Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Population Density On Harmful Algal Blooms In Southwest Florida, Emma Barry '25

Biology Student Scholarship

Karenia brevis is a species of algae native to the Gulf of Mexico. Times when its growth becomes uncontrollable are called harmful algal blooms (formerly called “red tide events”), and they are often caused by increased nutrients in the water. These excessive nutrients come from watersheds and runoff that contain anthropogenic materials like fertilizer, and the phosphate and nitrogen in fertilizers catalyze the growth of algae. As population density in Florida increases, fertilizer runoff increases as well. Harmful algal bloom events are dangerous to both humans and the environment. Thick layers of algal growth on the water’s surface create “dead …

Utah State University Commencement, 2024 - Main Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

2024 Commencement Ceremony for the Main Campus of Utah State University.

Interactions Between Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Methylphenidate Administration On Catecholamine Transporter Protein Levels Within The Rodent Prefrontal Cortex, Anna Abrimian, Eleni Papadopoulos, Christopher P. Knapp, J. Loweth, Barry Waterhouse, Rachel Navarra

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

It is theorized that low concentrations of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) within in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to increased risky behavior. Our lab has shown that repeated mild TBI (rmTBI) sex-differentially increases risky behavior in a rodent model. Methylphenidate (MPH) is a psychostimulant drug used to treat symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also driven by a hypo-catecholaminergic PFC. MPH elevates catecholamine levels by blocking DA and NE transporters, DAT and NET. While the potential of psychostimulants to treat post-TBI symptoms have been explored, the effects of sub-chronic MPH on transporter levels following …

Impact Of Rotenone Treatment On Respiration And Swallowing Rate In Drinking Rats, Taylor Good, Shivam Patel, Nicholas Zanghi, Francois Gould

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder known to cause dysphagia, the major contributor to mortality via aspiration pneumonia. The neurological basis of swallowing dysfunction in Parkinson patients is poorly understood. To explore the mechanisms of swallowing dysfunction, we studied the impact of rotenone treatment on respiration rate and swallowing rate in liquid-drinking rats. We hypothesized that rotenone treatment will cause a decrease in respiratory and swallowing rate compared to untreated liquid-drinking rats. Six rats were injected with 2.75 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal rotenone for 16 days to create the parkinsonian phenotype and subsequently recorded with 200fps video fluoroscopy during barium-infused liquid drinking. …

Can Nutritional Supplements Benefit Patients Receiving Treatment For Neurodegenerative Disorders?, Russell Levi, Saad Ahmed, Zachary Harris

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

As the prevalence of neurocognitive disorders rises globally, developing new methodologies of prevention and treatment is crucial. This literature review examines the efficacy of adding nutritional supplements, specifically nootropics, with traditional pharmacological regimens on various neurocognitive and neurodegenerative disorders. Primary, peer-reviewed research, including both human and animal studies, was assesed to determine if there was a benefifical, minimal, or detrimental effect on symptom progression. The inclusion criteria focused on studies that evaluated the reduction in disease markers or symptoms following supplement use. The findings reveal that natural supplements generally support disease management. Significant improvements were noted with specific combinations like …

Amlodipine-Induced Angioedema: A Case Report And Literature Review, Kaywan M. Saed, Kishan B. Patel, Paige Deluca, Saipriya Gadiraju, James A. Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Angioedema is a medical condition characterized by rapid and localized swelling in the deeper layers of the skin and mucous membranes. Unlike hives (urticaria), which affect the superficial layers of the skin and appear as raised, itchy welts, angioedema involves swelling beneath the skin's surface and commonly affects areas such as the face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, and genitals. This swelling can be dramatic and may cause discomfort, pain, or difficulty with breathing or swallowing, depending on the location and severity of the swelling. Here we present the case of 73-year-old patient with amlodipine-induced angioedema. This case highlights the …

Case Report: Monkeypox Diagnosed In The Ed, Richard M. Baluyot, Joseph Pagano, James A. Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Rashes are one of the most common chief complaints we see as emergency medicine physicians on a day-to-day basis. Most of them tend to be self-limited and require very little workup and can be discharged home; however, it is our job to try to identify rashes that may require isolation in order to prevent an outbreak in our communities. Here we present a case of one such rash that has gained major media attention as of late, Monkeypox.

Clostridium Perfringens Sepsis From A Hepatic Abscess With Hemolysis And Renal Failure, Requiring Hemodialysis, Joel Collins Ii, Katelyn Courtney, James A. Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The prognosis of sepsis caused by Clostridium perfringens is extremely poor, with a mortality rate of 70%-100%. Management includes antibiotic regimens specific to toxin production as well as source control via surgical or interventional mechanisms. We report a case of a 64-year-old male who presented with right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain and was diagnosed with Clostridium perfringens bacteremia with associated acalculous cholecystitis, hepatic abscess, and acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis. It is felt that early hemodialysis was an associated factor in the patient's survival.

Preventing Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction Through Preoperative Exercise, John Andre Socci

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common problem in the elderly population after undergoing anesthesia that results in sometimes irreversible cognitive and physical impairment that can increase mortality and decrease quality of life.

Methods: To see the relationship between preoperative fitness capacity and how this relates to postoperative cognitive ability a literature review was performed. Studies that were included involved populations older than sixty years old that had undergone anesthesia. Additionally, animal studies were included to show inflammatory marker levels and how they increased in relation to physical activity.

Results: Various fitness scales were used such as the Timed …

Fos Expression In Lateral Hypothalamus/Perifornical Area Is Correlated With Psychosocial Stress-Induced Cocaine-Seeking Behavior In A Sex-Specific Manner, Milena Sudarikov, Nicole M. Hinds, Ireneusz D. Wojtas, Desta M. Pulley, Daniel F. Manvich

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Cocaine Use Disorder persists as a significant public health concern in the United States. Recent epidemiological data indicate that rates of cocaine-involved overdose deaths are rising, and treatment of Cocaine Use Disorder is challenging due to a lack of FDA-approved medications to help patients achieve abstinence and avoid relapse. Stress can precipitate cocaine craving and trigger relapse episodes, however the underlying neural circuitry by which stressors drive cocaine seeking is not completely understood. Our laboratory has recently identified the potential involvement of the rostrolateral aspect of the periaqueductal gray (rlPAG) in psychosocial stress-induced cocaine-seeking behavior using a rodent model of …

A Preliminary Report On The Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating The Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity In A Rodent Model Of Acute Inflammation With Impaired Cerebrovasculature, Minjal Patel, Shruti Varshney, Ananya Nethikunta, George G. Godsey, Mary C. Kosciuk, Ana Rodriguez, Bernd Spur, Kingsley Yin, Randel L. Swanson, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert G. Nagele, Nimish Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is responsible for maintaining brain homeostasis and ultimately proper neuronal function. Disruption of the BBB, leading to increased BBB permeability, has been reported in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Lipoxins (LXs) are a class of arachidonate-derived eicosanoids, which are a class of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs). SPMs are known to inhibit immune response through inhibition of cellular infiltration, downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators and upregulation of anti-inflammatory mediators. Hence, LXs are recognized as “breaking signals” in the inflammatory process. One form of LXs, Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) …

Efficacy Of Psilocybin In The Treatment Of Substance And Alcohol Use Disorders, Hanna Brancaccio

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: Substance use disorder (SUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are major public health crises, affecting millions of Americans. Current treatment options include behavioral therapies and medications. In this review, we explored psilocybin’s efficacy in treating SUD and AUD.

Methods: Key terms were used to search databases to identify articles that addressed psilocybin in the treatment of SUD. Included in the review were indexed, peer-reviewed, primary sources that were published within the last 10 years. Excluded studies were non-peer reviewed, not relevant to the thesis, and did not have an English translation.

Results: The psychodynamic antidepressant effects of psilocybin mark …

The Effects Of Circadian Misalignment On Astrocyte Morphology In The Nucleus Tractus Solitarius, Kush C. Patel, Mina Shenouda, Diana Martinez

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Circadian misalignment, as experienced by shift workers, was found to increase the number of astrocytes in the nucleus tractus solitarius (nTS) - a brain region crucial for autonomic control of blood pressure. Sprague Dawley rats subjected to a 6-hour light-dark phase delay every 2 days to simulate shift work exhibited a significant increase in astrocyte cell bodies compared to control rats, both at 9am and 9pm timepoints. The increase in astrocytes may lead to greater glutamate uptake, reducing extracellular glutamate levels in the nTS. Decreased glutamatergic neurotransmission in this region has been linked to the development of hypertension. These findings …

The Neuroprotective Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating Blood Brain Barrier Integrity In Neuroinflammatory Disease Processes, Minjal Patel, Nimish Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB), formed by the vascular endothelium, astrocytic foot processes, pericytes, is a highly selective barrier that is responsible for maintaining brain homeostasis and ultimately proper neuronal function. Disruption of the BBB, leading to increased BBB permeability, has been reported in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).¹ Loss of BBB integrity leads to the proliferation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNFɑ, IL-1β, and IL-6.² Moderate inflammation has a beneficial response in the system following an acute injury. However, prolonged inflammation has been known to perturb homeostasis and have …

The Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injury On Noradrenergic Innervation Of The Prefrontal Cortex, Jil P. Modi, Christopher P. Knapp, Rachel L. Navarra

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a common cause of death and disability in the United States, and it can occur due to varied reasons including motor vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds, and falls. Following TBIs, patients are often left with lifelong disabilities and cognitive problems that can lead to increased risk-taking behaviors. The main goal of my research was to understand the neural mechanisms that drive increased risk-taking behaviors due to TBIs. The specific areas of the brain I was interested in looking at were the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and/or anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of the prefrontal …

Ketamine Crisis: Case Report On The Complications Of Ketamine Usage And Its Rise In The United States, Shika Veera, Vajreshwari Shivaprakash

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The recreational use of ketamine poses various health risks, including addiction, cognitive impairments, and physical harm.

The patient is a 24-year-old female who presented with 30 lbs. unintentional weight loss, generalized weakness, and urinary incontinence over four months. She endorses right upper quadrant and suprapubic pain with occasional gross hematuria. The patient denied recreational drug use. Urine drug screen was negative. Gynecologic exam and STI testing were without concerns. On exam, she had positive right lower quadrant tenderness, suprapubic tenderness, and costovertebral angle tenderness bilaterally. The patient was admitted to the ICU due to weakness and significant hyponatremia at 115. …

Health Benefits Of Saccharomyces Boulardii As A Probiotic, Devashri Parikh, Maftuna Kurbonnazarova, Ravij Upadhyay, Andrea Iannuzzelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Saccharomyces boulardii (SB), a budding yeast, within the Saccharomyces genus. It commonly used as a probiotic that has been isolated from lychee and mangosteen fruit. S. boulardii is not known to acquire resistant genes and does not last in the intestine after 3-5 days of discontinuing the ingestion. The clinical efficacy of this probiotic yeast is known to improve various diarrhea such as pediatric diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, acute diarrhea, and traveler’s diarrhea. Additionally, when used as an adjuvant to treatment for Helicobacter pylori and Clostridium difficile infections, it improves bacterial eradication, prevents relapse, reduces adverse reactions and treatment-associated diarrhea.

Several …

‘If You're Gonna Do It, Use A Condom. Otherwise, Just Don't Do It’: Exploring Contraceptive Messaging Effects In Young Adult Beliefs And Attitudes, Cecily Jones

Communications Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

The overturn of the US Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in June of 2022 led to 41 states with partial or total abortion bans (Guttmacher Institute, 2024). Additionally, in 2023 SCOTUS agreed to hear a case on the access to Mifepristone, a prescription drug commonly referred to as the “abortion pill” (NPR, 2023). Threatened and waning access to various forms of reproductive healthcare led to the question of how these topics, such as contraception, are being framed and whether these messages affect audiences. The added layer of inequitable access to …

The Archives Magazine, 2024, Kayla Coghlan, Lillian Stadtmueller, Kara Armstrong, Katie Shank, Linda Zuniga, Abigail Miller, Lynda Feustel, Jacob Mankos

Kutztown University Archives

No abstract provided.

Leg, Veronica L. Storc

Graduate Artistry Projects and Performances

Legs suggest stability. Leg alone is more precarious. Thus, “Leg: versus “legs” is an homage to the delicate balance of navigating life’s ambiguity. To be human, is to exist within a span of time, witnessing and participating in change. Yet, much of one’s internal experience goes unseen. The pieces within Leg translate nebulous inner contemplations into abstracted figures, serving as portraits of the emotional self. It is informative to reflect on the elements of our experience that exist beyond mundane demands.

Keystone-Conemaugh Projects Llc V. Epa

2024 Decisions

Agency

Art Therapy Treatment For Adult Women With Comorbid Or Co-Occurring Anxiety: A Literature Review, Gabrielle Russo

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Anxiety disorders are prevalent across the globe and are more often diagnosed in women. Anxiety disorders are highly comorbid and can worsen the outcomes of other mental and medical health diagnoses. Research on treatment for anxiety disorders has spanned decades; however, the gold standard treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, leave many individuals without significant results. Art therapy has shown, in small scale studies, the ability to be applied with success to several populations but could benefit from further research. It is the hypothesis of this literature review that art therapy can be an appropriate alternative treatment for comorbid anxiety …

Temporal Dynamics Of The Multi-Omic Response To Endurance Exercise Training, David Amar, Nicole R. Gay, Pierre M. Jean-Beltran, Dam Bae, Surendra Dasari, Courtney Dennis, Charles R. Evans, David A. Gaul, Olga Ilkayeva, Anna A. Ivanova, Maureen T. Kachman, Hasmik Keshishian, Ian R. Lanza, Ana C. Lira, Michael J. Muehlbauer, Venugopalan D. Nair, Paul D. Piehowski, Jessica L. Rooney, Kevin S. Smith, Cynthia L. Stowe, Bingqing Zhao, Natalie M. Clark, David Jimenez-Morales, Malene E. Lindholm, Gina M. Many, James A. Sanford, Gregory R. Smith, Nikolai G. Vetr, Tiantian Zhang, Jose J. Almagro Armenteros, Julian Avila-Pacheco, Nasim Bararpour, Yongchao Ge, Zhenxin Hou

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Regular exercise promotes whole-body health and prevents disease, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood1–3. Here, the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium4 profiled the temporal transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, lipidome, phosphoproteome, acetylproteome, ubiquitylproteome, epigenome and immunome in whole blood, plasma and 18 solid tissues in male and female Rattus norvegicus over eight weeks of endurance exercise training. The resulting data compendium encompasses 9,466 assays across 19 tissues, 25 molecular platforms and 4 training time points. Thousands of shared and tissue-specific molecular alterations were identified, with sex differences found in multiple tissues. Temporal multi-omic and multi-tissue analyses revealed expansive biological …

Heroines From An Ancient World, Danni Liang

Art Theses and Dissertations

A female warrior wearing different historical armor will fight against each other for territory. Ultimately, it will be presented in Unreal Engine 5 through a fusion of animation, special effects, and armor themes.

I will conduct historical research on armor in its early stages, including its structure and essential components. Then, I will choose a particular armor set from that era for production. I will study the fighting movements of different warriors and make them into animations accompanied by historical background stories.

Create three special effects, namely thunder, fire, and ice, and integrate these elements into the animation to present …

Effect Of Dosage On Severity Of Dysphagia In A Toxicological Rat Model Of Parkinson's Disease, Shivam Patel, Taylor Good, Nicholas Zanghi, Francois Gould

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a prevalent and devastating neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressively worsening motor symptoms affecting locomotor and oropharyngeal function. There is limited research in animal models on swallowing dysfunction in PD. To examine how neurodegeneration in PD produces progressive impairment in the oropharyngeal and locomotor processes, rotenone, a type II mitochondrial inhibitor, was injected into Lewis rat models to reproduce a parkinsonian phenotype. We hypothesized that the animal models injected with the rotenone will exhibit both oropharyngeal dysfunction and locomotor deficiency with an increased deficit that correlates with prolonged treatment. We utilized 18 rats receiving either 2.75 mg/kg …

An Integrative Review Of The Absorption Of Fda-Approved Chemical Sunscreen Filters Into The Blood, Srinidhi Banala, Samrat Gollapudi, Abhiram Gollapudi, Bhaumik Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: This integrative review examines the absorption of FDA-approved chemical sunscreen filters, specifically avobenzone and oxybenzone, into the bloodstream. The study aims to compare the levels of absorption and potential health effects of systemic exposure to these sunscreen ingredients in the United States.

Methods: The researchers conducted a literature search of 57 articles, of which 15 were used for the review. Inclusion criteria focused on studies discussing absorption levels of avobenzone and oxybenzone, as well as methods of absorption into the bloodstream. Exclusion criteria included sunscreen ingredients not approved in the United States, non-English studies, and studies on methods to …

Intra-Accumbens Microinfusion Of The Dopamine D3 Receptor Partial Agonist (±)Vk4-40 Does Not Affect Basal Locomotion In Mice, Yeonwoo Sim, Nicole M. Hinds, Amy Hauck Newman, Daniel F. Manvich

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The opioid epidemic remains a pressing public health crisis, prompting the search for alternative pharmacotherapies for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). This study explores the potential of the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) partial agonist, (±)VK4-40, as a novel treatment option. We investigated the impact of intra-nucleus accumbens (NAc) microinfusion of VK4-40 on basal locomotion in mice. Results indicate that VK4-40 did not significantly alter basal locomotion, suggesting that its therapeutic effects may not be mediated through disruptions in generalized motor function. Future research will focus on elucidating the neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying VK4-40's therapeutic actions and exploring its effects on psychostimulant-induced hyperlocomotion. …

Physical Properties And Bioactivity Of Aloe Vera Modified Tricalcium Silicate-Based Cement, Heba Seif, Ashraf Abu-Seida, Ahmed Elbanna, Dalia El-Korashy

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objective: This study compares the physical properties and bioactivity of tricalcium silicate-based cement (Matreva MTA) modified with various concentrations of Aloe vera (AV) solutions and Biodentine cement.

Methods: Sixty discs were prepared, and divided into 5 groups (12 discs each) based on the estimated materials: group I: Biodentine, group II: Matreva MTA, group III: Matreva MTA with 10% AV, group IV: Matreva MTA with 20% AV and group V: Matreva MTAwith 30% AV. The flow and setting time were assessed following ISO standard6876:2012 and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard C266-21, respectively. The in-vitro bioactivity wasevaluated …

Near-Collapse Of The Geomagnetic Field May Have Contributed To Atmospheric Oxygenation And Animal Radiation In The Ediacaran Period, Wentao Huang, John A. Tarduno, Tinghong Zhou, Mauricio Ibañez-Mejia, Laércio Dal Olmo-Barbosa, Edinei Koester, Eric G. Blackman, Aleksey V. Smirnov, Gabriel Ahrendt, Rory D. Cottrell, Kenneth P. Kodama, Richard K. Bono, David G. Sibeck, Yong Xiang Li, Francis Nimmo, Shuhai Xiao, Michael K. Watkeys

Michigan Tech Publications

Earth’s magnetic field was in a highly unusual state when macroscopic animals of the Ediacara Fauna diversified and thrived. Any connection between these events is tantalizing but unclear. Here, we present single crystal paleointensity data from 2054 and 591 Ma pyroxenites and gabbros that define a dramatic intensity decline, from a strong Proterozoic field like that of today, to an Ediacaran value 30 times weaker. The latter is the weakest time-averaged value known to date and together with other robust paleointensity estimates indicate that Ediacaran ultra-low field strengths lasted for at least 26 million years. This interval of ultra-weak magnetic …

Mixed Feelings: The Emotional Appeals Of Zitkala-Ša’S American Indian Stories, Kayla Joan Baur

Publications and Research

Zitkala-Ša (Lakota: Zitkála-Šá, meaning Red Bird) was among the first to write about the experiences of Native American children in the U.S. Indian boarding school program to an English-speaking audience. As a writer and political activist, Zitkala-Ša uses emotional appeals and cultural ideas she learned through her white education to expose the very boarding school institutions that taught her. In American Indian Studies (1921), Zitkala-Ša critiques the violence that the Indian boarding school system inflicts on young Native Americans. She presents these critiques through emotional appeals that take two forms: one, a more traditional sentimental appeal associated with middle-class white …