Digital Commons Network^™

The Decline In Monarch Butterfly, Danaus Plexippus, Populations: An Example Of The Global Threat To Biodiversity, Olivia Sidoti

Honors Projects

Biodiversity encompasses the variety of all life on Earth and how these aspects of nature interact with each other. To have stable and abundant biodiversity, vast amounts of species and organisms are required within an ecosystem. As a result of the increase in negative impacts of human activities and behaviors on the health of nature, biodiversity has been decreasing. An example of the decrease in biodiversity is depicted by the recent decline of the monarch butterfly species. The monarch butterfly is an iconic North American insect that is experiencing a decline in its population due to threats such as deforestation, …

Educating Deal Lawyers For The Digital Age, Heather Hughes

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

Courses and programs that address law and emerging technologies are proliferating in U.S. law schools. Technology-related issues pervade the curriculum. This Essay presents two instances in which new technologies present challenges for deal lawyers. It explores how exposing students to closing opinions practice can prepare them to engage these challenges. Both examples involve common commercial contexts and lessons relevant to students of business associations and of the Uniform Commercial Code. The first, which deals with enforceability opinion letters, presents technical legal difficulties arising from recent developments in law and technology. The second, involving complex doctrines at the heart of financial …

Gut Check: Exploring The Role Of Acinetobacter In Intestinal Inflammation, Janiece Sharmell Glover

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder characterized by excessive intestinal inflammation. Alterations in the gut microbiota have been consistently observed in individuals with IBD, but it is unclear which bacteria participate in driving inflammation. A comprehensive survey of publicly available RNA-sequencing datasets revealed that Acinetobacter species are elevated in the gastrointestinal tract of IBD patients. We found that A. calcoaceticus was particularly elevated in Crohn’s Disease patients; a subset of IBD. It is well documented that Acinetobacter species are resistant to several antibiotics, but there is very little information on the effects of Acinetobacter in the gut and …

Calpain Activation Regulates Rho-Rock Pathway In Parkinson’S Disease, Amy Jacqueline Gathings

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting in difficulty with motor coordination, balance, and speaking. Although the cause of PD remains unknown, oxidative damage, environmental toxins, genetic factors and accelerated aging have been implicated as potential causes for the disease. In addition, there is an aggregation of alpha-synuclein ( -syn), known as Lewy bodies, that activate an immune response involving microgliosis, inflammatory cytokines, and T-cell infiltration. These inflammatory immune responses may result in the activation of the Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (Rho- ROCK) pathway, causing subsequent dopaminergic neuronal death in the substantia nigra (SN). Post-translational modification, truncation …

Evolution Of The Human Eye: As Compared To Other Vertebrates, Madison Queener

Honors Projects

There are three different types of eyes, the simple eye, the compound eye, and the camera eye (Cambridge Dictionary) (Myer-Rochow, 2014) (UCL, 2020). The retina of the eye has evolved and adapted to fit the lifestyles of the respective organisms. Because of this part of the eye, organisms are able to see different colors and use light to define the world using photoreceptors. Photoreceptors are rod cells, which are light sensitive and process light, and cone cells, which perceive the different color wavelengths, that pass visual information to the brain (Kazilek, 2010). About 5% of the photoreceptors in the retinas …

"The Grimmest Reversal We Have Ever Faced": Aids And The Hard-Boiled Detective Genre In Joseph Hansen's Early Graves, Seamus Coon

Honors Projects

Published from 1970–1991, Joseph Hansen’s “Dave Brandstetter” series consists of twelve novels written in the hard-boiled detective style, featuring a relatively-out gay insurance detective as the titular protagonist. Many novels discuss then-contemporary social issues, including the ninth novel, Early Graves (1987), which attempts to address the AIDS crisis. The “Brandstetter” series has not been the subject of much scholarship, let alone individual novels in the series. This project attends to how the “Brandstetter” series typically embodies the hard-boiled genre more than it subverts it, as well as how Early Graves is forced to become subversive as the limitations of the …

Exploration Of Enterococcus Faecalis Bacteriophages Diversity: Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis And Discovery Isolation Of Enterococcus Faecalis Phage From A Soil Sample In South Florida, Hailey N. Jauernick

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Enterococcus faecalis is a commensal bacterium found in the gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity, and vagina of humans, which can transition to pathogenic states, leading to diverse infections. Many E. faecalis infections are becoming progressively challenging to treat, stemming from the lack of effective antibiotic therapies against its virulence factors, including biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Phage therapy emerges as a promising alternative, targeting bacteria with minimal impact on host flora. However, despite phages' ubiquitous presence and potential applications in medicine and biotechnology, their diversity and ecological niches are vastly understudied. Here, we investigated the diversity of sequenced E. faecalis phages …

"A Love That Transcends Hunger": Choice And Edenic Imagery In Contemporary Queer Poetry, Aubrey Dickens

Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary poets such as Richard Siken are known for their sexual and explicitly queer nature. Others have debated the spiritual dimension of queer poetry such as Siken's, with individuals such as Marta Figlerowicz arguing that though one of Siken's poems calls itself a litany, it does not match all the rules of a litany due to not being clearly devotional. Using an outside-in analytical approach to Richard Siken's "Snow and Dirty Rain," Kayleb Rae Candrilli's "There is a Point at Which I Tire of My Own Fear," and Jericho Brown's "Eden", I argue that spirituality can be found in explicit …

No Flash Photography Please: An Analysis Of Corporate Use Of Street Art Under Section 120(A) Of The Awcpa, Sierra Epke

University of Miami Law Review

Street art and graffiti are pervasive artforms found throughout the world and throughout history. While the artforms have been associated with crime and vandalism in the past, they have increasingly been featured in different capacities from art galleries to corporate marketing campaigns. With street art’s growing recognition and popularity, corporations have begun to use the medium to target new customer bases. In some situations, the use of artwork in marketing campaigns is unsanctioned by the artist. Therefore, courts have now begun to examine the balance between copyright protection for street artists and the corporate use of street art. Section 120(a) …

Sustainability And Drivers Of Populus Tremuloides Regeneration And Recruitment Near The Southwestern Edge Of Its Range, Connor D. Crouch, Nicholas P. Wilhelmi, Paul C. Rogers, Margaret M. Moore, Kristen M. Waring

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) ecosystems are highly valued in the southwestern United States because of the ecological, economic, and aesthetic benefits they provide. Aspen has experienced extensive mortality in recent decades, and there is evidence that many areas in Arizona, United States lack adequate recruitment to replace dying overstory trees. Maintaining sustainable levels of regeneration and recruitment (i.e. juveniles) is critical for promoting aspen ecosystem resilience and adaptive capacity, but questions remain about which factors currently limit juvenile aspen and which strategies are appropriate for managing aspen in an increasingly uncertain future. To fill these critical knowledge gaps, …

E Afua Mai Mauga Manuia O Nu'u: Conservation From Mountains To Reefs In Tropical Pacific Islands, Tavailau T. Segi

Theses and Dissertations

Soil erosion is the main exacerbating threat to climate change impacts in tropical Pacific islands, particularly to steep and mountainous volcanic islands. The morphological features (steep and mountainous), short distance from ridge to reef, frequent storm events, extended raining season, and accelerating developments from growing populations pose serious threats to terrestrial and marine resources. Perhaps the most threatening part is the high dependency of their human populations on the land and ocean for food supplies, supporting national economies, and sustaining culture and human well-being. Locals, governments, and non-governmental organization projects are underway to improve protection and management of natural resources …

Uni Symphonic Band, April 22, 2024 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recitals given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Endocarditis: A Review Of Recent Literature, Scott Dale, Zaid Tayyem, Steven Maceyko

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

Purpose of Review

Endocarditis remains a challenging diagnosis, with significant implications for early identification and initiation of therapy. In this review, we examine the evolution in the epidemiology and presentation of infectious endocarditis (IE), the role of new diagnostic tools, and the approach to therapy.

Recent Findings

Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species remain the most common causative organisms, but the prevalence of IE caused by enterococcus and non-HACEK organisms is increasing. While newer antibiotics such as dalbavancin have shown promise, treatment must still be tailored on an individual basis. Evidence suggests that antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent IE be limited to high-risk …

Exploring Pedagogical Approaches: A Comparative Analysis Of Information Delivery Methods In Fish Dissection Instruction, Kiara Smidt

Honors Projects

The Covid-19 pandemic prompted a global shift to remote work and education, challenging traditional teaching methods. This research explores the effectiveness of audiovisual versus visual-only guides in teaching perch dissection anatomy, safety, and procedure. The study involves a cross-sectional experiment with students from an Introduction to Biology course at Bowling Green State University. Participants were divided into groups using either a video or a written guide, and their knowledge was assessed before and after the dissection. Results calculated through a Student’s t-test indicate no significant difference in overall effectiveness between the two methods, apart from labeling an anatomy diagram and …

Cultivating Excellence: A Literature Review On Harnessing The Power Of The Gut Microbiome For Athletic Performance, Maya Katharine Dean

Honors Projects

The interplay between our gut microbiome and health is immense. This literature review analyzes the current research assessing the interplay between gut microbiome and athletic performance. Knowing how to improve gut microbial diversity via nutrition and supplementation can take athletic performance to the next level; namely improvements in immune, mental, and physical health.

Evaluating Appropriate Participant Training Period For Anuran Auditory Surveys, Evianna Goebel

Honors Projects

Auditory surveys are common in anuran research as they can tell a lot about a species without being intensely laborious or costly. There has not been much research on training periods for those taking part in the surveys. Proper training is necessary and improper training can hinder a project and lead to skewed results. In this study, we took students from several biology 2040 classes and had them study the calls of 11 frog species in NW Ohio. From the data, we can conclude that 2 weeks of roughly 100 minutes of study time is not enough for successful results …

Inferring Function From Form: Subcortical Projection Cell Types In Rat Orbitofrontal Cortex, Suelynn Ren

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Frontal cortex supports sophisticated behaviors by controlling phylogenetically older subcortical brain regions. Within the deep layers of cortex, subcortically projecting pyramidal neurons integrate local and long-range inputs along the entire depth of the cortical column. How subcortically projecting neurons might be fractionated into cell types and how their unique features constrain top-down communication is unknown. In this dissertation, I first established the output circuit architecture of subcortically projecting neurons in rat orbitofrontal cortex at a cellular resolution. I found that subcortically projecting neurons preferentially innervated a single target, demonstrating a one-neuron-one-target projection logic. Such target-defined projection neurons were molecularly distinct …

The Montana Supreme Court – The Statistics, Jak Hamilton, Andrew Mcintyre

Montana Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Free Press Vol. 55, Issue 11, 04-22-2024, Dakota Eddy

Free Press, The

Letters from the Co=Editor's=in=Chief--Addressing Rape Culture on Campus--CultureFest--Games and Activities--Senior Recital--Huskies Sporting Events for the Rest of April

Modern Approaches To Treating Hospital Acquired Infections: An Overview Of Current Treatments Using Antibiotics And New Therapies Centered Around Photo-Activated Porphyrins, Meghan Johns

Senior Honors Theses

Annually, hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) affect hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. and impose a great economic burden. The current problem is further exacerbated due to the failure of traditional treatment strategies considering the rise in antimicrobial resistance rates. Besides the fact that antimicrobial resistances complicates clinical treatment strategies, patients are also more vulnerable to secondary infections and complications from prolonged antibiotic use. As a result, research investigating novel treatment strategies for bacterial infections has recently increased. A strategy using porphyrin-based compounds is showing promise. Porphyrins and their derivatives have exhibited bactericidal effects against Gram-positive bacteria by the destruction …

Phosphorus Soprtion Experiments: Impacts On Water Column Phosphate Concentrations In Utah Lake, Rebecca Layne Butters

Theses and Dissertations

Utah Lake, located in north-central Utah, USA, is a freshwater lake with a large surface area, shallow depth, and phosphorus-rich sediment with significant water-sediment interaction. These factors cause unique phosphorus behavior relative to other lake ecosystems, governed by sediment-water interactions. We hypothesize that benthic sediments and suspended solids act, by sorption processes, to maintain water column P concentrations that are largely insensitive to P inflows. We conducted a Phosphorus Addition Experiment to characterize sorbed P fluxes in the lake. Our experimental procedure included bench-scale laboratory experiments testing Utah Lake water and sediment with dilute and augmented P levels, as well …

The Materiality Of The Soul In Plutarch's Moralia, Caleb Cole Deppermann

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines Plutarch's vague comments about the materiality of the soul in Moralia. My contention is that, despite suggestions to the contrary, Plutarch aligned with Plato in thinking about the soul as immaterial. I argue that a deeper understanding of Plutarch's relationship to Plato as well as the Stoics and Epicureans of his time shed light on his otherwise ambiguous passages. The end result will be (1) a more secure understanding of Plutarch's position on the materiality of the soul and (2) an improved ability to appreciate Plutarch's playful and vivid language as he describes immaterial souls with material …

Quantifying Landscape Change Using Different Spectrometers, Spectral Unmixing, And Uas Imagery, Bianca Cilento

Theses

Climate-driven land cover change and biodiversity loss are problems impacting food security, economic growth, human health, and cultural identity of arctic environments, such as Stordalen Mire, Abisko, Sweden (68.35’ N, 18.82’ E). The sensitive nature of these remote areas necessitates large-scale, less-invasive monitoring of environmental change via remote sensing combined with low-impact, cost-effective field validation of remote sensing products. This project assesses the accuracy and utility of two low-cost spectrometers, the Sherwin-Williams® ColorSnap® and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science and Technology Education for Land/Life Assessment (STELLA-Q), in conjunction with ArcGIS and GoogleEarth Engine programs and aerial imagery …

Emerging Technologies For Automation In Environmental Sensing: Review, Shekhar Suman Borah, Aaditya Khanal, Prabha Sundaravadivel

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article explores the impact of automation on environmental sensing, focusing on advanced technologies that revolutionize data collection analysis and monitoring. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) defines automation as integrating hardware and software components into modern analytical systems. Advancements in electronics, computer science, and robotics drive the evolution of automated sensing systems, overcoming traditional limitations in manual data collection. Environmental sensor networks (ESNs) address challenges in weather constraints and cost considerations, providing high-quality time-series data, although issues in interoperability, calibration, communication, and longevity persist. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), particularly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), play an important …

Influence Of Forest Management On Bumblebee-Plant Networks And Community Compositions In Eastern Kentucky Forest Openings, Kassandra Carter

Online Theses and Dissertations

Both the productivity of agricultural systems and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems are reliant on animal pollinators to facilitate plant reproduction. Yet the integrity of these pollination services is threatened by the declines of pollinators. Mounting evidence indicates landscape homogenization in agricultural, urban, and most notably in natural systems have corresponded with substantial changes in bumblebee distribution, abundance, composition, and forage resource availability. Naturally occurring forest openings, barrens, and grasslands have historically provided important habitat for native bees across the otherwise forested landscape in the eastern United States. Fire suppression and the loss of these important habitats are well-documented, but it …

Sex, Consent, And Autonomy In Twilight And Vampire Academy, Sophia Carter

Online Theses and Dissertations

The thesis discusses how two popular young adult series, Twilight and Vampire Academy, use vampires to aid in conversations revolving around prevalent teenage issues such as sex, consent, and autonomy. Both series have romantic relationships at the forefront of their plot. By having the main characters of the books be in new relationships, the series can show the different trials and tribulations that go with being in a romance for the first time. Sex is a topic that gets brought up with both fictional couples and the two authors deal with it in separate ways. Bringing up sex in young …

Ndls Communicator: Week Of 04.22.24, Notre Dame Law School

NDLS Communicator

The Latest News

• Notre Dame Law School celebrates 35 years of Father Mike Show and raises funds for Women’s Legal Forum
• Notre Dame Law School Global Human Rights Clinic to participate in climate change hearings at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Barbados
• Program on Church, State & Society hosts John Inazu, author of “Learning to Disagree” for Book Talk
• Notre Dame Religious Liberty Clinic represents volunteer minister barred from county jail because of his religious views
• Notre Dame Law School Hosts Symposium on Assessing Regulatory Instruments of Behavior Change in Energy Conservation
• Diane Desierto received the Durwood Zaelke …

Overall And Sex-Specific Associations Of Serum Lipid-Soluble Micronutrients With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Among Adults In The United States, Weiwen Chai, Meng-Hua Tao

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

This study examined overall and sex-specific associations of serum lipid-soluble micronutrients including α- and γ-tocopherols, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D), retinol, and six major carotenoids with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic lever disease (MASLD) using the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This analysis included 3956 adults (1991 men, 1965 women) aged ≥ 20 years. Steatotic liver disease was determined through transient elastography examination. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for MASLD associated with micronutrients were estimated using logistic regressions. Higher serum α-tocopherol (highest vs. lowest quartile: OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.05–2.22, p = 0.03) and γ-tocopherol (highest …

An Estrogen Receptor Α-Derived Peptide Improves Glucose Homeostasis During Obesity, Wanbao Yang, Wen Jiang, Wang Liao, Hui Yan, Weiqi Ai, Quan Pan, Wesley A Brashear, Yong Xu, Ling He, Shaodong Guo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) plays a crucial role in regulating glucose and energy homeostasis during type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here we find a ligand-independent effect of ERα on the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Deficiency of ERα in the liver impairs glucose homeostasis in male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) female mice. Mechanistic studies reveal that ERα promotes hepatic insulin sensitivity by suppressing ubiquitination-induced IRS1 degradation. The ERα 1-280 domain mediates the ligand-independent effect of ERα on insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, we identify a peptide based on ERα 1-280 domain and find that ERα-derived peptide …

Edna Metabarcoding And The Construction Of Primers For The Identification Of Gulf Of Mexico Elasmobranchs And Selachii, Isabella Lima

Honors Projects

eDNA, or environmental DNA, is found free-existing in any environment. It can be extracted from its environment and used to identify organisms that were recently in the area. In recent years, eDNA metabarcoding has been used to help examine communities for overall species presence and biodiversity. This capstone sought to create a mock proposal for an eDNA survey of Gulf of Mexico elasmobranch and Selachii species due to their overall decline in numbers. Additionally, general and discriminatory PCR primers were created in-silico and assessed for initial quality. This capstone documents the feasibility of an eDNA study, constructing the necessary primers, …