Digital Commons Network^™

Yayoi Kusama’S Depictions Of Mental Health, Anna Isabel Davis

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper examines Yayoi Kusama’s usage of art as a coping mechanism for her mental illness, particularly through her pumpkins and “nets” motifs. It involves a close analysis of three artworks to emphasize this motif: her first depiction of pumpkins; “nets”; and, finally, her combination of both pumpkins and “nets” into one artwork. Her theme of repetitions as meditative force is evident in each of these works. As such, this paper posits that the goal of her art is not to heal from her mental illness but to better cope and adapt. This research draws on various primary sources, including …

Effects Of Dissolved Oxygen On Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates Pipiens) Gastrocnemius Muscle Recruitment And Fatigue, Eva L. Gates, Joseph P. Levri

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

Dissolved oxygen levels in aquatic systems have decreased because of temperature increases caused by climate change, which in turn has affected ecosystems and wildlife. Many physiological processes in aquatic organisms require a certain dissolved-oxygen range, and decreasing levels can compromise proper functioning. Previous studies have linked muscle performance to dissolved oxygen levels in a variety of aquatic species, but less research has been dedicated to amphibians. Because many amphibians engage in cutaneous respiration, especially when dwelling in aquatic habitats, dissolved oxygen levels may have a significant impact on muscle performance in this taxon. This experiment investigated the effects of dissolved …

Stream Gauging: Investigating The Flow Rate And Residence Time In Laguna Bacalar, Mexico, Elizabeth J. Kowalczyk

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stream gauging is a standard tool used to measure the flow rate of various bodies of water. Knowing the flow rate of a body of water allows for the residence time of a body of water to be calculated. Currently, there is very little information regarding the flow rate and residence times of Laguna Bacalar. This system has been observed hydrologically consistently only in the past 6 years. In this study, 13 stream-gauging locations of interest were identified and gauged for their respective flow rates using the midsection method. Once the flow rates were acquired, maps depicting the Laguna Bacalar …

Psychosocial Student Adaptations To Covid-19 In Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Approach To Covid-19 Through The Theoretical Framework Of Anomie, Grace Johnson

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

The COVID-19 pandemic affected individuals and social institutions because of an abrupt and expansive change to norms and values, which are key characteristics of an anomic state. The purpose of this exploratory and descriptive study was to understand how students enrolled at a residential university perceived educational and societal pressures associated with COVID-19. This research applied a mixed-methods approach and relied upon three phrases of research: (1) pilot questionnaire (n = 54), (2) qualitative interviews (n = 14), and (3) quantitative questionnaire (n = 253). Findings suggested similarities in how university students responded to COVID-19 and how communities had responded …

Introduction To The Premarket Review Of Human Food Ingredients In The United States And Concepts In The Safety Assessment Of Novel Plant-Derived Ingredients, Troy Hubbard

Oxford ICSB

Premarket regulation of ingredients added to food is a key pillar ensuring the safety of food as it allows the opportunity to address potential safety concerns prior to consumer exposure. In the United States, food and color additives are substances that are intentionally added to food and are subject to pre-market approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and require a listing in the Code of Federal Regulations, unless the intended use of the substance is generally recognized as safe (GRAS), among qualified experts. GRAS is not an inherent property of a substance, as is often misunderstood; rather, it …

Enterolactone As A Potential Therapeutic Agent For Treatment Of Type-Two Diabetes, Abigail Frommack

Liberty University Research Week

Type-two diabetes (T2D) results from insulin resistance causing persistent high blood glucose levels, despite a normal production of insulin. While studying the impact of various coffee polyphenol derivatives, we discovered that enterolactone (ENL) induces glucose uptake in differentiated adipocytes. Insulin-dependent glucose uptake occurs in various cell types, but primarily in adipose and muscle cells. This study focuses on adipose cells, specifically characterizing the mechanism of ENL induced glucose uptake. The goal of our study is to characterize the molecular mechanism of ENL to promote glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes. 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes were treated with Enterolactone in a concentration-dependent …

Hungry For Change: Food Politics And The 18th Century History Of Jamaican Maroons, Jack Kirby

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This paper focuses on the food history of Maroons in Jamaica. More specifically, it analyzes the ways in which food was political in Jamaican Maroon society. In the existing historiography, the preeminent scholars of Jamaican Maroons argue that Maroons had little political agency in their negotiations with the British. I argue that the lens of food shows a political agency that those scholars have largely left out. To arrive at this conclusion, I mainly relied on 18th and 19th century historians as primary sources. I also utilized Maroon treaties, law codes, and court records as primary sources.

A General Mortality Analysis In 19th And Early 20th Century Rochester, New York: “Exploring Sex-Based Differences In Childhood And Adolescence Mortality Rates Across Age Groups”, Chizoba Okorie

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This paper represents the initial phase of a research study that explores health and disease in 19th- and early 20th-century Rochester. The research focuses on the prevalence of historic diseases through the transcription and analysis of cemetery records for Mount Hope Cemetery. The purpose of this study is to compare mortality rates in childhood and adolescence across different age groups of males and females. The study investigates the average ages at death, as well as potential factors that may have contributed to mortality rates in these age groups. The study also seeks to identify the variety of factors (social, economic, …

Reproductive Characteristics Of The Stripetail Darter (Etheostoma Kennicotti) Relative To Monogenean Gill Parasite Infection In Estill Fork In North Alabama, Joy L. Garcia, Zeina Celine Sleiman, Corinne N. Preacher, Bruce Stallsmith

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

What relationship exists between Aethycteron sp. gill parasite infection and the reproductive characteristics of stripetail darters, Etheostoma kennicotti? 450 E. kennicotti were collected over 11 months from Estill Fork in Jackson County, Alabama. Gonads were removed and photographed. All oocytes were counted and then classified into one of four developmental stages based on size and appearance. Gill parasites belonging to the monogenean genus Aethycteron were excised, photographed, and counted. Sexual dimorphism in length and mass was observed in E. kennicotti. The number of males found at the 25> mm SL range far outnumbered the females while almost all …

Webrtc Animation Transport Proposal, Paul Kerr

Defensive Publications Series

Video chat in a virtual environment can include avatars that are animated to track the facial expressions of a speaker. While most chat interfaces have the capability of transporting video streams captured at a client device, most do not support transporting animation data related to animating a user’s avatar in the virtual chat. In these scenarios, conventional chat technologies may transport the entire video to enable a client device to extract data for animation, e.g., facial coordinates. This is wasteful of network bandwidth and client device battery life, and unsuitable for client devices with low computational capacity. Techniques are described …

The Indiana Statesman, April 16, 2024, Indiana State University

Student Newspaper

ISU professor passes away at 54; Armed robbery at TH bank; New ISU President: Dr. Godard; Trump jury faces selection issues due to potential bias

Age Estimation And Validation In Otoliths, Spines, And Fin Rays From Four Central Texas Fishes, Meredith B. Pfennig, Derek P. Crane, Nate G. Smith, Dave L. Buckmeier

Biology

Age estimation methods have not been validated for many species. Thus, we focused this age estimation study on four species from central Texas: the Guadalupe Bass Micropterus treculii, Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus, Gray Redhorse Moxostoma congestum, and Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis auritus. Our objectives for each species were to (1) investigate whether increments form annually in otoliths, fin rays, or spines; (2) determine the seasonal timing of zone deposition in each calcified structure; and (3) compare age estimates between otoliths and fin rays or spines.

Fish were sampled from central Texas waters and injected with oxytetracycline (OTC) quarterly in 2021. In …

Investigation Of The Prevalence Of Ifitm3 Polymorphisms (Rs12252 And Rs34481144) In Turkish Population: A Pilot Study And Survey Conducted During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Dilek Pirim, Fatih Atilla Bağcı, Hasan Faruk Niş, Emin Halis Akalın

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

Interferon-induced Transmembrane Protein 3 (IFITM3) plays a substantial role in the immune system by repressing viral entry into host cells and restricting virus replication. Recent research suggests that IFITM3/rs34481144 and IFITM3/rs12252 contribute to susceptibility to viral infections across populations dependent on their population frequencies, which needs further clarification. Here, we conducted a population-based study to determine the prevalence of two regulator SNPs in the Turkish population and evaluated genotype and allele frequencies in individuals stratified into groups based on a pilot survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tetra-Primer Arms PCR (TPA-PCR) assays and Sanger sequencing methods were used for …

Researchers Crowdsource Public Videos To Identify Distinct Moose Sounds In Natural Environments, Robbin Ray

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

Earth Day 2024: Experts Comment On Climate Change, Plastics And Environmental Challenges, Robbin Ray

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

Common Questions And Misconceptions About Protein Supplementation: What Does The Scientific Evidence Really Show?, Jose Antonio, Cassandra Evans, Arny A. Ferrando, Jeffrey R. Stout, Brandi Antonio, Harry P. Cintineo, Patrick Harty, Shwn M. Arent, Darren G. Candow, Scott C. Forbes, Chad M. Kerksick, Flavia Pereira, Drew Gonzalez, Richard B. Kreider

Faculty Scholarship

Protein supplementation often refers to increasing the intake of this particular macronutrient through dietary supplements in the form of powders, ready-to-drink shakes, and bars. The primary purpose of protein supplementation is to augment dietary protein intake, aiding individuals in meeting their protein requirements, especially when it may be challenging to do so through regular food (i.e. chicken, beef, fish, pork, etc.) sources alone. A large body of evidence shows that protein has an important role in exercising and sedentary individuals. A PubMed search of “protein and exercise performance” reveals thousands of publications. Despite the considerable volume of evidence, it is …

Unveiling The Voices: Lived Experiences Of Adolescent Girls With Emotional Disturbance In Special Education, Jasmin Hagen

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

This dissertation addresses a significant gap in existing research by exploring lived experiences of cisgender female adolescents (Grades 7–12) diagnosed with emotional disturbance (ED) in the U.S. Current statistics indicate that 28% of students in special education with an ED diagnosis are girls; yet, their perspectives remain largely absent from scholarly discourse. Rooted in critical constructivism, critical feminist theory, and dis/ability studies and critical race theory (DisCrit), this qualitative study aims to elucidate insights that can enhance academic success and elevate high school graduation rates for this demographic. This research investigates the experiences of seven participants from New England, representing …

Student Senate Meeting Minutes April 16, 2024, Student Senate-Winona State University

Student Senate Meeting Minutes

This document is the official Winona State University Student Senate Minutes for April 16, 2024.

Development Of Deep Neural Architecture For Continuous Sign Language Video Generation, Natarajan B

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a deep neural network based sign language video generation framework for translating the multilingual sentences into sign videos. This thesis addresses the challenges persist with the sign language video generation such as (i) Handling longer sequences of input sentences and new words (ii) Pose estimation with higher accuracy (iii) High quality photo realistic sign gesture video generation (iv) Improving realism in sign video generation. Hence, the thesis focuses four contributions to address the above issues.

The first contribution of this thesis automates the translation of multilingual sentences into sign glosses without manual intervention by incorporating Hybrid Neural …

Ammonium Chemotaxis In Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Gabela Nelson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Analysis of ammonium chemotaxis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is largely hindered, compared to that of phototaxis, despite equal importance on flagellated microalgal physiology. A major contribution of this shortfall is the lack of proper assay method. We developed a simple Petri dish assay method in which light is homogenously exposed while patterns of the cellular migration are tracked with a function of time. Using the method, new findings were revealed. First, this research presented that a strain lacking the eyespot organelle required for light gradient-sensing exhibits similar chemotactic behavior compared to a wild-type strain, suggesting Chlamydomonas sense an ammonium gradient not …

The Practice Of Silence And Solitude And Its Results, Lizzie Suwala

Senior Honors Theses

Silence and solitude as a spiritual discipline is seen across many different worldviews including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Humanism, and can be exercised alongside disciplines like prayer, meditation, and mindfulness. Each worldview has a unique purpose in why silence and solitude is practiced such as to commune with God, to prepare one’s heart for times of prayer, to avoid suffering, to experience revelations, and to find peace in an anxious world. Loneliness stems from unmet expectations of social interactions that lead to aversion in one’s current relationships and within themselves. Understanding the purpose of silence and solitude leads to the …

Detection And Characterization Of Copy Number Variation In Three Differentially-Selected Nellore Cattle Populations, Lorena F. Benfica, Luiz F. Brito, Ricardo D. Do Bem, Leticia F. De Oliveira, Henrique A. Mulim, Larissa G. Braga, Joslaine N.S.G. Cyrillo, Sarah F.M. Bonilha, Maria Eugenia Z. Mercadante

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Introduction: Nellore cattle (Bos taurus indicus) is the main beef cattle breed raised in Brazil. This breed is well adapted to tropical conditions and, more recently, has experienced intensive genetic selection for multiple performance traits. Over the past 43 years, an experimental breeding program has been developed in the Institute of Animal Science (IZ, Sertaozinho, SP, Brazil), which resulted in three differentially-selected lines known as Nellore Control (NeC), Nellore Selection (NeS), and Nellore Traditional (NeT). The primary goal of this selection experiment was to determine the response to selection for yearling weight (YW) and residual feed intake (RFI) on Nellore …

1st Person Ev With Electronic Differential, Tessa Biondo

Honors Theses

The First Person EV with Electronic Differential for Vehicle Dynamics Analysis project makes a significant leap forward in the exploration of electric vehicle (EV) stability and performance enhancement. Lead by a team of skilled electrical engineering students under the guidance of WMU’s associate Professor Dr. Sandun Kuruppu, this project aims to improve EV stability by optimizing power and torque distribution between wheels using an electronic differential system. The project encompasses the design and assembly of a 1/7^th scale custom electric vehicle, capable of remote control via a first-person view (FPV) camera and modified USB wheel and pedal assembly. The …

Veterinarian Perception Of The Impact Of Covid-19 On The Mortality Of Pets, Jason Bainbridge

Honors Theses

The pandemic led to many changes in society, changes that may have affected pets either directly or indirectly from the new way people had to live life. The primary variable of investigation is if the changes were significant enough to affect pets enough to see a trend in mortality. This thesis used a survey, sent out to veterinarians for their perspective, to see the effects the pandemic had on the mortality of pets, as well as any secondary variables. This survey had 38 responses, with 34 being eligible to complete the survey. The survey did not obtain the information of …

The Pml1-Wdr5 Axis Regulates H3k4me3 Marks And Promotes Stemness Of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer, Chun-Peng Pai, Han Wang, Darcie D. Seachrist, Neel Agarwal, Joshua A. Adams, Zhenghao Liu, Ruth A. Keri, Kaixiang Cao, William P. Schiemann, Hung-Ying Kao

Faculty Scholarship

The alternative splicing of PML precursor mRNA gives rise to various PML isoforms, yet their expression profile in breast cancer cells remains uncharted. We discovered that PML1 is the most abundant isoform in all breast cancer subtypes, and its expression is associated with unfavorable prognosis in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers. PML depletion reduces cell proliferation, invasion, and stemness, while heterologous PML1 expression augments these processes and fuels tumor growth and resistance to fulvestrant, an FDA-approved drug for ER+ breast cancer, in a mouse model. Moreover, PML1, rather than the well-known tumor suppressor isoform PML4, rescues the proliferation of PML …

Production Of Mrna Vaccine For Influenza, Christina Miller

Honors Theses

The objective of this project is to design a process to produce an mRNA influenza vaccine that serves as an alternative to conventional influenza vaccines, replacing current options with innovative mRNA technologies. Given that older populations are most likely to follow up on immunizations consistently, and the increasing average age worldwide, the market for this project appears to be expanding in the next 80 years. Additionally, experts predict more frequent mutations and outbreaks of viral disease from a variety of factors including globalization and global temperature trends. Rapid response to these viral outbreaks will continue to be as, or even …

Academic Senate - Minutes, 4/16/2024, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Scapegoats, Michelle Leigh Brown

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Why The Dobbs Court Got It Wrong: Connecting The Dots Between Opposition To Abortion And Gender Animus, Shoshanna Ehrlich

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Chatting With Online Agent, Guoxi Robert Zhang

Honors Theses

This study investigates trust in AI-generated language fluency. Participants engaged with both human and AI-generated content, varying in fluency. Findings were to favor trust in fluent human and AI interactions over disfluent ones. Understanding fluency's impact can inform AI design and encourage critical thinking when dealing with AI-generated content. By using qualitative analysis of think-aloud reports, we examined strategies that people use to assess texts labeled as human-generated and AI-generated content.