Digital Commons Network^™

Robotic Arm Controlling Strategy For Fiber-Optic Assessment Of Myofascial Pain, Yuyao Li

Electrical and Systems Engineering Undergraduate Student Research

Myofascial pain is a prevalent condition characterized by chronic musculoskeletal discomfort, often requiring precise diagnostic tools for effective assessment. This project focuses on developing an advanced robotic arm control system to facilitate fiber-optic evaluation of myofascial pain. By leveraging Python-based programming, the robotic arm’s functionality was significantly enhanced, transitioning from single-joint control via a proprietary app to parallel joint control through keyboard commands. This advancement streamlines operation, reducing assessment time and improving workflow efficiency.

Key contributions include establishing a robust communication protocol between the robotic arm and external hardware, optimizing system performance through collaboration with Dobot Factory technical support, and …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of A Thermoresponsive Hydrogel For Delivering Anti-Collagen Antibodies To Reduce Posttraumatic Scarring In Orthopedic Tissues., Andrzej Steplewski, Jolanta Fertala, Lan Cheng, Mark Wang, Michael Rivlin, Pedro K Beredjiklian, Andrzej Fertala

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Excessive posttraumatic scarring in orthopedic tissues, such as joint capsules, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and peripheral nerves, presents a significant medical problem, resulting in pain, restricted joint mobility, and impaired musculoskeletal function. Current treatments for excessive scarring are often ineffective and require the surgical removal of fibrotic tissue, which can aggravate the problem. The primary component of orthopedic scars is collagen I-rich fibrils. Our research team has developed a monoclonal anti-collagen antibody (ACA) that alleviates posttraumatic scarring by inhibiting collagen fibril formation. We previously established the safety and efficacy of ACA in a rabbit-based arthrofibrosis model. In this study, we evaluate …

The Experience Of Teaching Disengaged Students In Stem: Examined Through The Lens Of The Abc Engagement Framework, William Randall Hjorth

Theses and Dissertations

Young people today are increasingly disengaged from their education. Studies indicate that of all school subjects, American students struggle to engage in STEM subjects more than others. For decades, we have known that student engagement/disengagement impacts teachers. Researchers have also claimed that engagement/disengagement can be described as a construct made up of affective, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions (ABC). However, we do not understand how teachers experience student disengagement in these three areas. At a crucial time in education, investigation into the experiences of teachers with disengaged students is needed to uncover insights which may help us understand how teachers interpret …

Motherland Drip: Examining Performativity In Southern Black Motherhood, Daisha Huiel

Master's Projects

This capstone project explores the possibilities of the societal standards of southern Black motherhood creating oppositional experiences for Black women and their claims to freedom and bodily autonomy. I am writing about the lived experiences of southern Black women, including myself, within their communities to explore anti-respectability themes in the lives and performances of southern women and female hip hop performers through the lens of intersectionality. This creative nonfiction1 and scholarship reflect my academic exploration into the ways foundational Black feminist theory and relevant texts connect to my individual lived experiences of motherhood and identity within the post-hip-hop generations. I …

A Path To Full Citizenship: The Impact Of The Civil Rights Movement On The Creation Of Title I Schools Through The Elementary And Secondary Education Act Of 1965, Edwin Ryan

Washington Semester Program

Studies of the Civil Rights Movement commonly include events like Brown v. Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, sit-ins, bus boycotts, and the Freedom Riders. The creation of Title I schools through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 1965 to serve "disadvantaged" students also was a major move in a broader attempt to undo systematic Black poverty. As part of his War on Poverty in the formation of a "Great Society," President Lyndon Johnson and his administration proposed drastic increases for federal involvement in the funding of public school …

Protective Effects Of Safranal On Kidney Tissue In A Rat Model Of Distant Ischemiareperfusion Injury With Infrarenal Aortic Occlusion, Mehmet Tort, Hülya Sevi̇l, Fehi̇m Can Sevi̇l, Neci̇p Beci̇t, Uğur Aksu, Zülfükar Kadi̇r Saritaş, Hasan Hüseyi̇n Demi̇rel, Azi̇z Bülbül, Zehra Yaşar, Merve Beci̇t Kizilkaya, Hazen Saritaş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury to a part of the body can cause damage to distant organs such as the kidney and heart. This study investigated the protective effects of safranal against IR-induced renal injury. Materials and methods: Used in this study were 24 Wistar Albino male rats, which were divided into 3 equal and randomised groups. The sham group underwent laparotomy only. In the IR group, the infrarenal aorta was clamped for 1 h, and then reperfused for 2 h. In the IR-safranal group, safranal was administered 30 min before the procedure and IR injury was induced in the same …

Volume 122, Number 3 - Tuesday, December 12th, 2023, Saint Mary's College Of California

The Collegian

No abstract provided.

In-Depth Geochemical Analysis Of Turbidite-Associated Shales Of The Pindos Basin, Greece, Jonathon Michael Sevy

Theses and Dissertations

Detailed geochemical analysis of the turbidite-associated shales of the Cretaceous Katafito Formation, Greece, reveals important details regarding the paleoenvironment, paleoproductivity, and regional tectonics of the Pindos Basin. The Katafito Formation was deposited along an active margin at the early onset of closure of the Tethys Sea in the Pindos sub-basin. While careful studies of the coarse clastic component of turbidites are common, this study consisted of a detailed geochemical characterization of the fine-grained portions, which helped reveal paleoenvironmental information about the basin. This study combined organic and inorganic geochemistry utilizing elemental, mineralogical, and organic chemical signatures from fine-grained turbidite-associated sediments …

Development Of A Gestational Diabetes Risk Assessment Scale: A Validity And Reliability Study, Selma Dağci, Besey Ören

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to develop a gestational diabetes risk assessment scale (GEDRISK). Materials and methods: This methodological study included 652 pregnant women who presented to six public health institutions in İstanbul between September 2021 and February 2022. Content validity was evaluated using the content validity index, while construct validity was assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Item discrimination was examined using Cronbach's alpha coefficients, Spearman-Brown and Guttman coefficients, item-total correlation tests, and 27% lower and upper quartile t tests. Reliability was determined through test-retest analysis methods. Results: The scale-level content validity index demonstrated strong coherence …

Hybrid Test-Smell Based Approach For Prediction Of Flaky Tests, Saurabh Bodke

Theses

Regression testing is an essential component in software development, aimed at verifying that recent code changes do not negatively impact existing functionalities. A prevalent challenge in this area is the occurrence of flaky tests, which exhibit inconsistent outcomes—passing or failing without any code alterations. Such tests erode the reliability of automated testing frameworks, leading to increased debugging efforts and diminished confidence in software stability. This research addresses the challenge of flaky tests by exploring machine learning and prediction models, specifically focusing on test smells and four principal root causes of flakiness: Async Wait, Concurrency, Test Order Dependency, and Resource Leak. …

Improving The Test Smell-Based Detection Of Flaky Tests, Shubham Kumar Karum

Theses

Regression testing, a critical process in software development, ensures that the recent code changes have not adversely affected existing functionality. A significant challenge in this domain is the existence of flaky tests—tests that inconsistently pass or fail without any changes to the code. These flaky tests undermine the reliability of automated testing and can lead to increased debugging and decreased confidence in software stability. To tackle the issue of flaky tests, there exists approaches that make use of machine learning and prediction models. However, approaches that rely on analyzing test case vocabulary typically face challenges like higher costs to run …

Course Correction: Navigating Equity In Ninth-Grade Advanced Placement, Sarah R. Morris, Sarah C. Mckenzie, Miranda Vernon

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

This robust mixed-methods study examines ninth-grade advanced course placement in Arkansas, revealing disparities rooted in race and socioeconomic status. Utilizing a logit analysis for a five-year pooled sample (n=163,616), we find persistent enrollment gaps for Black ninth-grade students after controlling for prior academic achievement, highlighting systemic barriers to access to advanced courses. Socioeconomic divides are also evident in our analysis. Qualitative findings from counselor interviews highlight the importance of parental involvement in course placement decisions, particularly for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Overall, we find through these interviews that districts consider a myriad of factors when considering course placement for …

Myopia Management Algorithm.: Annexe To The Article Titled Update And Guidance On Management Of Myopia. European Society Of Ophthalmology In Cooperation With International Myopia Institute, Beáta Tapasztó, Daniel Ian Flitcroft, Wagih A. Aclimandos, Jost B. Jonas, Jan Tjeerd H.N. De Faber, Zoltán Zsolt Nagy, Philippe G. Kestelyn, Ingrida Januleviciene, Andrzej Grzybowski, Christina Nicolaeva Vidinova, Jeremy A. Guggenheim, Jan Roelof Polling, James S. Wolffsohn, J. Willem L. Tideman, Peter M. Allen, Rigmor C. Baraas, Kathryn J. Saunders, Sara J. Mccullough, Lyle S. Gray, Siegfried Wahl, Irina Yurievna Smirnova, Marino Formenti, Hema Radhakrishnan, Serge Resnikoff, János Németh, Soe Myopia Consensus Group

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Myopia is becoming increasingly common in young generations all over the world, and it is predicted to become the most common cause of blindness and visual impairment in later life in the near future. Because myopia can cause serious complications and vision loss, it is critical to create and prescribe effective myopia treatment solutions that can help prevent or delay the onset and progression of myopia. The scientific understanding of myopia's causes, genetic background, environmental conditions, and various management techniques, including therapies to prevent or postpone its development and slow its progression, is rapidly expanding. However, some significant information gaps …

Prevalence Of Missed Opportunities For Immunization And Its Associated Factors Among Children Below Two Years Old Attending Primary Healthcare Centers In Baghdad/Al-Karkh, Baraka Safaa’ Mustafa, Jalil Ibrahim Saleh

Muthanna Medical Journal

Immunization is an effective means for preventing illness and reducing the burden of various infectious diseases. Incomplete or partial immunization poses a serious threat to the health of children in many developing countries, including Iraq. The objectives are to investigate the prevalence of missed opportunities for immunization (MOI) and its associated factors among children aged below two years old attending primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Baghdad/Al-Karkh. A cross-sectional study involving 500 children’s companions attending PHCCs in Baghdad/Al-Karkh from the 1st of September 2022 to the 1st of July 2023. The respondents were enrolled using a systematic random sample technique …

Commercial Adsorbents For Co2 Removal For Biogas Upgradation: An Experimental Study, Aakriti Bagla

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Paleoclimate Of The Peruvian Andean Highlands During The Late Holocene, Jarunetr Sae-Lim

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The tropical and central Andean highlands (>4,000 m above sea level) supply critical freshwater resources to the Amazon Basin, supporting large communities in mountain regions and lowlands. Due to the scarcity of historical weather data spatially and temporally, it is challenging to quantify hydroclimate and environmental responses to anthropogenic climate change. Paleoclimate reconstruction and modeling can provide critical insights into key hydroclimate processes and how hydroclimate in this region has responded to climate change and variability through time. However, biomarker-based paleoclimate proxy reconstructions are still very rare in this region. This dissertation quantifies local-scale and regional-scale hydroclimate and environmental …

How Are Oregon's Rural Indigenous Communities Overcoming Water Access Issues?, Tyren John Thompson

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates how water insecurity affects Indigenous communities in Grand Ronde, Warm Springs, and Umatilla, Oregon, through loss of clean drinking water, access to culturally significant foods, and exposure to pollution. Each community offers innovative solutions drawing on their Indigenous knowledge to overcome water supply challenges. Communities with more resources are better equipped to cope with water insecurity and environmental degradation.

In The Hot Seat: Acquiring Kernel Density Heat Map Design Guidance Through Delphi And Survey Methods, Lauren Eileen Mckinney-Wise

Dissertations and Theses

Kernel density heat maps have emerged as a new, popular thematic map type. Yet, unlike other thematic map types, little if any published guidance exists for effective heat map design. This is significant because maps are highly persuasive objects that are often utilized to communicate important information, but maps can also be misleading and misunderstood. Therefore, proper guidance for heat map creation is critical for cartographers to create maps that convey geographic information successfully.

To address this literature gap, I used a modified Delphi method and an online survey to investigate several questions, including understanding what cartographic experts think are …

Enhancing Efficiency And Sustainability: Retrofitting Fluorescent Lights To Leds, Khalifa Alshaiba

Theses

This research work emphasizes the urgent need to implement energy-efficient lighting technologies, particularly the retrofit of fluorescent lights with LED alternatives, in order to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to that maintaining operational safety and sustainability, improving energy efficiency is essential in Dubai's industries, which are major consumers of electricity and economic drivers. The project's goal is to retrofit energy-efficient LED lighting into a well-known packaging company's current fluorescent lighting systems. In doing so, the project hopes to improve illumination quality and minimize maintenance needs while lowering energy consumption, operating expenses, and environmental impact. The goals …

The Implementation Of Trauma Informed Design In The United States Prison Campus: A Standardized Design Methodology, Quille A. Hughes

Theses

The concept of spaces for punishment has been a topic of conversation for centuries. Only now are members of the community touching the surface of concepts that rewrite the methodology behind the design of these spaces in the hopes of providing a different outcome: rehabilitation. Trauma-Informed Design as a concept is in its infancy, and therefore requires decades of research into the effects of its installation; there is no greater need for this consideration than in the United States criminal justice institution. This thesis will not attempt to cover the changes necessary to United States prison policy. It will instead …

Mixed Method Study On Community College Instruction In Blended Social Science Courses, Andrea L. B. Eggenberger

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Community colleges have teaching faculty whose primary focus is educating their students and providing service to their institution. Community college teaching research has focused on innovation, students’ expectations, and the use of active learning techniques to foster student success. Research on blended courses has focused on instructional practices, learner engagement, and the benefits of blended learning for the community college student population. This study explores the relationship between student’s perceptions of the work in a blended developmental psychology course at two community colleges in Louisiana and their professors’ instructional decisions for their blended courses. The multiple-case study uses a convergent …

Guidelines For Sustainable Use Of Mobile Instant Messaging Apps In Higher Education: A South African Case Study, Bronwyn C. Swartz, Sweta Patnaik

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: The purpose of the study was to propose guidelines to facilitate the sustainable and successful use of mobile instant messaging apps for learning and teaching based on a review of the literature and perceptions of educators. Fraser’s model of redistribution, recognition, and representation served as the theoretical framework. This study provides a mechanism for the development of a socially just and inclusive online classroom environment.

Method: We conducted two focus groups (n = 4 and n = 3) in November 2021 at a university of technology in South Africa to explore the perceptions of educators on using mobile …

Inclisiran: Where Are We On Safety, Efficacy, And Clinical Effectiveness Of Sirna Therapies For Prevention?, Christie M Ballantyne, Abdul Mannan Khan Minhas, Carl E Orringer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Coastal Wetland Restoration Through The Lens Of Odum's Theory Of Ecosystem Development, Friedrich W. Keppeler, Annette S. Engel, Linda M. Hooper-Bùi, Paola C. López-Duarte, Charles W. Martin, Jill A. Olin, Katelyn J. Lamb, Michael J. Polito, Nancy N. Rabalais, Brian J. Roberts, Erick M. Swenson, Olaf P. Jensen

Michigan Tech Publications

Advancing ecological restoration assessments requires a more detailed consideration of species interactions and ecosystem processes. Most restoration projects rely on a few metrics not always directly linked with ecological theory. Here, we used Odum's theory of ecosystem development to assess and compare the ecosystem structure and services of created marshes (4–6 years old) with preexisting, reference marshes in a brackish water region of the Mississippi River Delta. We built ecosystem models for created and reference marshes that integrated large datasets of stomach contents, stable isotopes, and taxa abundances. Despite strong resemblance in community structure, created marshes were at an earlier …

Enhancing Learning Experiences In Pre-Clinical Restorative Dentistry: The Impact Of Virtual Reality Haptic Simulators, Alaa Daud, Manal Matoug-Elwerfelli, Hanin Daas, Daniel Zahra, Kamran Ali

Peninsula Dental School

Background: Utilization of Virtual Reality haptic simulation (VRHS) to aid in the training of various pre-clinical skills is of recent interest. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of VRHS in restorative dentistry on the learning experiences and perceptions of dental students. Methods: An interventional study design was utilized to recruit third year students. All participants provided informed consents and were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1: Initially performed a Class I cavity preparation with the VRHS, followed by the same exercise using the phantom head/ acrylic typodont teeth in a conventional simulation environment (CSE). Group …

Single-Cell Atlas Of Healthy Human Blood Unveils Age-Related Loss Of Nkg2c+Gzmb−Cd8+ Memory T Cells And Accumulation Of Type 2 Memory T Cells, Marina Terekhova, Amanda Swain, Pavla Bohacova, Ekaterina Aladyeva, Laura Arthur, Anwesha Laha, Denis A Mogilenko, Samantha Burdess, Vladimir Sukhov, Denis Kleverov, Barbora Echalar, Petr Tsurinov, Roman Chernyatchik, Kamila Husarcikova, Maxim N Artyomov

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Extensive, large-scale single-cell profiling of healthy human blood at different ages is one of the critical pending tasks required to establish a framework for the systematic understanding of human aging. Here, using single-cell RNA/T cell receptor (TCR)/BCR-seq with protein feature barcoding, we profiled 317 samples from 166 healthy individuals aged 25-85 years old. From this, we generated a dataset from ∼2 million cells that described 55 subpopulations of blood immune cells. Twelve subpopulations changed with age, including the accumulation of GZMK

Vol. 21 Entire Issue

The Journal of Economics and Politics

No abstract provided.

One Birder's Falcon, Matt Pelikan

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

Red-Footed Falcon: How Did It Get Here?, Julian Hough

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

Identification Of The Martha's Vineyard Red-Footed Falcon, David Allen Sibley

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.