Digital Commons Network^™

Inferring The Compositions And Interior Structures Of Small Planets, David R. Rice

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Although there are now over 10,000 confirmed and candidate extrasolar planets, accurate masses and radii have been determined for around 200 planets of less than 10 Earth-masses. This number will grow exponentially over the next decade as extreme precision radial velocity spectrographs see first light. The densities of small planets hint at a diverse range of compositions for terrestrial worlds from super-Mercuries to super-Ganymedes. Uncertainty in density is as low as 3% in the Trappist-1 system. To determine composition from observed parameters, the community uses a variety of interior structure models. Underlying these models are multiple computational techniques, numerous experimental …

Caring For Killer Whales: Multispecies Obligations In Wildlife Conservation, Rayne Billings

Bachelor of Liberal Arts (BLA) Senior Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Annual Faculty Research Symposium 2023, Oakwood University

Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Ecological Impacts Of Invasive Crayfish In A Naïve Riparian System, Gregor L. Hamilton

Biology ETDs

Aquatic and riparian food webs are inextricably linked. In deserts, they provide critical energy subsidies to surrounding terrestrial food webs, but these vital subsidies are not guaranteed; streams in arid lands are especially sensitive to perturbations. In this dissertation, I investigated the role of an oft-cited threat to stream communities in the lower Colorado River basin: non-native crayfish. I contributed to methodologies in passive integrated transponder use and length-weight relationships in crayfish to aid future research. I leveraged stable isotope analysis of δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, and δ²H to understand crayfish role in the food webs. …

Influence Of Metabolic Interventions On Animal Aging And Lifespan, Bhaswati Ghosh

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Aging is associated with metabolic rewiring. Most lifespan-extending longevity interventions target metabolic pathways. Genetic or pharmacological metabolic approaches that mediate longer lifespan and healthspan, are often linked to detrimental effects on human health. Here, I show that supplementation of botanical extracts from Artemisia scoparia (SCO), dramatically increases animal lifespan. Mechanistically, this lifespan extension is dependent on AMPK-DAF-16 signaling via inhibition of the insulin pathway. In SCO-fed worms, longer lifespan was accompanied by higher fat storage and improved resiliency to age-related physiological stress. Notably, DAF-16, the master regulator of longevity, activated the fatty acid desaturation processes, which promoted the accumulation of …

Effect Of Resistance Training On White Blood Cell Count And Chemotherapy Efficacy In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients During Adriamycin-Cyclophosphamide Chemotherapy Treatment, Mimi Wassef

The Larrie and Bobbi Weil Undergraduate Research Award

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most difficult subtypes of breast cancer to treat due to a lack of molecular targets. While chemotherapy (CT) has become the standard form of treatment, the administration of CT depends on adequate white blood cell (WBC) count. When WBC becomes too low, patients risk becoming ineligible for treatment. In the general population, WBC count has been shown to increase as a result of exercise, but little research has been done on the effects of exercise and WBC count in the TNBC population. The purpose of this study is to determine if 12 …

Active Toxoplasmosis Infection: Efficacy And Safety Of Treatment Options, Daniele Krouse

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

This literature review intends to investigate the safety and efficacy of two different drug treatment regimens, pyrimethamine versus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, for active toxoplasmosis infections. Affecting nearly 11% of the United States population and up to 80% of the populations of tropical countries, Toxoplasmosis infection is the second leading cause of death from food borne illness. Current classic management of active infection with pyrimethamine is correlated with numerous undesirable side effects, high cost and need for complex use of adjunctive medications. It is necessary to identify alternative treatment options with fewer side effects, less complex regimens, lower cost, and easier access for …

“The Development Of The Conceptive Plot Through Early 19th-Century English Novels”, Jannea R. Thomason

Dissertations (1934 -)

My dissertation, “The Development of the Conceptive Plot through Early 19th Century English Novels,” reads these novels through the history of midwifery and reproduction to show how authors developed a coherent set of narrative features to challenge ideas about women’s agency in reproduction. Building on recent explorations of the maternal and feminist aspects of the novels, I further nuance the representations of women and reproduction in the novels. Nineteenth-century authors explored reproductive rhetoric, law, and medical practices, and their explorations appear as what I call “the conceptive plot”: a set of narrative features illustrating how different systems strip women of …

Cub Plastic Shipping Bag Recycling Program, Samuel M. Arkin, Ethan J. Bruemmer

Student Publications

We implemented a plastic shipping bag recycling program at Gettysburg College. Recycling bags contribute towards contamination within the college's single-stream recycling or end up directly in the landfill via traditional trash collection. The production of plastic bags relies on the continued production of fossil fuel extraction. Plastic bag recycling can decrease fossil fuel extraction and waste entering landfills. To curb Gettysburg College’s generation of waste, we placed four bins in various locations throughout the Center Union Building (CUB) in order to collect plastic shipping bags over a 4.5-week period. We made three hypotheses: that our bins would collect shipping bags …

Cultural Competency In Universities And Library Services: Definition And Review, Brady Lund Dr, Maoka Dikotla Dr, Matlala Mahlatji, Ting Wang, Awojobi Esther Abosede

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Cultural competency is critical aspects that requires proper management in view of the fact that institutions of higher learning worldwide are more diverse with the greater rate of international student enrollment, expansion of opportunities for women and ethnic minorities, and increase in more affordable options for achieving a degree. This qualitative study sought to presents a literature review of the concept of cultural competency as it pertains to the provision of educational and library and information services at institutions of higher education. This literature review explores the various definitions for cultural literacy, how the concept has been used in higher …

Word Analysis: Contemplating The Word La Madre To Develop An Approach For The Instruction Of Cultural Perspectives, Gregory De La Piedra

Dimensions

Word Analysis is an approach to teach second language (L2) students about cultural perspectives which are understood collectively as the ideas, values, beliefs, and experiences many native speakers have regarding cultural domains within their own cultures. Word Analysis is anchored on the relationships between language and communication, and language and culture. The present study researches the history behind the dual value of the term “la madre” [mother] in Mexican Spanish to deliver a practical method that language instructors easily could easily incorporate within their materials to teach L2 culture, or that publishers could integrate within their textbooks. The primary purpose …

Startup Life May Stop Here: Helping Women Entrepreneurs In Sub-Saharan Africa, Amr Swid, Emily Rukobo, Elizabeth Maro

Journal of Global Business Insights

A great emphasis exists in research on entrepreneurs who start small- to medium-size businesses and who are seizing opportunities outside the corporate world, especially in developing countries like Tanzania. Women entrepreneurs have the highest representation of all entrepreneurs in the Sub-Saharan region. Entrepreneurs everywhere face unique hardships that could determine the fate of their businesses. Women entrepreneurs in the Sub-Saharan region have additional struggles to start and sustain their businesses. The participants in this study were randomly selected from women entrepreneurs who participated in the 2017 NYIT Launch in Moshi, Tanzania. The researchers conducted virtual qualitative interviews and focus groups …

A Cross Sectional Study Investigating Dynamic Balance When Stepping To Targets In Children With Cerebral Palsy Compared To Typically Developing Children, Rachel Rapson, Jos M. Latour, Bernie Carter, Vasiliki Pitsouni, Jonathan F. Marsden

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BackgroundChildren with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have altered anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) during gait initiation. These APAs may affect dynamic balance in tasks such as stepping.Research questionsHow are APAs in children with CP affected during stepping to precise targets? How do children with CP modulate APAs when stepping to medial and lateral targets? What is the association between APAs and symptom severity, movement quality and impairment profile?MethodChildren undertook a stepping task to laterally and medially placed targets with either leg, in a randomised order. Movement of the centre of pressure (COP) and markers at the pelvis and foot were measured via …

Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety And Subsequent Use Of Nicotine And Thc In Electronic Cigarettes, Stephanie Clendennen, Jacob Smith, Aslesha Sumbe, Baojiang Chen, Anna Wilkinson

School of Medicine Publications

Background: This study examines whether symptoms of depression, anxiety, or comorbid depression and anxiety are associated with future use of nicotine or THC in e-cigarettes.

Methods: Data were from an online survey of youth and young adults in urban areas of Texas with complete data (n = 2,307) in spring 2019 (baseline) and spring 2020 (12-month follow-up). Multivariable logistic regression models examined associations between self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, or comorbid depression and anxiety at baseline and past 30-day e-cigarette use with nicotine or THC at 12-month follow-up. Analyses adjusted for baseline demographics and baseline past 30-day e-cigarette, combustible tobacco, …

Investigating The Feasibility Of Creating A Disease Registry In Egypt: A Case Study Of Dementia, Shimaa Adel Heikal

Theses and Dissertations

The increased interest in evidence-based medicine led to the emergence of disease registries worldwide to help tackle the impact of chronic diseases by providing accurate data on several aspects of the disease care process. Age-associated diseases, particularly dementia, are growing worldwide with several implications and increased economic burden, especially in lower-income countries. In Egypt, there is a lack of accurate dementia prevalence and statistics data which hinders the establishment of appropriate disease management and care strategies. A national dementia registry would provide a massive valuable source of patient data that will significantly advance the disease management strategies and quality of …

Influencing Pre-Nursing Student Well-Being Through A Five-Week Online Intervention. A Pilot Study, Regina W. Urban, Leslie A. Jennings

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The purpose of this study was to test a well-being intervention utilized in an Introduction to Nursing Course with pre-nursing students as they prepare for admission to an accelerated online BSN program. Well-being in this study consisted of time management and study techniques, wellness and self-care strategies, and mental health characteristics, including depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and self-compassion.

“I Am Not Going To Hide Who I Am”: How Jewish Girl Activists Navigate Their Relationship To Voice, Visibility, And Representation, Cheryl Weiner

Educational Studies Dissertations

This dissertation examined how 32 Jewish activist girls, aged 14 to 18, who were affiliated with Jewish communities navigated their relationship with voice, visibility, and representation. A primary goal of the study was to understand the challenges they faced in their everyday lives and to make their knowledge known. Research questions that guided the study included: 1) How do Jewish activist girls navigate their relationship to voice, visibility, and representation?; 2) What are the unique challenges experienced by Jewish girl activists?; and 3) How do Jewish girl activists exercise resistance against the challenges they experience? The literature that informed this …

Age-Race-Ethnicity Segregation In The United States: Where Do Minority Older Adults Stand?, David W. S. Wong, Debasree Das Gupta

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

A recent study shows that among the three age groups of youth, adult and older adult, youth-older adult has the highest age segregation while youth-adult has the lowest. Similar to many previous age segregation studies, racial-ethnic differences, an important population axis in segregation studies, were not considered. Prior studies are also limited to using two-group measures, failing to compare multiple groups together. We explore the complexity in measuring intersectional segregation focusing on the two axes of age and race-ethnicity and propose a conditional approach to measure age segregation by racial-ethnic groups, and racial-ethnic segregation by age groups. Using this approach, …

Full Issue: Winter 2020

DePaul Magazine

This issue of DePaul Magazine introduces key people and processes in a democratic society. The cover story profiles Ambassador Carmen Lomellin (MBA '84). Learn more about her journey from clerical work for a steel company to U.S. ambassador and permanent representative to the Organization of American States in From Steel Mill to State Department.

Predicting And Controlling Fertility Using Family Planning Methods, A. H. Elnagar, Hegazy Zahir, Sayed Khater

Journal of Statistics Applications & Probability

Without a real reduction in population fertility rates, developing societies will push for more spending on their infrastructure and more demand for basic services for new-born, and more dependency and crowding, and the attendant ills and various social, economic and cultural problems, which will push these countries towards Directing a large part (if not most) of development revenues to meet the growing population. In general, the importance of this study lies in how to predict fertility rates using the rates of family planning methods (practice rates, years of protection) and to identify the method of neural networks and its accuracy …

On The Importance Of True Peer Norms In The Assessment Of English Learners: A Validation Study Of The Ortiz Picture Vocabulary Acquisition Test, Jane Yan Ting Wong

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional efforts in aiding English learners (ELs) to achieve better test performance such as modifications to the testing process or the use of native language or nonverbal tests are problematic and disregard the unique language developmental experiences of ELs (Ortiz & Wong, 2022). The Ortiz Picture Vocabulary Acquisition Test (Ortiz PVAT; Ortiz, 2018), an assessment of English receptive vocabulary, incorporates ELs’ proportion of lifetime exposure to English (LEE) in test norms to allow for true peer comparison, thus ensuring test fairness in measurement and score interpretation. The current study aimed to add to the existing validity evidence for the test …

The Effects Of Balance Exercises On Lower Extremity Injury Prevention: A Systematic Review, Madason Gene Leif Spt, Bailey James Neises Spt, Zach Thomas Sebern Spt, Ryan John Hanks Spt

Physical Therapy Student Research Projects

Background: Previous systematic reviews have identified injury risk predictors of sport-related lower extremity (LE) injuries based on exercise programs. There are limited studies indicating the advantage of single-leg balance (SLB) training and its effectiveness in lowering injury rates. Research Question: Investigate which types of balance training were used in effective injury prevention programs. Methods: A systematic review utilizing the SPORTDiscus and PubMed databases. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials from the last 10 years that included LE injury prevention, a balance training component and participants aged 10-30. Results: 5 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, comprising 2,926 athletes. Three …

The Relationship Between Increased Wages And Nurse Satisfaction And Intent To Stay, Jean Andres

College of Health Sciences Posters

The recent COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a negative climate in healthcare and increased the workforce demands of nurses leading to decreased satisfaction and an unprecedented staffing crisis. Further compounding the problem, staffing agencies have offered fiscally lucrative contracts that enticed experienced nurses to leave permanent staff positions for external contract agency nursing.

Research Questions for this study are as follows:

• RQ1: What is the relationship between increased wages and nurse satisfaction?
• RQ2: What is the relationship between increased wages and intent to stay?
• RQ3: What is the relationship between demographic variables and nurse satisfaction?
• RQ4: What is the relationship demographic …

The Use Of Non-Icu Confusion Assessment Method (Cam) For Delirium Management, Stephanie Barendt, John Sharon Hudson

College of Health Sciences Posters

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect the use of the non-intensive care unit confusion assessment method (non-ICU CAM) as an early screening tool for delirium would have on the nursing practice of medical surgical nurses. This quasi-experimental study focused on early screening and prevention training of inpatient nurses caring for adult inpatients to proactively reduce episodes of delirium. The training included an educational video on how to perform the non-ICU CAM assessment, 4 scenarios to test knowledge on scoring patient, and techniques for reducing delirium if patient is positive. After one month of multimodal training for …

Fish & Wildlife News: Winter 2023

Fish and Wildlife News

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Trans And Gender Diverse Voices In Libraries, Kalani K. Adolpho, Stephen G. Krueger, Krista Mccracken

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

In the library profession, and in the world as a whole, the experiences of trans and gender diverse people often go unnoticed, hidden, and ignored. But we are here. Trans and Gender Diverse Voices in Libraries is entirely written and edited by trans and gender diverse people involved in the field: its fifty-seven authors include workers from academic and public libraries, special collections and archives, and more; LIS students; and a few people who have left the library profession completely.

This book is not intended to be the definitive guide to trans and gender diverse experiences in libraries, but instead …

17th Century Colonial Witchcraft: Before Salem, Andréa Diane Davis

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Within this thesis, I examine several historians who discussed the social, historical and political, and religious contexts of witchcraft accusations in 17th Century colonies, particularly in New England. Additionally, I take as my case study an examination of the Elizabeth Garlick case in 1657. Elizabeth Garlick lived in the Long Island town of what is today East Hampton. However, from the town’s beginning in 1649 until 1664, the half of Long Island settled by the English was considered part of the Connecticut Colony and submitted to all the laws and appurtenances thereof. Several historians have commented that despite its geographic …

Dormant Propagules In Demographic Studies: A Recurrent Bias And Potential Solutions, Federico Borghesi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

In the face of unprecedented anthropogenic change, we increasingly turn to emergent technologies and extensive data sets for solutions that complement much needed systemic changes in our societies. These technological solutions, however, must be approached with care. We must recognize and address biases in the way data has been accumulated. In demographic studies, dormant life stages, such as seed banks, and other cryptic factors have often been neglected. The potential consequences of these omissions have been extensively described in the literature. In the first chapter, I analyze patterns of seed bank omissions in demographic models, finding unjustified omissions are widespread …

Women’S Human Development Outcomes In India: A Closer Look At Fdi Inflows, Economic Structure, And Female Labor Force Participation, Nisha Bellinger

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Global human development trends display a consistent improvement over time. However, these indicators may not improve at the same pace or even trend in the same direction. India is one such country that displays intriguing trends. While women’s education and health outcomes have improved over the years, women’s political representation and labor force participation rates are lagging behind. This chapter focuses on female labor force participation (FLFP) in India, which has declined in recent years. I discuss the nature of India’s globalizing economy, specifically foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, in conjunction with the changing structure of the domestic economy, to …

Emerging Patterns In Population Structure And Trap Efficacy After Three Years Of A Survey Of Western Painted Turtles (Chrysemys Picta Bellii, Gray, 1830) In Marshall County, South Dakota, Heather L. Waye, Amy C. Dolan, Peter C. Dolan

Biology Publications

Turtles are long-lived and globally declining, but relatively little is known about the natural history of many turtle species. Even amongst relatively well-studied species, there is a paucity of information for some habitats and long-term population trends are lacking. Here we report the results from the first three years of an intended long-term population survey of Western Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) in the prairie highlands of the Coteau des Prairies, South Dakota. Turtles were sampled using basking traps, hoop traps, and dip nets. Catch per unit effort varied between years, but not significantly so, and hoop traps …