Digital Commons Network^™

Synaptic Transmission At The Photoreceptor Ribbon Synapse, Chris Mesnard

Theses & Dissertations

Synaptic transmission relies on the Ca²⁺-dependent release of neurotransmitters packaged into synaptic vesicles. Ribbon synapses have the capability to release multiple vesicles at a time in a highly coordinated and synchronized manner. Glutamate release from rod and cone photoreceptor cells involves presynaptic ribbons composed largely of the protein RIBEYE. To examine roles of ribbons in rods and cones, we studied mice in which GCamP3 replaced the B-domain of RIBEYE. We discovered that ribbons were absent from rods and cones of both knock-in mice possessing GCamP3 and conditional RIBEYE knockout mice. Mice lacking ribbons showed reduced temporal resolution and …

Evaluating The Impact Of Routine Enteral Iron Fortification On Gastrointestinal Dysbiosis In Premature Infants, Matthew Van Ormer

Theses & Dissertations

The gastrointestinal microbiome in preterm infants bears significant influence on optimal outcomes – dysbiosis is shown to substantially increase the risk of the life-threatening necrotizing enterocolitis, whereas optimal microbiome composition improves nutrient digestion and immune function. Iron is a vital nutrient especially during the perinatal window of rapid hemoglobin production, tissue growth, and foundational neurological development. However, excess colonic iron exhibits potent oxidation capacity and alters the competitive environment of microbes – potentially facilitating the proliferation of pathological bacterial strains in the gut. Of note, breastfed preterm infants routinely receive iron fortification starting at 14 days of life and are …

Polycationic Nanoparticle Delivery Of Nucleic Acids For The Treatment Of Fibrosis In Alcohol-Associated Liver Diseases, Chuhan Zhang

Theses & Dissertations

Alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD) is a major cause of liver disorders worldwide. Current treatment options are limited, especially for AALD-related fibrosis. Targeted therapies are urgently needed for severe forms of AALD. In my project, dual-functioning nanoparticles for the effective delivery of antifibrotic RNA were designed and developed, together with combined CXCR4 inhibition or CD44 targeting as a way to improve the treatment of AALD fibrosis. An alcoholic fibrosis model of moderate alcohol consumption with secondary liver insult was built for evaluation of nanoparticle performance in vivo. In Chapter 2, a cholesterol-modified polymeric CXCR4 inhibitor (Chol-PCX) was synthesized and used to …

Soft Law 2.0: An Agile And Effective Governance Approach For Artificial Intelligence, Gary E. Marchant, Carlos Ignacio Gutierrez

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Targeting The Cxcr1/2 Axis In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Caitlin Molczyk

Theses & Dissertations

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is notoriously challenging to diagnose and treat. This tumor has an aggressive phenotype and benign clinical features until severe disease dissemination, which makes it too late to eradicate. Although it is only the 10th most common cancer in the United States, it is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The treatment options are complicated further due to tumor heterogeneity, meaning not all tumor cells are in the same state phenotypically or epigenetically. They also express cytokines, chemokines, and receptors differently. Here we explore the usage of CXCR1 and CXCR2 and their ligands in PDAC tumor …

Channel Island Foxes (Urocyon Littoralis) Are Viable Seed Dispersal Agents Of Toyon, Savannah L. Bartel, Juliann T. Schamel, Bridget A. Parrino, Melissa K. Marshall, John L. Orrock

Western North American Naturalist

Mammals that consume fleshy fruit and deposit viable seeds in their scat can be important agents of seed dispersal for plants. Despite the knowledge that the island fox (Urocyon littoralis) consumes large quantities of fleshy fruits, it is unknown whether seeds survive digestion by island foxes and are able to germinate. In order to evaluate whether island foxes are agents of viable seed dispersal on the Channel Islands, we collected island fox scat on Santa Cruz Island in February 2021 and conducted germination assays on digested seeds found in scat. We compared the germinability and germination rates of …

Characterization Of Molecular Content, Cytotoxicity, And Anti-Inflammatory Activity Of Extractions From Eupatorium Serotinum, Jordy Sloan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation is a complex and varied immune response which can be expressed chronically or as a temporary reaction to foreign invaders. Symptoms of inflammation include swelling, pain, soreness, and difficulty of motion. Recently, the effect of sesquiterpene lactones such as Helenalin from Arnica montana have been studied for their anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we identified and harvested samples of Eupatorium serotinum, a plant historically used by Native Americans to treat a variety of medical illnesses. Crude extracts of the leaves, flowers, roots, and stems were prepared by ethanol extraction. The cytotoxicity of the different extracts on HEK293 cells …

How Phylogeny And Arboreality Affect Pelvic Girdle Anatomy Of Chameleons, Dakota J. John

Honors Thesis

Morphological adaptations have allowed animals to inhabit different landscapes such as mountains, forests, plains, etc. These adaptations have increase in prevalence through natural selection processes in all species which allow favorable traits to be passed to offspring. Chameleons have evolved a plethora of adaptations that have allowed them to persist in different niches. One anatomical feature of chameleons that has not been well studied is the pelvic girdle. The pelvic girdle bridges the axial and appendicular skeletons in animals, so the size, shape, and orientation of the girdle is important to how the animal functions in its environment. The pelvic …

Disease Prevalence And Selenium Bioaccumulation In Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates Pipiens), Emily B. Eisenbraun

Honors Thesis

Most amphibians are becoming imperiled in today’s world via environmental contamination and emerging infectious diseases. This project's main objective was to determine the relationship between the prevalence of Ranavirus and selenium bioaccumulation in amphibians in South Dakota. I selected northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens) to focus on specifically because they are susceptible to Ranavirus and are found ubiquitously throughout eastern South Dakota wetlands. The secondary objective of this project was to determine if disease prevalence was correlated with areas of agricultural runoff in South Dakota’s prairie pothole wetlands. Intensive field sampling was conducted across five wetlands in Eastern South Dakota …

Perception Of Alumni Of The Department Of Agriculture At Stephen F. Austin State University, Sherifat Rufai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

University alumni surveys have served various purposes since they were introduced in the 1930s in the United States. The Department of Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) aimed to evaluate alumni perceptions between the Fall of 2010 and the Spring of 2022 to provide an opportunity to examine the relationship between degree fields and occupations and the agriculture curriculum, salaries, and demographic data for college graduates. This study's web-based survey was designed to include closed-ended and open-ended questions to collect individual opinions using Qualtrics Survey Software. The survey materials were made available on the alumni's social media accounts. …

Meiofauna Distribution Patterns On A Sandy Beach Of Sapelo Island, Georgia, Nancy Dalman, Dianna Spence, Richard Settele, David Turner, Andrew Shirley, Jill Schulze

Georgia Journal of Science

Substantial abundance and diversity of intertidal invertebrates known as meiofauna are evident on a sandy beach of Sapelo Island, Georgia. Meiofauna are small, benthic, nearly ubiquitous animals. They consume microbes and detritus and are a food source for juvenile fish and ghost shrimp. Meiofauna were manually separated from sand samples collected from three intertidal zones and two depths during low tide in January, March, June, and October, 2017. Fifteen major meiofaunal clades were identified in June, while only eight were observed in January; in all, there were sixteen clades observed. Highest meiofauna densities were found in the middle intertidal zone …

Managing Monumental Crises: The Bakardade (Solitude) National Basque Monument, Carmelo Urza, William A. Douglass

BOGA: Basque Studies Consortium Journal

This paper provides a brief chronological overview of Basque immigration and participation in the sheep industry of the American West. It describes the process leading to the conception and development of the National Basque Sheepherder Monument in Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Park, including the discussions with regards to whether it should be Traditional/Realistic or Modern/Symbolic in nature. It explains the potential crisis that threatened to sidetrack the Monument, the inaugural ceremony and the symbolism of the statue Bakardade/Solitude by Basque sculptor Nestor Basterretxea and its relationship with the characteristics of the Basque people. Finally, it incorporates the figurative sculpture donated …

Miren’S Story: The Evacuation Of A Child Refugee From The Basque Country In 1937, Julia Palmer

BOGA: Basque Studies Consortium Journal

Ten-year-old Miren Alonso was one of almost 4,000 Basque children evacuated from the Basque Country in northern Spain to Southampton, England by the Basque Government in May 1937, during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). This article, based on extensive oral testimony, provides a firsthand look at a historical event that remains largely unknown to most people. It is also one of only a few long-term studies of the evacuation from the perspective of an individual. This is a summary of Miren’s experience before, during, and after the evacuation, framed within the social, political, and historical context of the period. Her …

Portal, Catherine M. Greenwood

The Goose

"Portal" is an ecoGothic poem from Siberian Spring.

Perceptions Of Nature-Based Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Jessica D. Mashburn

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of practicing nature-based educators and to find how classroom educators can become skilled in providing students with opportunities to learn in nature. In the study, there were 13 participants who represented a variety of individuals, with impressive educational credentials, who are currently employed or volunteering with a nature-based education organization. The data were collected through an intensive literature review, participant interviews, and field observations within two nature-based education organizations. The major findings include the overall difference between nature-based education and the typical classroom setting, as well as the …

The Dark Kinase Stk32a Regulates Hair Cell Planar Polarity Opposite Of Emx2 In The Developing Mouse Inner Ear., Shihai Jia, Evan M Ratzan, Ellison J Goodrich, Raisa Abrar, Luke Heiland, Basile Tarchini, Michael R Deans

Faculty Research 2023

The vestibular maculae of the inner ear contain sensory receptor hair cells that detect linear acceleration and contribute to equilibrioception to coordinate posture and ambulatory movements. These hair cells are divided between two groups, separated by a line of polarity reversal (LPR), with oppositely oriented planar-polarized stereociliary bundles that detect motion in opposite directions. The transcription factor EMX2 is known to establish this planar polarized organization in mouse by regulating the distribution of the transmembrane receptor GPR156 at hair cell boundaries in one group of cells. However, the genes regulated by EMX2 in this context were previously not known. Using …

Spring Commencement Program, May 5, 2023, Coastal Carolina University

Commencement Programs

Program of Commencement Exercises at Coastal Carolina University.

Longitudinal Follow-Up Of Yezidis Displaced By Isis Genocide To A Host Village In Iraq, Jordan Greaser

Dissertations

This research examined the quality of life and the religious leadership reliance of the Sinjari Yezidis based on their migration patterns. The study employed a mixed-method research design, exploring a Yezidi case study and discriminant analysis on 2022 survey data from Sinjari Yezidis who fled the ISIS genocide by initially moving to a single village in northern Iraq between 2014-2015. The study hypothesized migration patterns played a role in the quality of life and religious leadership reliance outcomes between 2015 and 2022.

This study showed no difference in the quality of life outcomes between Yezidis who stayed in their displacement …

Community And Population Dynamics Of Diatoms In Recovering Agricultural Stream And Ubiquitous Taxon In Low-Impact Sites Across Southeastern United States, Sydney Brown

Biology Theses

Streams play vital roles to surrounding communities and provide essential ecosystem services. The protection of streams is important, legally protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and can be monitored through the continuous analyses of biological data, like algal or other aquatic communities. Diatoms are a group of algae characterized by rigid glass cell walls and ubiquitous distribution. They are typically identified using the morphological species concept and an ever-varying range of sizes may pose challenges in the identification process. However, when identified and applied correctly, diatoms are robust bioindicators. This research identifies and analyzes low-impact sites across the Southeastern …

Assessing The Appropriateness Of Free-Roaming Cat Management Strategies Based On Resident Perspectives In A Small Pennsylvania Municipality, Brianna Marks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The popularity and mismanagement of free-roaming cats has resulted in invasive populations responsible for over-predation of birds and small mammals and increased disease transmission to humans and animals (Bies, 2014; Crowley et al., 2020). Management effectiveness fluctuates between communities due to varying opinions of free-roaming cats by governments and the public, which can influence management development and success (Deak et al., 2019). This research assesses the relationship between community perspectives of free-roaming cats and management. A survey of residents in a small Pennsylvania municipality was conducted with questions pertaining to free-roaming cats and management preferences in the community. Over 50% …

Evaluating Sex Differences In The Neuroimmune Response Following Neuroinflammation And Relief Due To Nanotheranostic Treatment, Brooke Deal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Until recently, the majority of preclinical neuroinflammatory studies were performed on males. Because of this, less is known about the female neuroinflammatory response to injury, formation of pain, or response to pain-relieving therapies. The neuroinflammatory response is multifaceted with neuronal, glial, and immune cells all contributing to the induction and resolution of neuroinflammation. During this response, macrophages typically undergo an upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) leading to the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is linked to neuronal sensitization and pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) attenuate PGE2 by the inhibition of COX-2. A limitation with NSAIDs is that due to the …

Striped Blenny (Chasmodes Bosquianus) Presence And Behavior Between Sunrise And Sunset At Oyster Landing, South Carolina, Madeline Schuetze

Honors Theses

Lunar and diel cycles of fishes can help to interpret their behaviors during their reproductive season. Temperate estuaries are used by many benthic fishes for shelter and reproduction. This study examined the behavior and presence of striped blennies (Chasmodes bosquianus) during diel and lunar cycles. PVC pipe shelters were placed to mimic oyster shell nests, a natural habitat for blennies, and cameras were placed to monitor these shelters in April, May, and June 2022, during the striped blenny reproductive period. Video footage was reviewed and analyzed for the presence and behavior of both male and female blennies. Male presence …

Revitalizing Main Street, Usa: Recovering From The American Dream And The Destruction Of The Rural Main Street, Rebecca Virgl

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

The American Dream is a national ethos that states any person, with enough hard work, can succeed in the United States; it is both critique of the pitfalls of capitalism and advocacy of the potentials the system offers. Over time, suburbia has come to represent the physical manifestation of the American Dream. In the world of planning and architecture, much discussion is given to the suburbanization of the United States. The relationship between the city and the suburb is well documented, and many plans for suburban improvements focus on making suburbs more like cities, where they are more walkable, dense, …

Caring For Former Caretakers: Utilizing Collage To Explore Transition, Development Of A Method, Noelle Leblanc

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Older adulthood often comes with a variety of challenges both emotional and physical. The transition to an assisted living program can be challenging to cope with. Older adults may face isolation and loneliness, while grappling with changes in their identity as result of factors like decline in health, loss of an ability, or changes in social support. Arts based interventions were administered individually among a group of older adults to test if collage could be utilized to explore themes of role shift, transition and identity. Clinical observations along with post-session reflective artwork is included. Assisted living residents participated in a …

Towards A Diversified Agricultural Forest-Based Economy: Community Views Of Planting Sandalwood In Timor-Leste, Pyone Myat Thu, Joaquina Barreto, William Erskine, Robert Williams, Abril Soares, Valerio Ximenes, Anita Ximenes, Maria Fernandes, Octaviana P Agostinho, Tony Page

Forest and Society

With growing awareness that export revenues derived from non-renewable oil and gas resources are in decline, Timor-Leste seeks to develop a more sustainable and diversified economy. Sandalwood holds significant cultural, economic and historical importance for the Timorese people, and is representative of an internationally competitive export product. Livelihood diversification can alleviate the prevalence of poverty among smallholders in Timor-Leste. Within this context, and with a focus on forestry, we sought to determine the institutional support and smallholder interest and capacity for restoring over-exploited sandalwood. Interviewed households were acutely aware of the high value and benefits derived from sandalwood and expressed …

Fish, Freshwater, And The Promise Of Biodiversity History For Indonesian Studies, Anthony D. Medrano

Forest and Society

Freshwater fishes abound in Indonesia. They are everywhere in the archipelago—from rice fields and irrigation canals to brackish lagoons and highland rivers. They even populate the most unassuming bodies of water. Some species are found in the remotest of volcanic lakes while others call the blackest and most acidic peat swamps their home. Every island has its habitats and every habitat has its fishes, making Indonesia one of the world’s richest centers of ichthyofauna diversity. And yet, thinking with freshwater fishes—and their biodiversity history—has been largely absent from the field of Indonesian studies. A telling example of this biological blindspot …

School-Based Development And Implementation Of An Educational Toolkit, Chantel M. Kilford Ms

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

The purpose of this evidence-based change in practice is to increase knowledge and confidence among healthcare providers and teachers within a high school setting by providing an educational tool kit about behavioral disorders in children. The disorders that will be focused upon are conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and common co-morbidities of these disorders. There will be education about an appropriate childhood, evidence based mental health assessment tool that assesses childhood mental health, including how to score the tool and interpret the results. Evidence suggests that healthcare providers and teachers are not confident or knowledgeable about identification, assessment, and behavioral …

Talk Box In Music Therapy With Speech And Language Impairments Resulting From Tracheostomy: A Critical Review Of The Literature, Jonathan Kang

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Tracheostomy patients struggle with one of the most significant and essential components to the human identity, that is, communication. When a person’s communication is obstructed, access to their intangible, inner world is also severed – leaving their thoughts, feelings, and memories, all of which are core to the human experience, unshared. Speech assistance for tracheostomy patients currently includes above cuff vocalization efforts using one-way speaking valves, augmentative and alternative communication methods such as speech generating devices and the electrolarynx. This thesis will introduce and discuss a musical instrument effect called the talk box as an integration of music therapy techniques …

Developmental Transformations With Refugee Children: Exploring Different Cultural Responses To Traumatic Experience, Katrina L. Sanyal

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis explored working with refugee children resettled in the US, and how Developmental Transformations (DvT) can support different cultural interpretations and experiences of trauma, particularly when the drama therapist and the client come from different cultural viewpoints. Situated within an after school program, this research includes results from 5 individual, trauma-centered, short-form DvT sessions conducted with refugee children ages 8-15. Dramatic images, traumatic responses, and observations were documented for each play session. To synthesize the experience, the drama therapist reflected on the process through their own DvT play sessions, which are presented as stories via an arts based process. …

The Breath As A Holistic Regulator: An Expressive Arts Therapy Community Project, Jacobita Munoz

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone offers the idea that evolution has challenged appropriate breathing and led humans to breathe incorrectly, thus negatively affecting their physical and mental health. As breath can damage the body, it can also serve as a regulator of the mind and body. This thesis points out the multiple effects when uniting controlled respiration, drumming and nature sounds. Breathing, music and nature have many things in common. These include repetition, pattern, awareness of the present moment and relaxation. They all contain a rhythm, and they offer self-regulatory skills. Music-based expressive arts therapies intervention is postulated to provide breathing techniques, united …