Digital Commons Network^™

Reef Fish Movement And Community Assemblages Associated With A Newly Deployed Artificial Reef, Jade M. Carver, Brett J. Falterman, Stephen R. Midway, Christian Walker, Creed C. Branham, Michael A. Dance

Faculty Publications

Artificial reefs provide critical habitat for fish in areas lacking benthic structure, yet our understanding of how artificial reefs function and develop is limited. Here, changes in fish community assemblages were monitored using baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys before and after a new artificial reef was deployed in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Movement of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) between nearby oil and gas platforms (n = 3) and the new artificial reef was examined using acoustic telemetry, and residency was calculated for fish associated with both structure types. Fish community development at the …

Accuracy Of Angular Displacement Measurements Using Imu, Aidan Mills

Anthropology

As a part of a larger group, this research focused on gathering data from accelerometers to gather further knowledge on how these devices could be used in further experiments. Using the Sparkfun Artemis accelerometer, angular displacement was isolated and tested to understand the parameters and abilities of the device. Simple tests were run moving the device through 90 degree angular changes. The data collected by the accelerometer was then analyzed using code written specifically to graph angular changes. The data was run through a low and a high pass filter to account for any drift experienced during the tests. An …

Parkinson’S Disease Pathophysiology And Comparative Analysis Of The Efficacy Between Subthalamic Nucleus And Globus Pallidus Interna Deep Brain Stimulation: A Student’S Perspective, Peter C. Solimando Ii

Anthropology

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is becoming an increasingly common neurodegenerative disease across the world, presenting with both debilitating motor and non-motor symptoms that progressively worsen throughout the course of the disease. Prominent motor symptoms include tremors, bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, and postural/gait instabilities, while common non-motor symptoms include fatigue, pain, autonomic dysfunction (i.e., bowel and bladder dysfunction), mood disorders, and dementia. The advent of modern medical management of PD has introduced several different medications, the most popular being levodopa, that have shown success in reducing the severity of motor symptoms, particularly in the early stages of the disease. Throughout disease progression, however, …

Comparison Of Femoral Head Loading In Chimpanzees And Humans, Kyra Kalinovsky

Anthropology

Chimpanzees are the closest living relatives of humans, despite this, the species do have very different loading on the epiphysis of the proximal head of the femur. The difference in loading is primarily due to a difference in locomotion. These differences affect the properties of subchondral and trabecular bone properties in the femoral head. Previous studies have shown that chimpanzees have thick and concave trabeculae that create a dense bone structure (Georgiou et al., 2018). These are found mostly on the inferior and central part of the femoral head. In humans, the structure of the trabecular bone volume is less …

Reconstructing Diets In Iron Age Ashkelon: A Stable Isotope Analysis, Delaney Ballard

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Diet can represent how different individuals within a population may be affected by famine, drought, or the fall of an empire. Bioarchaeologists observe patterns in human diet--and consequently, human experience--through generalized reconstructions of consumption via faunal and human skeletal remains. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes are an effective and accurate way of learning what past individuals consumed. By analyzing the stable carbon and nitrogen values derived from collagen in human bones, bioarchaeologists can ascertain the primary protein source of a person’s diet. This thesis used the theoretical framework of structural vulnerability and stable isotope analysis on secondary data to describe …

Understanding Initial Capacity Loss In Substituted Layered Oxide Cathodes For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Gy Wyco

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Layered oxide LiCoO₂ (LCO) pioneered the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in 1991, yet the growing demand for higher energy density has driven the development of substituted layered oxides, including LiNiᵧMn𝓏Co₁₋ᵧ₋𝓏O₂ (NMC) and LiNiᵧCo₁₋ᵧ₋𝓏Al𝓏O₂ (NCA). Despite the increased energy density, achieving full lithium reversibility during the first charge-discharge cycle remains a critical challenge: approximately 0.08–0.11 Li is “irreversibly” lost after delithiation, resulting in a substantial capacity loss of 10–15%. This loss is conventionally attributed to bulk lithium transport limitations arising from three interrelated factors: (1) contraction of the c-axis lattice during lithiation, (2) reduced rate of tetrahedral site hopping (TSH) …

Optimal Time Of Training To Prioritize Sleep, Stress, Recovery And Performance In Student-Athletes, Ryan E. Mutzner

Leadership Education Capstones

This study investigated the impact of training time—morning versus afternoon—on the sleep, stress, recovery, and performance of high school student-athletes. With increasing demands placed on student-athletes, particularly during the academic year, understanding how training schedules influence both physiological and psychological well-being is critical. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from ten student-athletes over six training sessions through self-reported surveys and performance testing via Counter-Movement Jump (CMJ) assessments. The study found that afternoon athletes consistently reported longer sleep durations and higher peak performance, while morning athletes demonstrated better sleep quality and more consistent performance across sessions. Afternoon participants experienced higher …

Improving Breast Cancer Modifiable Risk Factor Knowledge Among Patients In A High Risk Breast Cancer Prevention Clinic In The Midwest, Bailee Torneden

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

Preventative health care is the best choice in moving forward to reduce disease incidence. In the case of breast cancer, prevention clinics have been set up for those who have been determined as a high risk status for developing breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. There are many risk factors for breast cancer that are out of the patient’s control, but there are lifestyle health behaviors that could be implemented to lower the patient’s risk. The potential impact of these can not only lower the incidence of breast cancer, but can be linked with reduction of other disease …

Let It Flow: Information Exchange In Video Conferences Versus Face-To-Face Meetings, Hadar Y. Jabotinsky, Roee Sarel

Connecticut Law Review

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, policymakers faced a seemingly difficult choice. On the one hand, health considerations required imposing restrictions on face-to-face meetings. On the other, intuition suggested that switching to video conferencing might lead to information loss. As the pandemic progressed, in-person meetings largely turned digital, including court hearings, lawyer-client consultations, board meetings, and more. But did this turn actually cause an information loss?

Figuring out whether information is lost in video conferences is pivotal not only as a reflection on the pandemic but also to determine how to move forward in a post-pandemic world. In particular, identifying whether …

California’S Ban On Cruel Or Unusual Punishment: A State Constitutional Analysis Of Anti-Camping Ordinances, Anna R. Janson

Connecticut Law Review

In Martin v. City of Boise, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit relied on the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause of the Eighth Amendment to rule that a class of involuntarily unhoused individuals may not be criminally punished for sleeping on public property in the absence of “sufficient alternatives” for all unhoused people. In Johnson v. City of Grants Pass, the Ninth Circuit elaborated that civil schemes which lead to criminal punishment are unconstitutional as well. However, the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in the latter case and disrupted both Ninth Circuit decisions. The Court …

Genomic Analysis Of The Lyme Disease Vector Across Virginia’S Spatial Expansion Front, Amy Jablonski

Honors Theses

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and is expanding with rising incidence in Virginia . This study investigates populations of lxodes scapularis across Virginia using RAD-seq to analyze SNPs from ticks collected in seven Virginia counties and four U.S. states as references . Results show a clear genetic split between western and eastern Virginia ticks . These results follow previously noted patterns in regional differences in Lyme disease risk.

Bard Observer, Vol. 23. No. 6 (May 2025), Bard College

Bard Observer, 2020 - 2029

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda May 1, 2025, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Meeting Agendas

No abstract provided.

The Fight Against Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus Clarkii): Examination Of The Implementation And Efficiency Of Intensive Trapping And The Winner-Loser Effect As Management Techniques, Emily Klimczak

Great Lakes Center Masters Theses

Aquatic invasive species are not native to a location and have negative impacts on their surrounding environments. Crayfish invasions have been documented worldwide, but none are as widespread as the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Red swamp crayfish currently are found in over 40 countries globally and are invasive on every continent, except Antarctica. Outside of their native range, impacts include reduced native crayfish abundance, loss of macrophytes, increased disease transmission, loss of native snails and other macroinvertebrates, and damage to dykes and paddies. Attempted management techniques for the red swamp crayfish include habitat modification, male sterilization via …

Butterfly Effects: Women And Criminal Law, Pavithra Rajendran

Washington International Law Journal

Through a comparative analysis of the criminal laws of Sri Lanka and the United States, this paper examines how Sri Lanka’s legal framework on sexual offenses often hinders women’s access to justice and reinforces systemic gender discrimination. Recognizing the structural constraints inherited from older common law traditions, it underscores the potential for reform through targeted, gradual changes, drawing on developments in modern common law in the United States and relevant international legal standards. The discussion unfolds in three parts: first, a feminist critique of exiting criminal laws in postcolonial; common law systems such as Sri Lanka’s; second, a comparative analysis …

Generative Artificial Intelligence Dependency: Scale Development, Validation, And Its Motivational, Behavioral, And Psychological Correlates, Adalia Yin Hui Goh

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The growing integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life has raised questions about its potential psychological and behavioral consequences. The present research develops and validates the Generative AI Dependency Scale, a multidimensional tool developed to assess individual differences in dependency on generative AI systems. Across six studies involving 1,223 participants from the United States and Singapore, the Generative AI Dependency Scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties, including a stable three-factor structure (cognitive preoccupation, negative consequences, withdrawal) and good test-retest reliability (ICC = .85). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a higher-order dependency construct, and scalar measurement invariance was established across sex …

Investigating Teacher Practice In Designing Educational Digital Games To Improve L2 Chinese Word Recognition Skills, Shutan Dong

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study explores the design strategies and pedagogical principles that shape digital games for developing second-language (L2) Chinese word recognition skills. Drawing on design documents, reflective journals, and design notes, it analyzes the game development process, the reasoning behind design choices, and their perceived effectiveness and challenges. The analysis is grounded in established game-based learning frameworks and second language acquisition theories. Findings reveal that the practitioner employs five design strategies: learning alignment, cultural contextualization, achievement mechanics, user-centric navigation, and functional aesthetics. These strategies are shaped by pedagogical principles, including scaffolding, multimodal learning, active learning and immediate feedback, as well as …

Computationally Assessing The Specificity Of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, Htoo Say

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are vital to cell signaling processes such as growth, survival, and differentiation. Dysregulation through mutation or overexpression often contributes to cancer, making RTKs key therapeutic targets for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, the low specificity of many TKIs leads to off-target effects. This project uses molecular docking to evaluate the binding affinities and selectivity of FDA-approved TKIs across 18 RTK subtypes. The dockings conducted revealed significant variability in binding affinities, with Sorafenib exhibiting strong specificity for EphB2 (-7.6 kcal/mol) and poor compatibility with EphA7 and ErbB4 (-3.0 kcal/mol). These findings underscore the role of specific molecular …

Unraveling The Causal Influences Of Drought And Crop Production On Groundwater Levels Across The Contiguous United States, Nitin K. Singh, Sheila M. Saia, Ruchi Bhattacharya, Hoori Ajami, David M. Borro

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Groundwater depletion in agricultural-dominated regions is attributed to climate and irrigation withdrawals that support crop production. However, despite decades of effort, knowledge gaps remain in understanding the relative influence of drought and crop production on groundwater levels at the continental scale. Here, utilizing empirical observations, we simultaneously track how long-term trajectories of groundwater levels, crop production of seven crops, and drought have evolved over time, and then integrate these observations with a causality-based attribution framework to unravel the relative impact of drought and crop production on groundwater levels across the contiguous United States (CONUS). We find a dominant pattern of …

An Australian Chickpea Pan-Genome Provides Insights Intogenome Organization And Offers Opportunities For Enhancing Drought Adaptation For Crop Improvement, Vanika Garg, Rutwik Barmukh, Yan Huang, Annapurna Chitikineni, Kristy Hobson, Bicheng Yang, Yong Jia, Shengnan Bi, Sukhjiwan Kaur, Muhammad Ahsan Asif, Matthew Hayden, Sally Norton, Darshan Sharma, Kadambot H. M. Siddique, Xin Liu, Chengdao Li, Rajeev K. Varshney

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Summary

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important legume crop that has been subjected to intensive breeding, resulting in limited genetic diversity. Australia is the world’s second largest producer and the leading exporter of chickpea; the genomic architecture of its cultivars remains largely unexplored. This knowledge gap hinders efforts to enhance their genetic potential for production, protection, and stress adaptation. To address this, we generated high-quality genome assemblies and annotations for 15 leading Australian chickpea cultivars using single-tube long-fragment read technology. The pan-genome analysis identified 34 345 gene families, including 13 986 dispensable families enriched for genes associated with key …

Cationic Conjugated Polymers With Enhanced Doped-State Planarity For N-Type Organic Thermoelectrics, Jiu-Long Li, Xin-Yu Deng, Jupeng Chen, Peng-Xiang Fu, Shuang-Yan Tian, Yunfei Wang, Xiaodan Gu, Ting Lei

Faculty Publications

To date, extensive efforts have been devoted to designing new conjugated polymers with long alkyl or ethylene glycol sidechains. However, these sidechains are insulators, limiting further performance enhancement in doped conjugated polymers. Moreover, the most widely used chlorinated solvents are toxic, limiting the practical applications of many conjugated polymers. Here, we report a water/alcohol processable n-type conjugated polymer P(Py2FT), featuring side chain-free cationic backbones. P(Py2FT) exhibits a high n-type electrical conductivity of up to 28.1 S cm⁻¹ and a high thermoelectric power factor of up to 28.7 μW m⁻¹ K⁻², comparable to some conventional …

Repatriation And Replicas: Finding Impactful Solutions To The Repatriation Question Through Analysis Of Nashville Parthenon Visitor Experiences And Evaluation Of Current Literature, Jesse D. Miller

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Artifact repatriation is an often debated topic within the museum sector. While there have been many arguments for and against the repatriation of cultural heritage objects, none of them consider the implications that artifact repatriation can have on the relationship between a museum and its community. This thesis covers the various arguments surrounding artifact repatriation, the researcher’s personal experience as an intern at the Nashville Parthenon, and analyses visitor responses to a feedback space within the exhibit Repatriation and Its Impact. This thesis uses visitor feedback as the basis for its analysis. The research suggests that use of accurate …

Prevalence Rates Of Tetb, Teta, And Tetm Tetracycline Resistance Genes In Environmental Escherichia Coli Isolates From Local Waterways, Caris Cianelli

Honors Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence rates of the tetracycline resistance genes tetA, tetB, and tetM in environmental Escherichia coli isolates. Samples were from both an urban and an agricultural waterway were filtered and incubated with Coliscan™ medium to differentiate for fecal coliforms. The resulting colonies were streaked onto EMB and then TSA plates to ensure isolation and presence of E. coli. All media used were supplemented with 10 µg/mL tetracycline in order to maintain selective pressure on the isolates. DNA from the isolates was then extracted and PCR was run using tetA, tetB, and tetM …

Justification For The Biological Foundation Of Methane On Mars: Methanogens’ Capacity To Metabolize On Montmorillonite Clay And Basalt, Ashley Ezeldin

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The possibility of extraterrestrial life, particularly on Mars, remains a compelling question in astrobiology. Mars' harsh atmospheric conditions, dominated by carbon dioxide and extreme cold, prevent the survival of aerobic species. However, it still leaves the possibility of methanogens, an anaerobic species that can survive in extreme conditions, to inhabit this planet. Due to the discovery of methane on Mars, it is possible that methanogens may live and grow in the subsurface of this planet.

For this experiment, basalt and montmorillonite clay were chosen as substrates because they are believed to be found in the composition of Mars's subsurface. Methane, …

Characterizing The Medial Forebrain Bundle In Adolescents With Anhedonic Depression, Tina Nguyen

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Adolescent depression has quickly grown in prevalence, yet the underlying neuropathology remains poorly understood. Anhedonia–the diminished ability to experience pleasure–is a core symptom of melancholic depression. Early identification of biomarkers associated with anhedonic depression could help mitigate the severity of the disorder by enhancing treatment efficacy. Blunted functionality of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), the reward center of the brain, and abnormal dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have both been linked to depression. Furthermore, glutamatergic input from the hypothalamus modulates the VTA which in turn, downregulates dopamine release in the NAcc. However, there is limited evidence supporting that …

The Effect Protein Supplementation On Waist-To-Hip Ratio, Bmi, Lipid Profile, And Resting Energy Expenditure In Postmenopausal Women, Caleb Flores

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Postmenopausal women are a growing and at risk population that face increased risk for adverse changes in body composition, lipid profile, and overall cardiometabolic health due to hormonal changes associated with aging. Over 40% of postmenopausal women have obesity, which can be linked not just aging but the menopausal transition. Because of the negative effects of menopause on cardiometabolic, research into dietary interventions to combat these effects are needed. High-protein diets have shown promise in mitigating these effects, but sufficient research has not been done to determine the effects on postmenopausal women. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of …

Assessment Of Nitrogen Source Utilization During Nitrogen Fixation And Nitrogenase Regulation By Methanosarcina Acetivorans, Avery Carter

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nitrogen is a crucial element in biomolecules such as proteins and DNA, essential for all cellular life. Biological nitrogen fixation, a process utilized by certain bacteria and archaea, reduces dinitrogen (N₂) to ammonia (NH₃), enabling growth in the absence of fixed nitrogen sources like NH₃. This process is driven by the metalloenzyme nitrogenase, which catalyzes the reaction: N₂ + 16ATP + 8e⁻ + 8H⁺ → 2NH₃ + H₂ + 16ADP + 16Pi. Due to its high energy demand, nitrogenase production and activity are tightly regulated. Among archaea, nitrogenase is found exclusively in methanogens, where its regulation remains poorly understood. We …

Changes In The Androgen Signaling Pathway Caused By Gut Parasite Cryptosporidium Parvum, Aarushi Aalok Sheth

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The molecular mechanisms driving prostate cancer initiation remain under investigation; however, studies have shown that the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway plays a central role in prostate cancer progression. The AR is a regulator of prostate cell growth, differentiation, and survival and the aberrant signaling of AR is implicated in the progression of prostate cancer. Studies of Androgen signaling pathway in connection with the gut parasite C.parvum revealed direct changes in the signaling pathway of androgen which could potentially lead to the initiation of Prostate Cancer. Analysis of the prostate samples collected from twenty JAX Swiss Outbred mice gave different …

Postpartum Depression And Anxiety Between First-Time And Multiparous Mothers Of Infants In The Nicu, Jennifer L. Diaz-Miranda

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety are significant concerns for mothers with infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); yet the role of parity in shaping these experiences remains underexplored. This cross-sectional secondary analysis examined data from 82 NICU mothers (62 adults, 20 adolescents) using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and anxiety subscale. Findings revealed that primiparas and adolescents exhibited higher depression scores and multiparas and adolescents were more likely to experience anxiety symptoms. Parity, however, was not found to be a significant factor capable of predicting PPD or anxiety but results highlight the importance of early screening, personalized mental health …

The Impact Of Maternal Age On The Expression Of Transgenerational Plasticity In Daphnia Pulicaria, Calvin Nguyen

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Transgenerational plasticity refers to heritable, non-genetic changes in phenotype that persist across multiple generations and can enhance offspring survivability in variable environments. In Daphnia, increasing maternal age has been associated with maladaptive plasticity. To investigate this relationship, six clones were collected from two Wisconsin lakes and acclimated to laboratory conditions through a common garden rearing process. For each clone, ten replicates were generated and evenly divided between young (clutches 2–4) and old (clutches 5–8) maternal age groups. Offspring were exposed to three dietary treatments for three experimental generations: one fed only green algae, one fed only cyanobacteria (a nutritionally …