed to examine the variations in trust levels across different private and public institutions. This study hypothesizes that H1: Compared to Republicans, Democrats will report higher levels of confidence in public institutions to develop AI in the best interests of the public. H2: Compared to Democrats, Republicans will report higher levels of confidence in private institutions …

Application Of Floating Wetlands To Improve Urban Stream Quality, Daniel Chukwunonso Chukwudi

Theses and Dissertations

Urban streams, impacted by urbanization, often exhibit degraded water quality due to elevated nutrient levels, a phenomenon known as urban stream syndrome. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a floating wetland (FW) system in reducing nitrate as nitrogen (NO₃-N) and phosphate (PO₄³⁻) concentrations in a side canal of the Chicago River’s North Branch, adjacent to Goose Island, Chicago, IL, from 2018 to 2023. Using a five-year dataset, including new sampling from May to December 2023, the research addresses two questions: (1) Do FWs lower NO₃-N and PO₄³⁻ concentrations in urban streams? and (2) Do FWs exhibit seasonal differences in nutrient …

Femina: A New History Of The Middle Ages, Through The Women Written Out Of It, By Janina Ramirez, Jo Koster

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Quantification Of Auxin-Cytokinin Response During Primary Root And Lateral Root Development In Common Bean, Gurdeep Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Roots support water and nutrient uptake, anchorage, and soil interactions through continuous growth at the primary root tip (PRT). In common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), new cells are produced in an open root apical meristem and subsequently elongate in the elongation zone, and together these processes drive root tip progression through the soil. Lateral roots (LRs) arise in the differentiation zone, where pairs of pericycle founder cells dedifferentiate, divide asymmetrically, and form lateral root primordia (LRP) that pass through defined developmental stages before emergence. Auxin and cytokinin (CK) are central regulators of both primary root growth and LR development, yet their …

Programming Carcass Composition Through Gestational Nutrition, Sydni Elise Borders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of maternal nutrient restriction during mid-gestation on the performance of the dam, feeding performance, carcass composition, and genetic expression in the offspring. Cows (n = 46) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments based on global nutrient intake: 1) fed to achieve and/or maintain a BCS of 5 or 6 (Positive Energy Status [PES]; n = 24) or 2) fed to lose one BCS during 99 days of mid-gestation (Negative Energy Status [NES]; n = 22). Cows in NES had greater decreases (P < 0.05) in body fat stores and muscle mass, elevated NEFA concentrations, and displayed decreased (P < 0.05) DMI, HP, and GHG emissions. There were no differences in milk components or volume produced between treatments (P > 0.05). There were no differences in …

A New Johnson Amendment: Subsidy, Core Political Speech, And Tax-Exempt Organizations, Samuel D. Brunson

Faculty Publications & Other Works

Seven decades ago, Congress enacted the so-called Johnson Amendment. This provision of tax law forbids tax-exempt public charities from endorsing or opposing candidates for office. Under the plain language of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization that violates the Johnson Amendment does not qualify as tax-exempt.

The legislative history underlying the Johnson Amendment is sparse, and it provides few clues as to Congress’s reason for enacting it. In the ensuing years, though, it has become clear that Congress does not want to subsidize campaigning activities, and this has become the most convincing justification for the Johnson Amendment. However, the design …

Hysteria By Any Other Name: The Unchanging Treatment Of Women In Healthcare (1850–1980), Logan Lynxwiler

Undergraduate Research Awards

Despite the evolution of hysteria from a gynecological affliction to a psychological disorder—and its eventual disappearance as a formal diagnosis by 1980—the fundamental mistreatment of women’s healthcare persisted. The understanding of hysteria across Europe and the United States evolved significantly from 1850 to 1980, but even as medical definitions of hysteria changed over time, the treatment of women remained largely unchanged, as physicians continued to dismiss, control, and pathologize their health concerns through invasive and often harmful interventions.

Promesas Incumplidas: The Reconfiguration Of Gendered Expectations And Relationships During The Bracero Program (1942-1964), Adriana Justo Ortiz

Undergraduate Research Awards

The Bracero Program led to the breakdown of domestic roles, disruptions of female and Braceros’ partnerships with women, and the creation of new friendships among the male Braceros themselves. After the Braceros left for their work contracts in the United States, Mexican women took on additional responsibilities that were customarily done by their husband. In contrast, the Braceros had to undertake domestic chores in their temporary labor camps that their wives would have generally done in Mexico. Because Anglo- American employers and entrepreneurs, specifically those from Tulare, California, as demonstrated by the work of historian Ana Elizabeth Rosas, had certain …

Processing Warfare And Navigating Defeat: The Mexican Narrative Constructed During The Mexican American War Of 1846-1848, Hailee Brandt

Undergraduate Research Awards

It is undeniable that the citizens of Mexico and the United States of America processed the Mexican American War as it occurred in exceedingly different ways, and wished to remember it differently. This thesis will delve deeper into the Mexican narrative that was constructed during and in the immediate aftermath of the war, about the war, and will highlight some of the most salient differences.

How Forest Stand Conditions Influence Whitebark Pine And Clark’S Nutcracker: A Systematic Review, Bryan Mathew Cohen

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), a keystone species of high-elevation ecosystems of western North America, is threatened with extinction due to disease (Blister rust), pests (Mountain pine beetle), and climate change. Regeneration of the species depends nearly exclusively on the seed-caching behavior of Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana, Family Corvidae). Because of this, conservation of whitebark ecosystems requires restoring stand structures that favor nutcrackers. Although there are increasing numbers of studies on the relationship between nutcrackers and whitebark pine, findings have not yet been synthesized, limiting knowledge for application to management. I did a systematic literature review to answer the following questions: …

Robots And (Indian) Reservations: A Jurisdictional Nightmare Waiting To Happen, Adam Crepelle

Faculty Publications & Other Works

Advances in artificial intelligence are expanding the possibilities of robots. Indeed, robots are now engaging in numerous activities previously thought to require human cognition, such as driving cars and diagnosing diseases. Scholars have published numerous articles examining the intersection of law and robots across myriad fields. However, legal scholarship has yet to explore the relationship between robots and federal Indian law. This is a significant oversight because there are 574 federally recognized tribes and over fifty-six million acres of Indian country. Thus, legal issues involving tribes and robots are inevitable. This is the first law review article dedicated to exploring …

Survivors Speak Out: Analyzing Minnesota's Anti-Slapp Law Through The Lens Of Johnson V. Freborg, Taylor Anderson

Mitchell Hamline Law Review

No abstract provided.

Filling The Gaps: How An Environmental Rights Amendment Can Save Minnesota's Shorelines, Christine Gale

Mitchell Hamline Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Gadfly Of The Dormant Commerce Clause: The Persistence Of The Extraterritoriality Doctrine After National Pork Producers Council V. Ross, Karl Morton Badger

Mitchell Hamline Law Review

No abstract provided.

Medical Review Officers And The Limits Of Judicial Review, Leonard C. Brahin

Mitchell Hamline Law Review

In the public imagination, defenders of our national security wear military garb. But the individuals who determine their fitness-for-duty wear white coats. The unenviable task of assessing those who make up our national security workforce is carried out by a group of independent physicians who must make nuanced determinations about illicit drug and alcohol use by government employees. In addition to testing roles that may seem unexciting, like accountants and auditors, medical review officers (MROs) are tasked with ensuring employees of nuclear power plants and commercial drivers are fit for duty. In doing so, they rely on their experience, expertise, …

Generative Ai As Courtroom Evidence: A Practical Guide, Neal Feigenson, Brian Carney

Mitchell Hamline Law Review

No abstract provided.

Featured Faculty Mentor/Student Team, Kelly Loftin, Eva Berryhill

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Prevalence Of Ehrlichia Spp. In Ticks Associated With Canids In Arkansas, Eva Berryhill, Kelly Loftin

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Canine ehrlichiosis is a common disease seen in dogs. The southeastern United States has been identified as an area of high prevalence, including Arkansas. Changes in climate, household income, and tick population are factors contributing to high prevalence. Canine ehrlichiosis is caused by three Ehrlichia spp., which are E. canis, E. ewingii, and E. chaffeensis. Ticks transmit the pathogen, specifically Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor variabilis, and Amblyomma americanum. For this study, the goal was to determine the prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. in Arkansas that causes canine ehrlichiosis. Ticks were collected from host canines and environmental …

Biol 475-H02, Maria Stanko

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 498-002: St: Glia, The Neuron's Forgotten Sibling, Jorge Golowasch

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 382-002: Animal Behavior, Gal Haspel

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 698-002: St: Glia, The Neuron's Forgotten Sibling, Jorge Golowasch

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.