Digital Commons Network^™

Southern Register. 2024.2 (Spring/Summer 2024), University Of Mississippi. Center For The Study Of Southern Culture

Southern Register

No abstract provided.

The Utah Statesman, April 1, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Skin Phantom Development For Electrophysiological Wearable Device Testing, Rohan Sodha, Kiet Vu, Jonathan Nguy

Bioengineering Senior Theses

This senior design project aimed to develop a skin phantom suitable for testing electrophysiological wearable devices. Our skin phantom consisted of a porous paper PDMS as the epithelial layer, initially paired with agarose gel as the tissue layer, and later with gelatin based on comparative analysis. Through rigorous experimentation and leveraging data from the IT’IS Foundation’s interactive database, we identified that gelatin exhibited superior electrical properties compared to agarose, making it a more effective medium for replicating human tissue. Our work not only validated the use of paper PDMS with both agarose and gelatin but also demonstrated that gelatin's lower …

Hedgehog Signaling And Congenital Disorders; The Case Of Anencephaly And Polydactyly, Joshua Towery

First-Year Research Immersion (FRI) Scholarship

The Hedgehog pathway is a fundamental signaling pathway in the human body; involved in carcinogenesis, stem cell maintenance, as well as limb patterning in embryonic development. Originally discovered in drosophila, their initial discovery, and subsequent analysis revealed many novel pieces of information about the mechanisms inside the human body, as many core components of the signaling pathway are carried over from fruit flies to humans. Because of the key roles hedgehog signaling plays in human development, dysfunction and mutations in the pathway can be detrimental. This review will focus on two congenital birth defects thought to be caused by hedgehog …

Refining The Fashion Merchandising And Design Program Assessment Components, Mary Simpson, Chitra Singh, Zee-Sun Yun

Assessment Grants

To establish a strong and consistent assessment foundation, a program level assessment plan needs to be reevaluated periodically. The overarching goal of this project is to refine the current assessment plan of the Fashion Merchandising and Design program, which includes three components: curriculum evaluation, student learning outcomes, and student exit survey. Particularly, this proposal addresses two main assessment focus areas: i) alignment of the capstone course outcomes and assessments to the program-level outcomes and ii) refining the student exit survey as a tool for program-level assessment. In addition, this project aligns with assessment goals of the program accreditation Textile and …

The Impact Of Neurological Diseases In Kisumu, Kenya: Case Studies At Jootrh And Kcrh, Jack F. Dunham

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Introduction: The burden that neurological diseases put on health systems is high, and growing across the globe, especially in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) like Kenya. For this reason, our study sought out to study the burden and impact of neurological diseases at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and Kisumu County Referral Hospital (KCRH), which are in Western Kenya.

Methods: Utilizing data from handwritten patient records spanning 23 months, our study collected said data and analyzed the prevalence, incidence, distribution, and outcomes of different neurological diseases as they impact the Kisumu community.

Results/Discussion: Comparing …

Assessing The Impacts Of Anthropogenic Activities On Coral Reef Health In Ushongo, Tanzania Using Coral Diversity And Parrotfish Abundance As Indicators, Thao Mai

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Coral reefs, covering two-thirds of our oceans, are vital and diverse ecosystems, earning them the nickname of “rainforests of the sea”. Despite occupying only 1% of the ocean’s floor, they support 25% of all marine species, providing shelter, nursery ground and food, all the while also protecting the coast and providing job opportunities for local communities. Considered keystone species, coral reefs are highly sensitive to disturbances caused by pollution, climate change, but also anthropogenic activities such as coastal development, destructive fishing practices and tourism, endangering their existence and the entire marine ecosystem. Parrotfish, a crucial resident of these ecosystems, often …

Socioecological Assessment Of Birds In Ngezi-Vumawimbi Nature Forest Reserve, Eli Taub

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Effective management of natural resources requires consideration of the environment through both a physical and a sociological lens. In this study, the birds in Ngezi-Vumawimbi Nature Forest Reserve were examined through both a biological mist-net survey and a socioecological series of interviews with people living in the surrounding villages. The mist-net survey compared the understory species in undisturbed and disturbed area of the forest, as well as analyzing birds caught for biologically meaningful information on subspecies and sexual dimorphism. While the mist-net survey was largely unsuccessful, highlighting the need for alternative bird capture methods in Ngezi, it found a decrease …

Festival Of Research Abstracts, Spring 2024, College Of Science And Mathematics, Wright State University

Festival of Research

The collection of abstracts accepted for the Spring 2024 Festival of Research hosted by the Wright State University College of Science and Mathematics.

Analysis Of Slx4 Gene In Breast Cancer, Elaine Vanterpool, Morayna Martin

Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Linear Control Techniques For The Underactuated Nonlinear Quadcopter System, Ian Golsby

Mathematics Senior Capstone Papers

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are a prevalent technology in many fields. They must be lightweight, efficient, and stable in order to carry out their objectives or support a payload. The control system that maintains a UAV’s attitude directly contributes to the stability and efficiency of the UAV, and more efficient UAVs can be made more lightweight by reducing battery size. Because the UAV has only four degrees of control (one per motor) but requires twelve dimensions to describe its orientation and position over time, it is considered an under-actuated nonlinear complex system. In this study, we compare various linear control …

Best Practices: Enhancing Narrative Communication Through Environmental Shifts, Xinyu Zhang

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to integrate traditional storytelling methods with environmental shifts to test the effectiveness in enhancing player immersion and narrative communication. The researcher created a custom single-player level in Fallout 4, which tasks players with investigating a case and finding out the truth of the quest’s narrative with the help of environmental shifts. The researcher collected data on the effectiveness of their researched, environmental shift best practices by observing testers’ playtests and their subsequent understanding of the story.

Using Multi-Staged Puzzles To Improve Backtracking In Level Design, Yufei Tian

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the potential best practices in using multi-staged puzzles, which involve backtracking, in video games. The researcher focused on enhancing the players’ experiences by applying elements of the flow theory to an artifact level in Dying Light 2. Playtesters’ feedback suggested that best practices in multi-staged backtracking puzzles improve flow state entry and increase enjoyment.

Best Practices: Modulating Tension Using Contrast Lighting, Jaye Marie Williams

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis is to determine the best practices for modulating tension in a level through the use of contrast lighting. To test their theories, the researcher used variations of high and low contrast lighting when creating the artifact to elicit responses to tension from the player.

Reframing Addiction And Spiritual Care Through The Johari Window, Chi Hyang Yun

Doctor of Ministry

This doctoral project, Reframing Addiction and Spiritual Care through the Johari Window, is a continuing education webinar for chaplains and spiritual care providers. It was created and developed in response to patient reports of previous negative experiences with chaplains that directly impacts the NPO: Considering adults with chemical dependency, we have noticed that they decline spiritual services, preferring relational isolation, which may be caused by a fear of vulnerability. During the discovery phase, stakeholders—patients in recovery, individuals with history of chemical dependency, and family members—expressed emphatically a belief that “Normies cannot understand, be helpful, or even really care!” while simultaneously …

Zephyr: The Twenty-Fourth Issue, Zephyr Faculty Advisor, Thomas Garcia, Faye Botelho, Aliyah Walker-Pasko, Paige-Marie Merrill, Madelyn Asher, Autumn Brophy, Jasmin Y. Townsend Ng

Zephyr

This is the twenty-fourth issue of Zephyr, the University of New England's journal of creative expression. Since 2000, Zephyr has published original drawings, paintings, photography, prose, and verse created by current and former members of the University community. Zephyr's Editorial Board is made up exclusively of matriculating students.

American Media And Memories: How Visual Media Tells The History Of The World Wars In The 21st Century, Julian A. Rispaud

History

This paper examines how fictional digital media–film, television, and digital games–have both mirrored and influenced the American popular memory of the World Wars, establishing how visual media in the last 25 years has disseminated distinct historical themes and narratives to American audiences. Examining both World Wars together allow us to witness historical narratives of WWI and WWII intersecting across many works of media, applying critical elements of one conflict's memory to the other. This is accomplished through the process of historical thematic dissemination, through with creators off all three types of visual media pay homage to or draw on historical …

Between Exclusion And Empathy: Knowledge And Sentiments Of Jewish Youth In Buenos Aires About The “Jewish Community” In Argentina’S Collective Memory Of The Dictatorship (1976-1983), Rachel Colson

International Studies Honors Projects

Argentina has been considered a vanguard in engaging collective memory to confront violations of human rights during the 1976-1983 dictatorship. However, this memory often omits the experience of the Jewish community during these years, although its members faced increased persecution in military detention centers. Conflicting perspectives from within the Jewish community as well as the recent politics of President Javier Milei further complicate contemporary memory. Given these dynamics, how do current Jewish youth in Buenos Aires understand and relate to collective memory? What do they perceive as the most important aspects and outcomes of different forms of remembering? Semi-structured qualitative …

Smokejumper Magazine, April 2024, National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper and Static Line Magazines

This issue of the National Smokejumper Association (NSA) Smokejumper Magazine, contains the following articles: Message from the President; Remembering Mike Silva; Five Elements of Pro-Active Aging; The CIA and Smokejumpers; The Jump List; NEPA and Its Affect on Wildfire Timer Salvage: The Summit Fire of 1996; Sounding Off from the Editor; "Animal Ed"; Why We Wore Whites; Denali Revisited; Dear Current Jumper: An Open Letter; Against All Odds: "Jumping the Umpqua Old Growth with a 50-Foot Letdown Rope"; Redding Smokejumpers; 2023 Al Dunton Leadership Award Selections; Global Warming?; Not Forgotten; Odds and Ends; Notes from the Ranks; Off the List; …

Spring 2024 Community Program Guide, Academy Of Lifelong Learning

Program Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Laughter And Effective Presidential Leadership: A Case Study Of Ronald Reagan As The 'Great Communicator', Patrick A. Stewart, Reagan G. Dye, Carl Senior

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Former United States President Ronald Reagan’s use of media and his charismatic connection with viewers earned him the moniker “the great communicator”. One aspect of his charisma, the influence of elicited laughter, during a highly critical 5-minute news story by CBS reporter Leslie Stahl during the 1984 US presidential election is examined here. Two experiments examining the effects of audience laughter on perceptions of charismatic leadership are reported. In the first experiment the effects of audience laughter in response to Reagan’s comments were investigated. Here, Reagan’s perceived warmth as an effective leader significantly diminished when strong laughter is removed, whereas …

Clark Student Voices Literary Magazine, Issue 3: Serendipity (Spring 2024), Clark Student Voices Literary Magazine Contributors

Clark Student Voices Literary Magazine (2023-present)

Issue 3 of the Clark Student Voices Literary Magazine, published in the Spring 2024 semester. The theme of the issue is 'Serendipity'. A semesterly publication curated by Clark University students, CSVLM creates space for students to share their creative writing including poetry, prose, and artwork. Organizing and distributing Clark Student Literary Voices builds community by uniting the many creative students on the Clark campus. The magazine's editors on the issue's theme:

"The Oxford English Dictionary defines serendipity as “The faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident.” This doesn’t mean that all of the pieces in “Issue 03: Serendipity” …

Clark Student Voices Literary Magazine, Issue 3: Serendipity (Spring 2024), Clark Student Voices Literary Magazine Contributors

Clark Student Voices Literary Magazine (2023-present)

Issue 3 of the Clark Student Voices Literary Magazine, published in the Spring 2024 semester. The theme of the issue is 'Serendipity'. A semesterly publication curated by Clark University students, CSVLM creates space for students to share their creative writing including poetry, prose, and artwork. Organizing and distributing Clark Student Literary Voices builds community by uniting the many creative students on the Clark campus. The magazine's editors on the issue's theme:

"The Oxford English Dictionary defines serendipity as “The faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident.” This doesn’t mean that all of the pieces in “Issue 03: Serendipity” …

Princess Proportions & Perceptions: Disney’S Deterioration Of Young Girls’ Self-Esteem, Marah Krick

Honors Theses

Animated children’s media is becoming increasingly thinner, particularly as society demands continually smaller waists in the ideal female body size. The present study is focused on analyzing the origin and effects of abnormally small waist-to-hip ratios in animated Disney Princesses on a younger, primarily female audience. Exposure to these unrealistic body standards may result in internalization that leads to body dissatisfaction, as well as a drive for impossible thinness that results in disordered eating, mental health concerns, and suicide ideation. Adolescents and preadolescents are particularly at risk, due to daily entertainment screen time nearly tripling since 1999. While the risks …

Climate Change And Voluntary Private Land Conservation: A Case Study Of Working Lands For Wildlife, Abigail Thompson

School of Professional Studies

This case study examines the role, impact, and future of voluntary private land conservation (VPLC) programs, with a particular focus on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) initiative. Climate change and population growth pose a significant threat to public land conservation, making alternative methods like WLFW increasingly important. WLFW is a relatively successful and well-received program, but it is still young and comparatively smaller than other VPLC programs operated by the government. Publications by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, WLFW partner organizations, and relevant scholarly articles were utilized in order to assess WLFW’s success independently and …

Resilient Faith: Building A Faith That Lasts In High School Students, Camille Miller

Christian Ministries Senior Capstone

With research showing that 40-50 percent of youth group kids walk away from the faith after high school, I wanted to research ways to build a resilient faith in students through a church youth ministry. Fuse is the high school ministry at Northpoint church that is represented throughout this paper. The Frankena Model will be used as the format for the paper as I develop a philosophy of ministry for Fuse that incorporates all the aspects of Frankena's model and looks to find a better way to do youth ministry.

White-Fronted Capuchins (Cebus Albifrons Aequatorialis) In La Hesperia Cloud Forest Reserve: A Study Of Aggressive Behaviors In Response To Human Presence, Marin Lynch

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin, Cebus albifrons aequatorialis, is a critically endangered primate species native to Ecuador and northern Peru. Their population consists of only a handful of surviving troops spread out across this region. One surviving population exists in La Hesperia Cloud Forest Reserve in Ecuador. This reserve serves as an education and volunteer site for dozens of international travelers every year. I studied the effect of the presence of humans and the lodging they have constructed. Specifically, I investigated the effect on behavior of the proximity of the troops alpha male to manmade structures in the reserve. I …

Indigenous Labor And Survival On The Colonial Pacific Coast, 1740-1849, Arenaria Cramer

2024 Claremont Colleges Library Undergraduate Research Award

Examining the colonial contexts of Russian Alaska, the Oregon Territory, and Spanish California, Arenaria’s research explores the myriad ways in which Indigenous labor—both before and after European colonization—shaped the landscape, both physical and social, of the North American Pacific Coast.

Engineering Transcriptional Regulation For Cell-Based Therapies., Matthias Recktenwald, Evan Hutt, Leah Davis, James Macaulay, Nichole M. Daringer, Peter Galie, Mary Staehle, Sebastian Vega

Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences Departmental Research

A major aim in the field of synthetic biology is developing tools capable of responding to user-defined inputs by activating therapeutically relevant cellular functions. Gene transcription and regulation in response to external stimuli are some of the most powerful and versatile of these cellular functions being explored. Motivated by the success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, transmembrane receptor-based platforms have been embraced for their ability to sense extracellular ligands and to subsequently activate intracellular signal transduction. The integration of transmembrane receptors with transcriptional activation platforms has not yet achieved its full potential. Transient expression of plasmid DNA is …

Use Of Artificial Intelligence-Based Tools By Lawyers In Criminal Advocacy, Jamie Bernstein

Hofstra Law Student Works

No abstract provided.