Digital Commons Network^™

Joanne Stubbe And The Mechanistic Study Of Ribonucleotide Reductases, Madysen York

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

To catalyze the formation of deoxyribonucleotides from ribonucleotides, the enzyme has to remove an hydroxyl from the ribose sugar part of the molecule (circled in in green) (“Ribonucleotide Reductase”).

The problem is that hydroxyl doesn’t naturally want to break from the base it is attached to, leaving many researchers unable to discern the chemical process going on inside these enzymes that make the bond break possible (Strauss).

Mary Lowe Good And The Development Of Catalytic Solutions For Industrial Processes, Eleanor Heller-Walker

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

To study catalysts, Good used Mössbauer spectroscopy, a nuclear technique that measures how atoms absorb and emit gamma rays (“Mössbauer Spectroscopy”). This method helps scientists identify oxidation states, chemical environments, and structural changes in metal containing materials, especially iron.

This data revealed exactly how active metal sites in catalysts behave when exposed to exhaust gases, for example, when carbon monoxide (CO) or nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) contact the surface of the metal.

Who Holds The Mic?: Exploring Image, Control, And Identity In Queer, Tea Jones

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the ways in which contemporary queer women musicians engage with digital platforms to construct, perform, and circulate their identities across the digital space. Tracing a lineage from the Olivia Records Collective in the 1970s to contemporary artists like Doechii and Chappell Roan, I look at how these artists navigate shifting notions of authenticity, community, and self-presentation—employing DIY strategies across personal websites, social media, merchandise, and music distribution tools. Using affective theory, Susan Sontag’s writings on ‘camp’, and the writings of Audre Lorde and bell hooks as central frameworks for my analysis, I consider how emotional expression and …

Using Machine Learning And Aerial Imagery To Detect Macroalgae, Dylan Niner

Theses & ETDs

Coastal ecosystems are essential for biodiversity and ecological services; they are increasingly under threat from human activity. Within these systems, macroalgae (submerged aquatic vegetation, or SAV) play a vital role. For that reason, assessing the condition and presence of SAV is important for understanding coastal ecosystem health. Traditional field surveys for SAV are limited in spatial and temporal resolution. In contrast, high-resolution Aerial (AUV) imagery, when combined with Convolutional neural networks, provides a great opportunity for analyzing this critical habitat at the necessary scales. Neural networks are computer models of interconnected nodes that learn to map inputs to outputs by …

Liberal Arts Education And Practical Pedagogy, Jessica Roberts

Theses & ETDs

This thesis explores how a liberal arts education, combined with extensive practical teaching experience and real-world insights, has shaped my philosophy and trajectory as a future educator as I traversed the college system. Drawing from interdisciplinary coursework and firsthand classroom involvement, I examine the benefits and challenges of pursuing a nontraditional path into teaching, particularly through the lens of Florida’s certification system. Rather than following a conventional teacher preparation program, I intentionally crafted an individualized academic journey grounded in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, complemented by sustained practicum experiences across multiple school districts. My work highlights how liberal arts …

Cerebellar Contributions To Vocal - Motor Integration: A Comparative Tractography Study, Alexys Siagel

Theses & ETDs

Vocal behavior in mammals ranges from stereotyped, reflexive calls to highly flexible, learned vocalizations. While research has traditionally emphasized cortical and basal ganglia circuits in vocal learning, recent work has highlighted the cerebellum’s expanding role in modulating complex, adaptive motor behavior. This study uses diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based tractography to investigate cerebellar connectivity from five key regions involved in respiration, swallowing, and vocalization—the nucleus ambiguus, periaqueductal gray, basal ganglia, anterior ventral lateral thalamus, and vocal motor cortex - across four species: harbor seal, elephant seal, California sea lion, and coyote. Results revealed that pinnipeds exhibit broader, denser, and more lateralized …

Sectorized Based Investment Strategy During Recessions A Quantitative And Behavioral Analysis Of U.S. Market Performance, 1999–2015, John Scott

Theses & ETDs

This research analyzes the market performance of five U.S. equity sectors including Technology, Retail, Energy, Healthcare and Financials throughout recession periods from 1999 to 2015. The research concentrates its analysis on two significant market downturns: the Dot- Com Crash and the Great Recession by studying sector performance in comparison with the S&P 500 based on financial theory principles as well as behavioral economics concepts. Regular rolling calculations of 5-day standard deviations and 60-day rolling Beta measures for each sector allows evaluation of expected and actual returns by using the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) framework. The methodology provides real-time assessments …

A Study Of The Forecasting Power Of The Yield Curve, John Stayte

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is an investigation of the United States Treasury yield curve, focusing on its ability to predict economic growth in the 21st century. Academic studies done in the late 20th century brought the yield curve into the spotlight as one of the most accurate indicators of future economic growth available. It has been used as a tool by government and private sector actors to guide decision making since the publishing of those studies. However, it has exhibited odd behavior in recent years, inverting for record periods of time without producing the recession that was forecasted by the inversion. This …

The Rise Of Women’S Soccer In The United States Of America, Nancy Siguenza

Theses & ETDs

Over the past century, women have gradually gained recognition and acceptance within the world of sports, breaking barriers and challenging long-standing societal norms. In the United States, women’s soccer has experienced significant growth. This thesis examines how globalization, Title IX, gender dynamics, socioeconomic factors, and political policies influenced women’s soccer. This research uses a historical analysis to explore the complexities of being both an athlete and a woman in America. The findings reveal that women’s soccer has reached great heights in equal pay, fair media representation, and visibility. This research asserts that women and soccer in America are working together …

Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Phytoplanktonic Groups In Sarasota Bay And Lido Beach, C'Erra Tubbs

Theses & ETDs

Phytoplankton are known to be very responsive to environmental variables and changes such as temperature and salinity. There are many intersections between all these understudied variables. Here, I show the intersectionalities of different phytoplankton groups and their abundances among various environmental conditions and ecological patterns. Phytoplankton were collected and analyzed in January and July 2023 from two separate locations: Sarasota Bay and Lido Beach. Collections were also done from two separate depths. Dinoflagellates and diatoms responded differently to seasonal changes. Dinoflagellates were more sensitive to temperature changes, with clear differences between seasons, while diatoms were more adaptable to changes with …

Creative Connections: The Liberal Arts Approach To Supporting Vulnerable Youth At The National Association Of Mental Illness, Jayleigh Totten

Theses & ETDs

This thesis explores my journey throughout my internship with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, where I applied a liberal arts education to real-life mental health advocacy. The intersection between liberal arts and mental health is rooted in community engagement, hands-on experiences, and critical thinking. Through programs like Lean On Me and Youth Move, I was able to support the youth and young adult community through peer support and program development. This is not your traditional research-based approach, instead, it provides a reflective summary of in-depth experiences through storytelling, personal reflection, and analysis.

Ritual And Ritualization In The Peony Pavilion, Caroline Young

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the functions of ritual in Tang Xianzu’s 湯顯祖 (1550-1616) The Peony Pavilion (1598). It moves beyond traditional scholarly focus on romantic love and supernatural elements to analyze how ritual in the play functions both as a mechanism of social confirmation and resistance, and as a means of emotional expression. Written during the late Ming dynasty, when Wang Yangming’s 王陽明 (1472-1529) School of Mind challenged Zhu Xi’s 朱熹 (1130-1200) philosophies on Neo-Confucianism, The Peony Pavilion shows Tang’s critique of Neo-Confucian ritual propriety through its characters’ diverse engagement with ritual. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from Catherine Bell’s concept of …

The Effects Of Melanism On Leopard Solitary Behavior, Rachel Ullven

Theses & ETDs

Both melanism and communicative markings have been well-examined for their adaptive value. However, investigation of communicative markings using melanism to represent a loss of those markings is far too rare in existing literature for its research potential. One such species where melanism overrides what are thought to be communicative markings is the leopard (Panthera pardus). Since the dangerous, elusive, and solitary nature of the leopard has made it difficult to study their social behavior, proxies such as tracking collars or camera traps have been used in an attempt to gain insight into their behavior and social organization. By using sighting …

Spectral Discrete Ordinates Method With Laguerre Polynomial Truncation Of Order N (Spectral-Ltsn) Solutions To The Generalized Linear Boltzmann Equation, Raymond Odian-Floyd

Theses & ETDs

This thesis presents a deterministic numerical solver for the Generalized Linear Boltzmann Equation (GLBE), a model that describes nonclassical neutral particle transport in heterogeneous media with spatially correlated structures [6, 10]. In such media, the classical assumption of exponentially distributed free paths fails, necessitating a formulation that explicitly accounts for the distance s traveled since the last collision. The proposed method approximates the angular flux using a spectral expansion in generalized Laguerre polynomials over the free-path variable s, discretizes the angular domain using the discrete ordinates (SN) method [8], and applies a diamonddifference scheme for spatial discretization. The resulting system …

Sexual Trauma And Self-Transcendence: Perceptions Of The Self And Trauma Healing After Sexual Assault, Isabel Reyes

Theses & ETDs

Previous research has explored connections between PTSD and social support, specifically for sexual assault (SA) related PTSD, as well as connections between social support and self-transcendence. Self-transcendence has also been found to be beneficial for overall well-being. The current study assesses the relationship between self-transcendence and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms, or PTSS. This was done through an online survey sent out to social media groups and forums. The survey consisted of a PTSS scale, a self-transcendence scale, items on mitigating/aggravating factors of their SA(s), as well items on spirituality/religiosity and other demographic items. The results found no correlations between self-transcendence and …

Directing John Proctor Is The Villain, Sophia Patrick

Theses & ETDs

For my thesis, I directed Kimberly Belflower’s play, John Proctor is the Villain . In this thesis, I will be taking a more analytical approach. I will be using the analysis and research to inspire the aesthetic and directing choices made in the production process. This was completed inside and outside of the rehearsal room, before the rehearsal process begins and during the process. I will be using analytical tools and research methods that inspired my concept for John Proctor is the Villain . This thesis will be completed in three chapters. The first is background information pertaining to the …

Investigation Of Microrna In Canine Congestive Heart Failure, Jada Prignano

Theses & ETDs

Myxomatous mitral valvular degeneration (MMVD) is the most common heart disease in dogs, as well as a significant disease in the human heart. MMVD is characterized by valvular thickening and regurgitation, leading to secondary cardiac structure and function changes. The prevalence of this disease has been correlated wilh age and breed. Small breed dogs such as the Cavalier King Charles spaniel (CVKC), are predisposed to the disease, and the prevalence in the CVKC dogs older than 10 years is greater than 90%. Given that the disease is common, but only a minority of dogs will progress to heart failure, it …

The Effect Of Graphene Oxidation And Weight Percentage On The Biodegradability And Conductivity Of A Cellulose-Graphene (Oxide) Biocomposite, Jesse Roman

Theses & ETDs

The advent of electronics has been one of the greatest breakthroughs in human history, allowing us to significantly improve our quality of life, long-distance communication, and overall development as a society. Optimization and innovation of such technologies is ever-present today, as we continue to transition from in-person to online services. Despite the ongoing advances, the materials that we use to fabricate these devices are typically of plastic and metallic-origin, which not only persist in the environment, but are also detrimental to its health and that of humans. In fact, due to our increasing dependence on electronics, the industry is rapidly …

Otto Von Bismarck: Foundation And Downfall Of The German Empire, Pablo Sarmiento

Theses & ETDs

In this thesis I will present the achievements of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. However, I am also presenting the faults in Bismarck's domestic and foreign policy. Through my research, I will display how the chancellor influenced German politics starting from his appointment to power in 1862 up until his removal from power in 1890. In the final section of this paper, I will analyze the legacy of Bismarck's strategies and the impact those have on German leadership throughout the Wilhelmine period. Overall I am portraying how the tactics Otto von Bismarck used had allowed him to create Germany but …

The Art Of Adaptation: Translating Short Stories To Film, Jakob Schreck

Theses & ETDs

This thesis addresses the process of adapting a short story into a feature-length film and what techniques that filmmakers use to translate a written work in a visual format. The adaptation essay features two case studies of short stories “The Sentinel” by Arthur C. Clarke and “Why Don’t You Dance?” By Raymond Carver and what directors Stanley Kubrick and Dan Rush are trying to accomplish with their adaptations of these stories into 2001: A Space Odyssey and Everything Must Go, going through what each director does with their adaptations and each of their approaches to them. The short story collection …

Student Government Association Monthly Newsletter: November And December Edition, Madison May Albers

SGA - Newsletter

We would like to thank each and every one of you for your kind reception of our inaugural newsletter last month. We hope this one does not disappoint! This newsletter will cover all activity from November and December, as winter break is just around the corner. It also covers the results of our Educational Opportunity Fund cycle this year, so be sure to read all about that in the section titled "Bills passed." We all hope it's been a grand finals week and that you stay warm over break!

Surface-Guided Radiation Therapy For Treatment Of Various Cancers, Taylor J. Windheim

Medical Imaging Senior Posters

Surface-Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) is a newly advancing technology in radiation therapy that improves the accuracy and safety of radiation therapy treatments. SGRT utilizes three-dimensional images of the patient’s surface in real-time, which improves patient setup accuracy and allows for continuous patient monitoring, while decreasing the need for additional imaging in comparison to the traditional laser setup method. The project discusses the advantages of SGRT and the utilization of the technology for breast and lung radiation treatments. In breast cancer treatments, SGRT improves positioning accuracy and reproducibility, as well as decreases radiation dose to the heart and lungs while using …

Basics Of Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography, Megan A. Lasher

Medical Imaging Senior Posters

Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM) is an advanced diagnostic technique that combines anatomical and functional breast imaging with the use of iodinated contrast to enhance potential malignant lesion visualization. This capstone presents the fundamental principles of mammography, clinical indications and contraindications, and diagnostic capabilities of CESM compared to traditional mammography. CESM has improved the detection of malignancies, especially in dense breast tissue, as contrast highlights vascular changes associated with tumor angiogenesis. The imaging involves a dual-energy image acquisition, as low-energy is required for structure and high-energy for contrast enhancement. The dual imaging provides a thorough insight into lesion morphology and perfusion. …

Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Breast Biopsy, Ainsley Derck

Medical Imaging Senior Posters

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -guided breast biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure used to obtain tissue samples that look suspicious on a breast MRI. Because MRI has high soft tissue contrast, subtle abnormalities can be detected that may not be seen well in other breast imaging modalities, like mammography or ultrasound. This makes MRI-guided breast biopsy a valuable option in evaluating suspicious breast tissue abnormalities. The MRI-guided breast biopsy uses MR imaging to accurately locate suspicious tissue and perform a minimally invasive biopsy procedure. During the procedure, MRI is used to position a needle in the breast at the location …

Daily Announcements January 2025, Wofford College. Office Of Marketing And Communications

Communications Office Daily Announcements

No abstract provided.

Facilitation Of Historic Preservation In Parramore, Aiyana Gross

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

The Parramore Speaks project is an initiative hosted by the UCF Public History Department designed to give agency back to the resident’s of Parramore by putting the preservation of their history back into their hands. Through a collaborated with the City of Orlando, RICHES and the PHC Internship, I had the unique opportunity to be a part of a team dedicated to preserving and sharing the endangered local histories of communities located here in Central Florida. I worked personally with the oral interviews and transcriptions for individuals such as Reggie McGill, Alzo J. Reddick, Walter Hawkins and Paul Perkins, tirelessly …

Assessment As Change Management: Facilitating Consensus, Decision-Making, And Culture Change Through A Scaffolded Approach To Ils Review And Selection, Joe Lasure, Lindsay Ozburn, Alex Sundt, Liz Woolcott

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Like many academic libraries, Utah State University Libraries have had a long and complex relationship with our integrated library systems (ILS). After migrating to SirsiDynix’s Symphony ILS from their older Horizon system in 2009, the Libraries moved to Innovative Interfaces Inc.’s Sierra platform in 2012. These back-to-back migrations not only created frustration and fatigue amongst library staff, the decision-making processes that led to the migrations were also flawed and lacked genuine staff involvement. This resulted in problems during the implementation stage, such as workloads being inadvertently shifted from one unit to another. Understandably, this bred some long-standing resentment towards the …

Susan Fogg: An African American Woman In The Radical Holiness Movement, Robert A. Danielson

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

2025 Agenda And Acts Of Synod, Crcna

Agendas and Acts of Synod

Redeemer University, Ancaster, ON: Rev. Stephen Terpstra, president; Rev. Ken Benjamins, vice president; Rev. Joshua M. Christoffels, first clerk; Rev. Gary van Leeuwen, second clerk

Minino, Karol Velasco Aguirre

Grado en Diseño Audiovisual e ilustración

Este Trabajo de Fin de Grado se basa en la creación de una entidad que proporcione información y servicios a las personas que vayan a adoptar gatos próximamente o aquellas que quieran indagar más sobre sus cuidados. Para ello, se ha hecho una investigación previa centrada en la evolución de la relación entre el ser humano y los gatos, el concepto de pet parenting, y las tendencias actuales. Esto ha ayudado a establecer una base teórica para el proyecto. Se han utilizado técnicas de investigación como el análisis al sector y una encuesta realizada a más de quince personas donde …