Digital Commons Network^™

Sign-A-Mander: A Mobile App That Enhances Asl Learning With Computer Vision, Sandrine Adap

Honors Theses

Several machine learning researchers have developed algorithms recognizing American Sign Language (ASL), but few have applied the algorithms to real-world situations, such as with portable ASL learning applications. This project develops a beta version of a mobile application designed to allow beginner ASL learners to practice basic ASL vocabulary and receive feedback about their signing accuracy. Building on Dongxu Li et al.’s I3D sign language recognition algorithm and 2000-word dataset, the app seeks to determine whether the I3D algorithm can sufficiently recognize a user’s motions when recorded from a mobile device and accurately classify whether or not the user signed …

The Effects Of Age And Type Of Rearing On Contrafreeloading Behavior In Female Goats, Carly Weems

Honors Theses

Contrafreeloading (CFL) is the willingness of an animal to work for food. This study continues the 2022 pilot study, in which thirteen female goats from the Andrews University Sustainable Agriculture Department were tested to see if there was any correlation between age and contrafreeload in goats, and additionally investigates whether or not there is any correlation between type of rearing and contrafreeloading behavior in female goats. The pilot study found no direct correlation between age and contrafreeloading, therefore early life feeding techniques were also considered for this study.

Eighteen female goats representing three different age groups and three types of …

Ai Assistance In The Drug Development Process: Reaching For A Regulatory Framework, Haley Giaramita

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Tetravalent Nanovaccine That Inhibits Growth Of Hpv-Associated Head And Neck Carcinoma Via Dendritic And T Cell Activation, Romano Josi, Daniel E Speiser, Simone De Brot, Anne-Cathrine Vogt, Eva M Sevick-Muraca, Genrich V Tolstonog, Martin F Bachmann, Mona O Mohsen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The global incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated head and neck carcinoma is on the rise, in response to this a tetravalent therapeutic vaccine named Qβ-HPVag was developed. This vaccine, utilizing virus-like particles (VLPs) loaded with toll-like receptor ligands and chemically coupled to four HPV16-derived peptides, demonstrated strong anti-tumor effects in a murine head and neck cancer model. Qβ-HPVag impeded tumor progression, increased infiltration of HPV-specific T cells, and significantly improved survival. The vaccine`s efficacy was associated with immune repolarization in the tumor microenvironment, characterized by expanded activated dendritic cell subsets (cDC1, cDC2, DC3). Notably, mice responding to treatment exhibited …

Therapeutic Strategies For Rb1-Deficient Cancers: Intersecting Gene Regulation And Targeted Therapy, Mo-Fan Huang, Yuan-Xin Wang, Yu-Ting Chou, Dung-Fang Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The retinoblastoma (RB) transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1) is a critical tumor suppressor gene, governing diverse cellular processes implicated in cancer biology. Dysregulation or deletion in RB1 contributes to the development and progression of various cancers, making it a prime target for therapeutic intervention. RB1's canonical function in cell cycle control and DNA repair mechanisms underscores its significance in restraining aberrant cell growth and maintaining genomic stability. Understanding the complex interplay between RB1 and cellular pathways is beneficial to fully elucidate its tumor-suppressive role across different cancer types and for therapeutic development. As a result, investigating vulnerabilities arising from RB1 deletion-associated …

The Representation Of Young Black Male Characters In 80s And 90s Sitcoms, Tavin M. Cochran

Honors College Theses

Sitcoms are a great formulaic art form. Characters being in ridiculous situations in front of a live studio audience to emphasize the complexities of life is an exciting way of storytelling. When I was younger, I noticed that I would relate to the main characters as if their flaws were my own. I enjoyed doing it. When I began relating to side characters as well, I understood the different roles in sitcoms. You will have a main character and a side character to compliment them. Seeing another young black male on television made me feel represented. Many shows have given …

Bioresorbable, Wireless, Passive Sensors For Continuous Ph Measurements And Early Detection Of Gastric Leakage, Shuo Li, Yameng Xu, Ying Yan, Jorge Zárate Rodriguez, Mitchell A Pet, Chet W Hammill, Matthew R Macewan, Wilson Z Ray, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Continuous monitoring of biomarkers at locations adjacent to targeted internal organs can provide actionable information about postoperative status beyond conventional diagnostic methods. As an example, changes in pH in the intra-abdominal space after gastric surgeries can serve as direct indicators of potentially life-threatening leakage events, in contrast to symptomatic reactions that may delay treatment. Here, we report a bioresorbable, wireless, passive sensor that addresses this clinical need, designed to locally monitor pH for early detection of gastric leakage. A pH-responsive hydrogel serves as a transducer that couples to a mechanically optimized inductor-capacitor circuit for wireless readout. This platform enables real-time …

Sars-Cov-2 Omicron Ba.1 Variant Infection Of Human Colon Epithelial Cells, Avan Antia, David M Alvarado, Qiru Zeng, Luis A Casorla-Perez, Deanna L Davis, Naomi M Sonnek, Matthew A Ciorba, Siyuan Ding

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, characterized by multiple subvariants including BA.1, XBB.1.5, EG.5, and JN.1, became the predominant strain in early 2022. Studies indicate that Omicron replicates less efficiently in lung tissue compared to the ancestral strain. However, the infectivity of Omicron in the gastrointestinal tract is not fully defined, despite the fact that 70% of COVID-19 patients experience digestive disease symptoms. Here, using primary human colonoids, we found that, regardless of individual variability, Omicron infects colon cells similarly or less effectively than the ancestral strain or the Delta variant. The variant induced limited type III interferon expression and showed …

Analyzing Drosophila Melanogaster Circadian Rhythms Using Dam3 And Shiny-R Analysis, Maria Eduarda Couto Dourado, Kimberly D. Rowland

Student Publications and Presentations

Circadian rhythms are changes in behavior over a 24-hour period, that most animals experience. Light and darkness have the biggest influence on the behavior change. (U.S. DHHS). Flies reared in dark environments even more than 300 generations still have circadian rhythms (reference). This study analyzes data from the DAM, which allows us to study circadian rhythms in flies after various treatments and conditionings. Flies exposed to a dark environment for a week after two treatments were analyzed for any changes to their normal patterns. Comprehending the circadian rhythms of Drosophila is essential for grasping the molecular and genetic foundations of …

Does Heat Influence Planaria Flatworm Location?, Logan-Marie Torry, Cassandra S. Korte

Student Publications and Presentations

Planaria flatworms swim away from both light and heat. They show the strongest photophobic responses to ultraviolet (UV) light and clear thermotaxic responses to temperatures above 30°C. This experiment seeks to test whether planaria can be conditioned to swim towards light when exposed to heat as a negative stimulus. Previous research suggests that planaria can learn through conditioning when exposed to different types of sweeteners in both dark and light environments. We predict that if planaria think that dark environments will be warmer, then they would choose to swim towards the light when given the choice between the two environments. …

Gen Z Demographics Who Avoid Brands That Abuse Animals, In The U.S. In 2022, Blanka Dobias

Student Publications and Presentations

As of late, there has been controversy surrounding the moral and ethical values of animal testing. This can be seen in how the younger generation (Generation Z), is more conscientious about the goods they buy from brands that are known to test their products on animals (Achabou et al., 2020). The goal of this study is to determine if there is a significant difference between different Generation Z demographics (men vs. women, high education vs. low education, urban vs, rural) and how likely they are to purchase items from brands that abuse animals. Based on my data source (the Gen …

Calcium Ions Effect On Planaria Feeding Behavior, Jonathan Newman, Natalie Gonzalez, Erika L. Doctor, Cassandra S. Korte

Student Publications and Presentations

Calcium is a well-known nutrient required for animal body function, playing a role in muscle contraction, movement, and neurological messaging. Laboratories use planaria, invertebrate flatworms, as a common model to study motility. These invertebrates have the ability to absorb nutrients such as calcium through their skin which aid in their metabolic processes. We hypothesize that how we house model organisms can affect the quality and outcome of our experiments. In other laboratories planaria are grown in different types of water. Which led us to ask how do different waters effect planaria motility and feeding behaviors for specific species? To test …

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Migrant

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.