Digital Commons Network^™

Impacts Of German Yellowjacket (Vespula Germanica) Removal On Pollinator Communities In Western New York, Jonathan M. Promowicz

Biology Theses

Invasive social insects can restructure native arthropod communities through predation and competition. Vespula germanica (German yellowjacket) is a globally invasive wasp species that dominates vespid assemblages across urban and suburban landscapes. This study tested the hypothesis that reducing V. germanica using protein-based fipronil baits would increase native pollinator abundance, species richness and native vespid abundance. Vespula germanica was experimentally suppressed at suburban and urban sites. Pollinator abundance and richness increased with V. germanica baiting. Native vespids had mixed results from baiting with suburban sites increasing in overall abundance and urban sites decreasing. These results indicate that suppressing dominant invasive wasps …

A Status Review Of ``The Unreasonable Effectiveness Of Mathematics'', Melvin Royer

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2024

No abstract provided.

Mentored Research Projects In Applied Mathematics, Danilo Diedrichs

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2024

No abstract provided.

Self-Graphing Equations, Sam Alexander

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2024

No abstract provided.

Setting Up For Success_ Analysis Of Effectiveness Of Mathematics Placement, Jeffrey Carvell, Jason Ho, Dave Klanderman, Sarah Klanderman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2024

No abstract provided.

Mathematics-Ai Based Phylogenetic Analysis Of Influenza Virus Mutation Data, Emilee Walden

Mathematical Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The influenza virus is one of the most common viral infections each year and can mutate rapidly. Viral mutations pose significant threats to public health by increasing infectivity and strengthening vaccine resistance. To track these evolving patterns, agencies like the CDC annually evaluate thousands of virus strains to understand viral mutagenesis and evolution in depth. Therefore, a computational method for analyzing high-dimensional, noisy virus data could aid in the rapid identification of antigens essential for an effective influenza vaccine for the upcoming season. Through the integration of genomic analysis, clustering, and dimensionality reduction methods, this study specifically aims to develop …

Breakthrough: How Committed, Long-Term Supports For Middle And High School Students Help Unlock The Power Of Education And Create A Lifetime Of Opportunity, Anastasia L. Borowski

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

This project explores the impact of Breakthrough, a program dedicated to supporting first-generation college-bound students, through the lens of a teaching fellow's summer experience. With a mission to grow educational opportunity, Breakthrough provides academic enrichment, mentorship, and support starting in middle school to ensure college becomes an option for all of its students.

This research highlights experiential data from a teaching fellow’s week-by-week responsibilities. This project seeks to share the stories of different roles within the program and their influence on student outcomes, academic pathways, and personal growth. The research highlights the unique structure of Breakthrough’s support system and its …

Bostock And The Limits Of Textualism: A Doctrinal Structuralist Approach, Martin J. Katz

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

In Bostock v. Clayton County, the Court held that Title VII prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This result, the majority claimed, was required by the interpretive theory called textualism. But textualist justices in the dissent vehemently disagreed. This split, and the controversy that has followed it, has had two consequences. First, it added fuel to the ongoing debate about the value of textualism. Second, it opened the door for lower courts to decline to apply Bostock to similar antidiscrimination laws, such as Title IX in education or the Equal Protection Clause (such as the Skrmetti case, …

Evaluating The Health Of The Latah Creek Tributary And Its Impact On The Health Of The Spokane River By Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Analysis, Andee West, Ian Townley

CURCI Student Research

Research question: How does the Latah Creek tributary impact water quality of the Spokane River, monitoring the riverbanks and macroinvertebrate families?

Below To Beyond Human: Social Death To Ego Birth During The Black Psychedelic Experience, Angelica Medina

Library Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research

Prior to the modern day green light to research psychedelics, it has been consumed for its offered experience for centuries in indigenous traditions. Research today insists that psychedelics assist greatly with self healing and self discovery. The “self-healing” in its extreme form is often labeled as “ego death”, which is defined as “surrendering to our self-subjected identity”. I will argue that the present definition for ego death is inaccurate without the integration of sociological concepts and race theory. Social death, a term coined by Orlando Patterson, suggests that black individuals aren’t accepted as fully human in our social institutions and …

Addressing Gender Disproportionality Within Michigan Special Education Programs, Katlyn Ploss

School of Education Capstone Projects

Disproportionate representation in special education is defined as when members of a social group (race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, etc.) have a higher likelihood of meeting eligibility criteria to receive special education services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). While special education disproportionality ratios for race and ethnicity are monitored through annual data reporting in accordance with federal and state policies, gender disproportionality ratios are not currently required to be monitored. According to Michigan annual data reporting, 34.96% of students receiving special education services are female, whereas male students make up 65.04% of the special education population (MI School Data, …

Representation Of Autism Spectrum Disorders In Realistic Fiction For Children And Young Adults Over The Past 20 Years, Jane E. Kelley, Yun-Ju Hsiao, Brenda L. Barrio, Teresa A. Cardon, Madeline G. Joyce

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

In our study, we analyzed 147 contemporary realistic fiction children’s and young adult books that feature characters with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We compared these representations with current statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For each book, we examined the character demographics, the main character, the author’s background, and representation prevalence. Our findings revealed a significant increase in the portrayal of characters with ASD over the past decade. There has also been a rise in the number of characters with ASD serving as the main protagonists in stories. We delved into the implications of gender, race, and …

A Joint Endeavor: Methotrexate Vs. Jak Inhibitors For Joint Inflammation Reduction In Rheumatoid Arthritis, Madeleine Kennedy

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

This paper investigates the comparative efficacy of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors versus methotrexate (MTX) in reducing joint inflammation in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study addresses the critical research question: In adult patients with RA, does treatment with JAK inhibitors or methotrexate demonstrate superior efficacy in reducing joint inflammation? A literature review was conducted analyzing various clinical trials, including phase II and III studies, that evaluated the effectiveness of JAK inhibitors, both as monotherapy and in combination with MTX. The findings indicate that JAK inhibitors, particularly tofacitinib and baricitinib, consistently show superior or equivalent efficacy in achieving American …

A Joint Endeavor: Methotrexate Vs. Jak Inhibitors For Joint Inflammation Reduction In Rheumatoid Arthritis, Madeleine Kennedy

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes joint inflammation and damage. This paper investigates the comparative efficacy of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors versus methotrexate (MTX) in reducing joint inflammation in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study addresses the critical research question: In adult patients with RA, does treatment with JAK inhibitors or methotrexate demonstrate superior efficacy in reducing joint inflammation? A literature review was conducted analyzing various clinical trials, including phase II and III studies, that evaluated the effectiveness of JAK inhibitors, both as monotherapy and in combination with MTX. The findings indicate that JAK …

Icipe Monthly Digest – Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2025, International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology (Icipe)

icipe Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Motivating Pro-Environmental Behavior: The Roles Of Emotions, Habits, And Status In Consumer And Lifestyle Choices, Clara Schilder Manning

Psychology Honors Projects

Given the urgency of addressing climate change, research on how sustainable behavior can be motivated is essential. The present research investigates how message framing, self-focused emotions, habits, and perceived status influence pro-environmental decision-making. Study 1 examined the effects of message frame (positive, negative, neutral), commitment level (one-time, long-term), and behavior type (consumer, lifestyle) on pro-environmental intent. Participants (N = 110) read two separate narrative scenarios describing one consumer and one lifestyle choice, each manipulated by message frame and commitment level. After reading each scenario, participants rated their feelings of anticipated shame and pride and indicated the likelihood (scale of …

Beyond Opioids: The Role Of Polysubstance Exposure In Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Treatment And Hospitalization, Caelyn Harrison

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the impact of prenatal polysubstance exposure, specifically focusing on the need for pharmacological treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and the duration of their hospital stay. A retrospective analysis of 462 infants, including 121 exposed to polysubstances during pregnancy, showed significant associations between polysubstance exposure and adverse neonatal outcomes. Infants with prenatal polysubstance exposure were more likely to require pharmacological treatment for NAS (52.8%) compared to non-exposed infants (38.7%), as determined by chi-square analysis (χ²(1, N = 462) = 7.36, p = .007). Additionally, infants exposed to polysubstances experienced longer hospital stays on average (M = 14.88 …

Smokejumper Biographies For 1960 Rookie Class, National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Biographies by Rookie Year

This document contains short biographies of smokejumpers who rookied in 1960.

Investigating The Parameters Driving Black Hole-Galaxy Co-Evolution, Rachel Cleveland

University Scholar Projects

In this research project, we study supermassive black holes that reside in the center of galaxies. More specifically, we explore the self-regulatory nature of these black holes as well as their relationship with their host galaxies. Simulations are utilized to study these cosmic entities, as they allow us to investigate the implications of different physical mechanisms in galaxy evolution. We use Cosmology and Astrophysics with MachinE Learning Simulations (CAMELS) to identify the astrophysical parameters that drive the black hole-galaxy coevolution. Building on our earlier results based on the SIMBA simulation, which established broad correlations with black hole and stellar mass, …

Exploring Healthcare Barriers: Perspectives Of Immigrants And Providers, Nazanin Zaer

University Scholar Projects

Immigrants in the United States face significant barriers when accessing healthcare, despite healthcare being recognized as a fundamental human right. This literature review explores six key barriers: language difficulties, discrimination, cost, cultural differences, transportation issues, and challenges navigating a new healthcare system. Through the analysis of 23 peer-reviewed articles, this review identifies how each barrier affects healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for immigrant populations. Language barriers interfere with effective communication and trust, while discrimination—rooted in race, ethnicity, nationality, and immigration status—reduces the likelihood of seeking care. Financial constraints, including lack of insurance and high out-of-pocket costs, prevent timely medical intervention. …

Sustainability Progress In Retail Small Businesses On The Big Island Of HawaiʻI, Lori E. Okami

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

This study examined sustainability awareness, adoption, and needs of retail small businesses on Hawaiʻi Island, specifically in the retail trade and accommodation and food services sectors. It began by determining sustainability awareness of small businesses, as perceived by owner or manager representatives. The study proceeded by exploring sustainable practice adoption differences based on residency, location setting (i.e., urban vs. rural), and industry sector, then sought to determine whether a positive correlation existed between the size of small businesses (i.e., by number of employees) and the adoption of sustainable practices, and if there was a negative correlation between the years of …

Female Leaders In Intercollegiate Athletics: A Design-Based Mixed Method Study Focusing On Female Leadership Development Through Strengths-Based Training, Abby Weber

Dissertations

Historically, women endured challenges obtaining leadership roles in male-dominated industries, specifically sports. Despite Title IX's intent to promote gender equality, the number of female leaders in sport leadership positions unintentionally decreased as the number of female athletes increased, reducing female mentor visibility (Acosta & Carpenter, 2014; LaVoi & Dutove, 2012; Taylor & Wells, 2017; Tibbetts, 2020; Walker & Bopp, 2010). The low number of female mentors available negatively impacted future sport career aspirations by female student-athletes (Levi et al., 2023; Swim et al., 2021). Recurring gender stereotypes continued to impede women's leadership opportunities, as society viewed leadership traits as inherently …

The Anorexigenic Peptide Nesfatin-1 Dampens The B Cell Response To Receptor-Mediated Stimulation Through Inhibition Of Nf-Jb Signaling, Tara L. Steffen, Joshua D. Stafford, Colleen R. Bocke, Willis K. Samson, Gina L.C. Yosten

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nesfatin-1, a posttranslational product of the protein encoded by the nucleobindin 2 gene (NUCB2), was functionally identified as an appetite regulatory molecule in rat hypothalamic nuclei. In the years following the discovery, those findings have been corroborated and expanded upon, and we now know that nesfatin-1 is expressed throughout peripheral tissues and exerts physiological effects beyond feeding control. Literature indicates that adipose tissue is one of the peripheral sources of NUCB2/nesfatin-1, and in this setting, it has anti-inflammatory effects that have recently been implicated in regulating chronic inflammation associated with diet-induced obesity. Currently, there are gaps in our understanding of …

Dna Storage Of Images: From Pixels To Molecules, Cihan Ruan

Engineering Ph.D. Theses

DNA storage is rapidly emerging as a transformative solution for long-term, ultra-dense, and energy-efficient archival systems. This dissertation builds upon a deep understanding of image compression principles to design encoding frameworks that are uniquely attuned to the biochemical constraints of DNA storage. By fusing insights from traditional coding with molecular-level design, we develop a series of technically advanced solutions tailored for this emerging medium.

Our first contribution introduces Dynamic DNA-Fountain, a constrained codec that maps H.266 /VVC-compressed bitstreams to quaternary DNA sequences, optimizing for both information density and biochemical synthesis constraints. Building upon this foundation, we shift focus toward robustness—leveraging …

Commencement Program, May 2025, Bemidji State University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

High Dose Intravenous Vitamin C In Breast Cancer Therapy, Brianna Solis

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies globally, emphasizing the need for adjunct therapies to enhance treatment outcomes and improve patient care. Current breast cancer treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, are often effective but are frequently associated with significant side effects that can impact treatment tolerance and quality of life. This review examines the effectiveness of high-dose intravenous (IV) vitamin C as an adjunct therapy in breast cancer treatment, specifically its potential to reduce tumor size and alleviate chemotherapy-associated side effects. A literature review was performed using electronic databases PubMed and Google Scholar from April to June …

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Versus Oral Immunotherapy In Food Allergies, Kendra Bohm

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Food allergies are classified as an immune hyperreaction that leads to various symptoms that can range from mild to severe and even result in death. Often, management of food allergies includes avoidance of triggering substances or rescue treatment after exposure has occurred. This literature review aims to examine preventative management options for food allergies, including oral immunotherapy, and recent medications, including monoclonal antibodies. The databases searched for this literature review include PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. Additional references were also selected from reference lists in those studies as they pertained. This review explores the success in reaching desensitization following treatment …

Efficacy Of Stem Cell Therapy Versus Standard Drug Therapy In Adults With Heart Failure, Evie Reynolds

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Myocardial infarction (MI) or other damage to the heart tissue may result in ischemia, and because cardiomyocytes have limited regenerative capacity, this often leads to the development of heart failure (HF). Typical symptoms of HF include dyspnea, edema, cough, fatigue, and chest pain, which arises from fluid overload and congestion. Current medical treatments focus on alleviating these symptoms through loop diuretics, which reduce fluid accumulation but do not treat the underlying ischemic damage. Recent studies have shifted focus towards stem cell therapy, which have shown potential to differentiate into cardiomyocytes and regenerate ischemic heart tissue. A comprehensive search of databases …

Feral And Free: The Queering Of Motherhood In Rachel Yoder’S Nightbitch, Cassandra Haskell

Master's Theses

This thesis explores motherhood from a perspective that seeks to inform and challenge the patriarchal definitions of motherhood in order to simultaneously confront its restrictions and create new meanings from its institutionalized definition. The main text that this thesis analyzes is the 2021 novel Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder, as well as the 2024 film of the same name, critiquing how it successfully queers motherhood by questioning, challenging, and defying the impractical expectations placed upon mothers by society. Some secondary scholars whose works that I utilize to support my argument are authors such as Audre Lorde, Jessica Calarco, Adrienne Rich and …

The Promise Of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy For Opioid Use Disorder, Craig Kimble, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

The opioid epidemic presents a profound and escalating public health and economic crisis in the United States. According to the CDC, the economic burden of opioid use disorder and fatal opioid overdose in the U.S. reached an estimated $1.02 trillion in 2017 alone, encompassing healthcare costs, lost productivity, criminal justice expenditures, and premature mortality. While current pharmacologic treatments—such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone—have proven efficacy, they are not without limitations, including high relapse rates, issues with compliance, stigma, and insufficient engagement in long-term recovery. These shortcomings necessitate an exploration of innovative, cost-effective interventions. One such promising alternative is psilocybin-assisted therapy. …