Finding Combinatorial Patterns In Real Valued Omics Data, Kenneth Smith

Dissertations

Precision medicine is a healthcare approach which tailors disease prevention and treatment to an individual, based on their genetics, environment, lifestyle, and physiological state. These factors interact to produce biological changes that can be measured to produce data called omics, and include genomics, lipidomics, and proteomics. Despite the abundance of omics data and analysis techniques, researchers still struggle to identify biological findings that replicate across data sets and translate into clinical applications. In this dissertation, we employ combinatorial optimization techniques to improve upon three steps in the precision medicine analysis pipeline: 1) data cleaning, 2) community detection, and 3) feature …

Psychological Science: Who’S Really In Charge? Popular Media’S Influences On Food Behavior, Chakuen W. Rambang, Amilya Bryant, Benjamin Ramer, Delvin Porter

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

With mass media, consumption being very accessible, many individuals are being impacted in their daily lives. Mass media influences have had the opportunity to persuade people in their daily choices such as nutritional behaviors. With different nutritional trends on the rise, the presentation of popular media applications, such as TikTok, may have correlations to how individuals react to different trends regarding nutrition. Many videos on the platform have different algorithms that persuade their viewers to partake in different trends. In addition to popular media possibly having the impact of changing an individual's behavior, the overall understanding of nutrition may play …

Psychology: Music Genre And Film Perception, Emily Cloud, Patrick Santorum, Raygan Robertson, Hannah Johnson

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Existing research indicates that music can alter the visual perception of emotion, such as negative moods followed sad music and positive moods followed happy music (Jolij & Meurs, 2011). Furthermore, different genres of music over film have an impact on the perception of the viewer, specifically attention level (Y. Kwon et al., 2022) and likeability or connection of film characters (Hoeckner, B et al., 2011). While evidence has shown that there are physiological effects of different genres of music (i.e. rock, jazz, classical) (K. Whiteford et al. 2018) (Grewe, O. et al, 2007), there is a gap in the literature …

Consumer Browsing And Purchasing Behavior, Emily Cloud, Emma Chacon, Harry Lackey

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

No abstract provided.

Recent Master’S Graduate Continues Research At Ud As Research Engineer, University Of Dayton

Blog: The Dayton Engineer

Ben Robertson doesn’t work for an usual employer of UD graduates — but still certainly a rewarding one. After graduating with his master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Dayton in 2023, he accepted a position as a research engineer with none other than the University of Dayton.

Predisposing Deleterious Variants In The Cancer-Associated Human Kinases In The Global Populations, Salman Ahmed Khan, Misbah Anwar, Atia Gohar, Moom R. Roosan, Daniel C. Hoessli, Ambrina Khatoon, Muhammad Shakeel

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Human kinases play essential and diverse roles in the cellular activities of maintaining homeostasis and growth. Genetic mutations in the genes encoding the kinases (or phosphotransferases) have been linked with various types of cancers. In this study, we cataloged mutations in 500 kinases genes in >65,000 individuals of global populations from the Human Genetic Diversity Project (HGDP) and ExAC databases, and assessed their potentially deleterious impact by using the in silico tools SIFT, Polyphen2, and CADD. The analysis highlighted 35 deleterious non-synonymous SNVs in the ExAC and 5 SNVs in the HGDP project. Notably, a higher number of deleterious mutations …

Exact Treatment Of Weak Dark Matter-Baryon Scattering For Linear-Cosmology Observables, Y. Ali-Haïmoud, S. S. Gandhi, Tristan L. Smith

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

Elastic scattering of dark matter (DM) particles with baryons induce cosmological signals that may be detectable with modern or future telescopes. For DM-baryon scattering cross sections scaling with negative powers of relative velocity, 𝜎_𝜒⁢𝑏⁡(𝑣) ∝𝑣⁻²,𝑣⁻⁴, such interactions introduce a momentum-exchange rate that is nonlinear in DM-baryon bulk relative velocities, thus not amenable for inclusion as-is into standard linear cosmological Boltzmann codes. Linear Ansätze have been adopted in past works, but their accuracy is unknown as they do not arise from first-principles derivations. In this work, for the first time, we construct a rigorous framework for computing linear-cosmology observables …

In What Ways Do Perceptions By Faculty, Students, And Advisors In An Urban University Contribute To Undergraduate Student Success?, Carla Jordan

Dissertations

This study employs a mixed-methods approach to explore perceptions of academic advising among faculty, advisors, and undergraduate students at an urban university in the Midwest, focusing on its implications for student success. Utilizing Creswell’s research design framework, the research integrates quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to understand the relationship between academic advising and student outcomes.

Informed by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, the study examines how beliefs, behaviors, and environmental factors shape academic experiences and success. It employs the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) from George Kuh’s student engagement framework as a quantitative tool to measure student engagement and …

Why We Stay - Considering The Past, Contemplating The Present, And Suggestions For The Future, Joelle Mcintosh, Erika S. Johnson

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the complex teaching landscape through historical and contemporary lenses, exploring the various societal changes and challenges that have shaped teacher motivations over the decades. The researchers use autoethnography and duoethnography methodologies to explore two educators' personal and professional lives, highlighting their resilience and adaptability amid evolving educational demands and societal pressures. These educators' narrative journeys and dialog reveal the deeply personal and contextual nature of teaching, underscoring the importance of identity, cultural background, and the ability to find joy and fulfillment despite challenges. This research sets the stage for a reflective and insightful exploration of the teaching …

The Evaluation Of Non-Specific Risk Indicators In Improving Detection Of Psychosis-Spectrum Liability, Thomas W. O'Kane

Theses and Dissertations

Psychosis-spectrum disorders remain a leading cause of disability for both individuals and society, with early identification and prevention efforts representing a promising avenue of research for addressing these concerns. One potential impediment to improving early risk identification is the historical focus on indicators thought to be exclusive to the psychosis-spectrum. This focus often comes at the expense of non-specific risk factors (e.g., disrupted sleep, adverse childhood experiences) which contribute to the risk of developing psychosis as well as other mental illnesses. Research suggests the inclusion of these non-specific factors may improve our ability to identify those at risk. The present …

7 Questions With Dr. Sharon Bommer, University Of Dayton

Blog: The Dayton Engineer

We asked Dr. Sharon Bommer, associate professor in the Department of Engineering Management, Systems and Technology, about her background and research.

Methods For Finding Best Coset Codes For Physical-Layer Security, Andrew Glenn Swain

Theses and Dissertations

Finding best coset codes for secrecy over the binary erasure wiretap channel remains a difficult problem. Greater understanding of the structure of coset codes is necessary to reduce the problem space in which we search for these best codes. This dissertation presents new necessary conditions for a code to be best, including a condition that states that a code must maximize the minimum distance of both itself and its dual. It introduces and evaluates the accuracy of new heuristics to approximate the code's equivocation based on a code's weight enumerator polynomial. We also present a new tool for visualizing the …

Advanced Nano-Drug Delivery Systems In The Treatment Of Ischemic Stroke, Jiajie Zhang, Zhong Chen, Qi Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In recent years, the frequency of strokes has been on the rise year by year and has become the second leading cause of death around the world, which is characterized by a high mortality rate, high recurrence rate, and high disability rate. Ischemic strokes account for a large percentage of strokes. A reperfusion injury in ischemic strokes is a complex cascade of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, immune infiltration, and mitochondrial damage. Conventional treatments are ineffective, and the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) leads to inefficient drug delivery utilization, so researchers are turning their attention to nano-drug delivery systems. Functionalized nano-drug …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On The Mobile Payment Banking System, Sydney Mason

Senior Honors Theses

This study includes an examination of the effect of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on electronic payment apps. Ever since the pandemic caused a global shutdown, the banking industry was forced to adjust their usual operations and adopt new technological advancements that would allow for contactless payment. Consumers, worried about contracting the virus through the physical exchange of currency, resorted to utilizing payment apps. This contributed to the increase in electronic payment usage. This research addresses the effect of COVID-19 on three different electronic payment apps, Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle. A comparative longitudinal analysis shows the increase in total transactions from …

Sisolak V. Polymer 80, Inc., 140 Nev. Adv. Op. 30, 546 P.3d 819 (Apr. 18, 2024), Keegan Davis

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

In 2021, the Nevada Legislature promulgated, and Governor Sisolak signed into law, NRS 202.253(9), NRS 202.3625, and NRS 202.363 as an extension to the federal Gun Control Act (“GCA”). The statute criminalizes the sale or transfer of unfinished firearms lacking serial numbers, known as “ghost guns.” Respondent, Polymer80, Inc., is a Nevada company whose primary business is the sale of unfinished firearm components. Respondent sued Governor Sisolak and other named defendants claiming that the new ghost gun statute was vague and therefore unconstitutional. The district court agreed with Polymer80, granted summary judgment, and declared the statute unconstitutional. Appellants appealed to …

Determining Reading Complexity Using Regression Models, Joshua Talamayan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Reading is an essential skill when pursuing academic success. In order to assist students in developing their critical reading skills, it is essential to offer texts that are both within their capability, yet challenging enough to push them beyond their boundaries. At the moment, the majority of excerpts are matched to readability scores utilizing tools such as the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scoring in order to determine reader level. The core issue with reading scores structured around the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scoring is that the scoring process is not readily available to the public while also lacking validation studies. In this …

Ethanol-Induced Alterations To Astrocytic Glutamate Transporter Mrna Expression In The Mpfc Of Adult Mice, Zachary Evans

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is one of several brain structures that is contained in the mesolimbocortical pathway and controls many processes involved in alcohol use disorder (AUD). There is vast glutamatergic output from the mPFC to other mesolimbocortical regions; neuroplastic changes to this system are believed to be closely tied to the development and maintenance of AUD. Astrocytes are key regulators of glutamatergic transmission through their uptake of excess glutamate from the synapse and recycling back into neurons. Ethanol (EtOH) alters the expression of astrocytic genes that encode for transporters that control glutamate homeostasis; these include the glutamate transporter-1 …

Advancing Brain Tumor Segmentation With Spectral–Spatial Graph Neural Networks, Sina Mohammadi, Mohamed Allali

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

In the field of brain tumor segmentation, accurately capturing the complexities of tumor sub-regions poses significant challenges. Traditional segmentation methods usually fail to accurately segment tumor subregions. This research introduces a novel solution employing Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), enriched with spectral and spatial insight. In the supervoxel creation phase, we explored methods like VCCS, SLIC, Watershed, Meanshift, and Felzenszwalb–Huttenlocher, evaluating their performance based on homogeneity, moment of inertia, and uniformity in shape and size. After creating supervoxels, we represented 3D MRI images as a graph structure. In this study, we combined Spatial and Spectral GNNs to capture both local and …

Exploring The Role Of Intrinsic Motivation In Elementary Public-School Educators’ Willingness To Remain In Teaching, Lynnette K. Steinhoff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The experiences and perceptions of novice educators’ willingness to remain in teaching have been without clear research. The problem addressed by this study was the need to understand why novice educators remain in the field in order to support districts and legislators in updating policies and funding measures. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how the intrinsic motivation of novice elementary educators within a K–12 public school influences their willingness to remain in teaching. Self-determination theory (SDT), with its psychological principles of autonomy, competency, and relatedness, was selected as the conceptual framework. Two research questions addressed intrinsic …

2024 April 18 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Radiative Cooling For Energy-Efficient Power Generation, Rickia Hanna

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This thesis examined radiative cooling on a small scale using a hybrid photovoltaic/radiative cooling model system, to determine its efficiency for large-scale power generation. Radiative cooling is concerned with heat transfer and this thesis’s main goal is to harness that heat energy to produce electricity. The efficiency of the system was tested using various light sources at different angles and total power output. The testing was done several times and there proved to be a proportional relationship between light intensity and current output. However, due to the performance threshold of the PTEC module, the component of the system used to …

Assessing Design Quality In Online Courses At A Public University, Anthony Kiech

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This research assesses the extent to which asynchronous online STEM courses at a public university integrate Merrill's First Principles of Instruction. Through a quantitative content analysis of thirty unique online courses within the College of Arts and Sciences, the study investigates the extent, if any, to which these courses embody principles such as problem-centered learning, activation, demonstration, application, and integration. A validated survey instrument, Course Scan, was used for evaluation and indicated a low extent of Merrill's First Principles of Instruction in the sample courses. Methodology, including the investigation plan and instrumentation, are shared. Results are shared, indicating low implementation …

Splines On Cayley Graphs Of The Symmetric Group, Nathan Lesnevich

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

A spline is an assignment of polynomials to the vertices of a graph whose edges are labeled by ideals, where the difference of two polynomials labeling adjacent vertices must belong to the corresponding ideal. The set of splines forms a ring. We consider spline rings where the underlying graph is the Cayley graph of a symmetric group generated by a collection of transpositions. These rings generalize the GKM construction for equivariant cohomology rings of flag, regular semisimple Hessenberg, and permutohedral varieties. These cohomology rings carry two actions of the symmetric group S_n whose graded characters are both of general interest …

Objects Are Subordinate To Spatial Features As Cues For Control, Abhishek Dey

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

It is well documented that people can engage in flexible adjustments of attention using context cues from the environment. The most prolific cue used to assess such context-specific attentional control in the literature has been location (or spatial features). Context-specific attentional control using object features has been less well researched and some of the most conclusive evidence of object-based attentional control comes from designs where location and spatial features cannot be used to guide attentional control. Across five experiments, I investigate the interplay between object and spatial features in their usefulness to guide attentional control when both are available as …

Three Essays On Education Policy, Intergroup Relations, And Human Capital Accumulation, Wai Meng Jeremy Siow

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The impact of education on fostering the development of human capital and molding sociopolitical attitudes from an early age is a well-explored topic in the field of social sciences. This dissertation takes a broader approach by delving into the consequences of two critical components of the education system: (1) the language used for instruction, and (2) citizenship education. To accomplish this, I employ a combination of observational and experimental research methods to disentangle the causal effects of these educational factors within the contexts of Malaysia and Singapore. Chapter 2 delves into the ramifications of adopting a non-native language of instruction …

2024-04-18 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes from April 18, 2024.

Statistics For Iwasawa Invariants Of Elliptic Curves, Ii, Debanjana Kundu, Anwesh Ray

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We study the average behavior of the Iwasawa invariants for Selmer groups of elliptic curves. These results lie at the intersection of arithmetic statistics and Iwasawa theory. We obtain lower bounds for the density of rational elliptic curves with prescribed Iwasawa invariants.

The Lowest Discriminant Ideal Of Cayley-Hamilton Hopf Algebras, Zhongkai Mi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Discriminant ideals are defined for an algebra R with central subalgebra C and trace tr : R → C. They are indexed by positive integers and more general than discriminants. Usually R is required to be a finite module over C. Unlike the abundace of work on discriminants, there is hardly any literature on discriminant ideals. The levels of discriminant ideals relate to the sums of squares of dimensions of irreducible modules over maximal ideals of C containing these discriminant ideals. We study the lowest level when R is a Cayley-Hamilton Hopf algebra, i.e. C is also a Hopf subalgebra, …

Conference Program, Georgia Southern University

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

No abstract provided.

Critical Raw Material In Mineral Elements Found In Fly Ashes From The Czech Republic Power Plant, Agnieszka Klupa

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The economic development of EU countries is limited due to limited access to a number of mineral raw materials, which necessitates actions aimed at securing the supply of CRM. For this reason, CRMs constitute elements of particular importance for the EU. The aim of the study was to assess the content of CRMs as a potential source of REY in fly ash resulting from the coal combustion in one of the power plants in the Czech Republic. In the tested ash the main phases are: glassy phase, mullite and quartz. The chemical composition of the tested fly ashes showed dominance …