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Speed Breeding And Fungal Blight Testing Of The Darling 54 American Chestnut (Castanea Dentata), Virginia G. May

All Theses And Dissertations

The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was a dominant, foundational forest canopy species in eastern North America until an imported chestnut blight (caused by Cryphonectria parasitica) rendered it functionally extinct across its native range. Biotechnological approaches, like the Darling 54 transgenic line, have potential for future restoration, but need both lab and field evaluations of their breeding and blight tolerance. This thesis adds to the body of knowledge on the Darling 54 American chestnut. This research reports three novel advancements made through indoor breeding and the first systematic field test for blight tolerance of transgenic American chestnuts.

Historically, …

Antimicrobial Peptides Improve Antibiotic-Mediating Killing Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa) Biofilms, Alya R. Theriault

All Theses And Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus can cause drug-resistant, biofilm-associated infections. These infections place methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) as one of the sixth leading bacterial pathogens associated with deaths due to antimicrobial resistance. Traditional antibiotics are no longer enough to treat these resistant infections and novel therapeutics are needed. Antimicrobial adjuvants are a potential strategy for improving efficacy of existing antibiotics, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may have adjuvant activity. Recent reports showed that AMPs improve antibiotic activity against planktonic staphylococci, but whether AMPs might alter antibiotic efficacy against biofilm-resident staphylococcus is less clear. We tested the effect of nine AMPs on staphylococcal biofilm susceptibility …

Why Legal Attacks On Transgender People Should Concern All Of Us, Kyle C. Velte

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

Queering Carceralism, James Gacek

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

This article endeavours to expand the horizons of queer carceral studies, recognizing it is an apt frame of reference for reconsidering empirical research and advocacy which welcomes queerness as a central and fundamental analytic lens to interrogate carceral capitalist logics. As I have argued elsewhere, we find ourselves in quite the carceral age. Despite the fact queer, trans, and gender nonconforming people continue to be disproportionately incarcerated, if not otherwise affected by the carceral system, queer studies has paid scant attention to the prison, while critical prison studies has only somewhat engaged with queerness. Indeed, the historical illegality, costs, and …

The Adirondack Frontier: Reclaiming A Vital Role In Shaping The Nation, Peter Nelson

Master's Theses

The traditional version of Adirondack history from the revolutionary period to the middle of the nineteenth century, which portrays the region as unexplored primeval wilderness, is nineteenth-century romantic mythology. It ignores thousands of years of Indigenous habitation and misrepresents early Euro-American activity in the region as well. In fact, from the earliest days of colonial exploration of North America until the middle of the 19th-Century, New York's Adirondack region was a dynamic American frontier, as important in shaping the destiny of the nation as the Northwest Territory or, later, the West. Activities in the Adirondack frontier contributed to the decimation …

Ecosymphony: The Human-Nature Dialogue: Restoring The Ohio River Through Landscape Architecture In Louisville, Kentucky, Jayden Nadgwick

Landscape Architecture Theses

Riparian areas are delicate ecological zones that support a wide range of ecosystems, that work together to create rich and healthy habitats. Today, these zones are under threat due to pollutants, flooding, and industrial development along riverbanks. The Ohio River, ranked as one of the most endangered rivers in the United States, is a clear example of how these threats impact the health of the rivers. These threats have led to significant habitat loss and declining health of ecosystems, impacting not only the natural environment but also the well-being of surrounding communities.

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, along the Ohio River. …

Influence Of Smartphone Notifications On Behavior And Eye Movement Parameters Of Emotional Attention, Joshua Daniel Upshaw

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how smartphone notifications interact with emotional facial expressions to influence behavioral and physiological eye movement parameters of attentional orientation. Using a dot-probe paradigm, participants viewed mixed emotional face pairs (angry, happy, or neutral) following an auditory stimulus (smartphone notifications, control tones, or silence). Angry faces elicited greater behavioral accuracy and delayed initial fixations, consistent with heightened threat-related attentional engagement. Notifications disrupted attentional stability, reflected in increased fixations and pupil size variability. The combined effect of smartphone notifications preceding angry faces intensified attentional modulation—evidenced by slower responses, increased blinking, greater pupil constriction, less pupil variability, and faster initial …

Reclaiming The Body: A Womanist Bioethics Approach To Christian Authoritarianism, Laron Bryant Dowdell

Yale Divinity School Theses

This paper uses womanist bioethics as a theoretical lens to explore how authoritarian leadership practices violate Black women's well-being and autonomy. Womanist bioethics uniquely centers Black women's lived experiences, integrating spiritual, historical, and social dimensions of justice that mainstream bioethics often ignores. The womanist bioethics framework is applied to critique religious authoritarianism and to propose alternative leadership models rooted in shared leadership and communal accountability. The discussion unfolds in four parts: (1) how womanist bioethics critiques the bodily and moral harm authoritarian leadership inflicts on Black women, (2) testimonials of Black women who resisted high-control church systems, (3) an exploration …

Bpa Adsorption On Microplastics In Different Chemical Conditions, Addison Zehren

University Honors Program Senior Projects

Microplastics (plastic particles < 5 mm in size) are increasingly seen as a health and environmental issue, both for their direct effects when ingested by living organisms and for their ability to adsorb and concentrate other pollutants. Current water treatment processes do not adequately remove microplastics from municipal water supplies, so a thorough understanding of how microplastics affect water quality is needed. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of certain water quality parameters on the ability of polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs) to adsorb Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is an endocrine disruptor (chemically like estrogen) used in plastics which can be released into the environment and act as a water pollutant. Water quality chemical parameters investigated were chloride, nitrate, phosphate, and copper ions. Concentrations of each solute were selected based upon Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines and previous results obtained from testing Chicago River water samples. A constant amount of PS MPs and BPA were added to each sample and the mixtures were shaken for 5 days to allow time for the BPA to adsorb. The samples were then filtered and the amount of BPA left in the water was determined by measuring its UV absorbance on a UV-vis spectrophotometer. BPA concentrations decreased in the water indicating that it had been adsorbed onto the microplastic surface, with the highest adsorption present with copper, which reduced BPA concentrations from 6.7 mg/L to 3.9 mg/L. Statistical analyses showed differences between copper, phosphate, nitrate, and chloride (df = 9, p = 0.002). Future work can apply these results to investigate the implications of pollutant transportation in urban waterways like the Chicago River.

Atypical Morphometry And Connectivity Of The Cortico-Striatal-Thalamo-Cortical Circuit In Children And Adolescents With Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Population At Ultra-High Risk For Developing Obsessive-Compulsive And Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Amanda I. Rowan

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder associated with serious medical, cognitive, and psychiatric conditions, including significantly elevated risk for obsessive-compulsive (OCD) and/or schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ). The cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) neural circuit is critical for cognitive and emotional processing. Dysfunction of the CSTC circuit is implicated in the etiopathology of both OCD and SCZ but has not been specifically examined in individuals with 22q11.2DS. This study used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), along with standardized psychological and cognitive measures, to investigate atypical morphometry and white matter connectivity within CSTC-related brain regions in …

Assessment Of Lake Salvador Shoreline Dynamics To Support Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In Jean Lafitte National Historical Park And Preserve, Louisiana, Lydia V. Dipaola

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

High wave energy degrades shoreline habitat between Lake Salvador and Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (JELA), Louisiana. JELA constructed a northern breakwater in 2004, and a southern breakwater in 2024 to protect the shoreline and promote restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). This study analyzes Sentinel-2 imagery to quantify coastal loss along the JELA-Lake Salvador using the Change Polygon Approach, assessing annual, cumulative and major storm event-associated shoreline changes for January 2017-2025. SAV cover, nekton diversity, wave energy, and turbidity were measured before-and-after southern breakwater construction to monitor ecological and environmental outcomes. The JELA-Lake Salvador shoreline has lost …

A Tale Of Two Women, Cassady Brown

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Genetic And Spatial Analysis Of The Last Megafaunal Species (Tapirus Terrestris) In The Paraguayan Dry Chaco Forest, Emily Bowers

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Isolation And Identity Beyond Borders: An International Student’S Journey Of Playing Agatha In The Moors, Himshree Neupane

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This thesis examines the experience of portraying Agatha in Jen Silverman’s The Moors, a dark comedy set in the 19th century that combines gothic elements with modern themes like love, power, isolation, and identity. It explores the connection between Agatha’s character and the play itself, both of which are dark and complex. By drawing on Beyond Stanislavski’s “transient now” method and the Practical Aesthetic acting technique, I reflect on how these approaches shape my portrayal of Agatha, a character who embodies strength, confidence, and manipulation, yet also reveals vulnerability.

The thesis follows the journey from the play’s …

Life After Leaving College: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Senior-Year Transition And Future Self Ideation For Cisgender Women In A Post-Dobbs Sociopolitical Context, Abigail Lukens

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The Senior-Year Transition, first named by Gardner and Van der Veer (1995), is defined as the final period of the undergraduate experience before transitioning into graduate school or the workplace. Few studies have investigated gender differences in this transition, and additional research is needed on women’s Senior-Year Transition experiences and the impact of context on experience. This is especially relevant as women and other pregnancy capable people navigate a new, post-Dobbs sociopolitical context in the United States with implications for their reproductive health and future family or life planning. Using a qualitative, interpretive phenomenological research design with a modified …

Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In A Suburbanizing Watershed, Bailey Mullins

Master's Theses and Capstones

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent man-made chemicals that accumulate in aquatic environments due to their widespread industrial and commercial use and resistance to degradation. Understanding their spatial distribution and relative abundance in streams draining suburbanizing watersheds is crucial for effective watershed and water quality management. This study investigates how the concentrations and composition of PFAS in surface water and sediment are impacted by urbanization. PFAS were quantified in the Lamprey River watershed, a coastal watershed in southeastern New Hampshire that is experiencing ongoing suburbanization. Sampling sites include tributaries, mainstem, and estuarine areas. Surface water, sediment, and well water …

May 2025 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Pfos Exposure On Zebrafish Dopaminergic Neurodevelopment, Allison G. Fletcher

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of environmental contaminants that cause disruptions to the nervous and endocrine systems. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is considered one of the most disruptive PFAS to the nervous system, and may disrupt neurodevelopment of the dopaminergic system, which has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders like Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in humans. I hypothesized that early life PFOS exposure disrupts the development of the dopaminergic system. To test this hypothesis, I exposed zebrafish to 0.05, 0.5, and 5.0 mg/L PFOS through 5 days of embryonic and larval development. To assess acute effects of PFOS on the …

Dekonstruktion Der Afd: Eine Analyse Der Rechtspopulistischen Deutschen Partei Der„Alternative Für Deutschland”, Elizabeth A. Breckenridge, Elizabeth Breckenridge

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Die Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) ist eine rechtsextreme populistische Partei, die innerhalb eines Jahrzehnts rasch an Macht gewonnen hat, insbesondere in den ostdeutschen Bundesländern, aufgrund ihrer Betonung der Nationalisierung, ihrer populistischen Rhetorik und ihrer Anziehungskraft auf Wähler, die Ängste vor Einwanderung und kulturellem Wandel hegen. Die AfD hat es innerhalb von fünf Jahren geschafft, eine starke Wählerschaft zu mobilisieren, 2017 Sitze im Bundestag zu erringen und gilt nun als wichtigste Oppositionspartei zu den etablierten Parteien. Die AfD ist die erste rechte Partei seit 1945, die aufgrund des Aufstiegs rechtspolitischer Ideologien bedeutende Wahlerfolge erzielen konnte. Aufgrund des reaktionären Pendelschwungs nach dem …

"Integrative" Vs "Integration": Stem Skills And Concept Development In 6th Grade Students, Kathryn Chain

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

As a whole, interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in schools is on the rise at a national level, and it is widely recognized that the development of skills and concepts in science, technology, engineering, and math are not only beneficial to students, but are in fact necessities for future citizens of an increasingly global world (Kelley & Knowles, 2016.) Despite this increasing acceptance and awareness of the need for STEM literacy, there is a critical lack of guidelines on what STEM education actually entails and how to effectively integrate these concepts and skills into the educational …

A Comparative Study Investigating Patient Experience At Corporate And Private Dental Practices., Abigail R. Logeman

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Oral healthcare is an essential aspect of an individual’s systemic health. However, many oral conditions are left untreated due to the inaccessibility to dental care. Many disparities limit access to dental care like low income and lack of insurance coverage. Untreated oral conditions are linked to systemic health problems like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pancreatic cancer. Patient experience is a driving factor in the continued involvement in dental care that would limit some of the diseases with oral health manifestations. I aim to compare patient experiences in private and corporate dental practices to provide a scope of the dental care …

Human Trafficking Prevention Methods In Nebraska, Allison E. Munderloh

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Human Trafficking has been a concern in Nebraska for a long period of time, but there is a lack of publicly available information regarding the prevention methods being employed and their effectiveness. This study aimed to identify the human trafficking prevention methods in use in Nebraska and their effectiveness based on the opinions of human trafficking professionals in the state. The human trafficking professionals were interviewed, and the information gathered was organized into seven different themes. The themes that arose from the information gathered included educational efforts, victim intervention and resources, addressing demand, labor trafficking, measuring success, resources and funding, …

Soft Substance Usage And Productivity In The Patrol Officer Population, Patrick Brady

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Consumable substances have long been used to enhance performance and ease nerves in first-responder populations. Among these substances, caffeine and nicotine products are some of the most frequently used by law enforcement. For the purposes of this study, these substances will be coded as “soft substances” (SSs). As opposed to hard substances (heroin, methamphetamines, crack-cocaine, etc.) SSs are non-criminalized substances that do not significantly change one’s state of consciousness; these substances are also commonly used during the workday (e.g. nicotine used on smoke breaks, caffeinated drinks consumed during the day). Usage rates of SSs in the law enforcement population surpass …

Understanding Age-Related Differences In Dentists' Perceptions Of Fluoride Use In The Midwest, Alexander S. Becker

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This study examined age-related differences in dentists’ perceptions of fluoride use, effectiveness, and risks. Eight Midwest dentists (four early-career, four experienced) participated in interviews with demographic, quantitative, and open-ended questions. While all recognized fluoride’s importance, younger dentists emphasized its benefits and utilized it more themselves than older dentists, two of whom expressed concerns about fluoride exposure and fluorosis, a hypomineralization disorder that occurs during enamel development (Berg et al., 2011). One dentist cited potential neurological risks, including effects on the pineal gland and links to Alzheimer’s Disease. Despite these differences, all but one viewed fluoride as a cost-effective preventive measure …

The Burden Of Care: Understanding Burnout Among Pediatric Healthcare Workers, Navya Khandavalli

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Burnout among pediatric healthcare professionals is a growing concern that impacts both employee well-being and the overall quality of patient care. The aim of this study is to analyze the definition of burnout and how healthcare organizations can implore strategies to help improve the mental and physical well-being of their staff. Analysis was done through a survey administered to healthcare employees recruited from pediatric clinics, the neonatal ICU, pediatric research, and pediatric rehabilitation facilities. Findings from the methods found that burnout is often defined as prolonged occupational stress in an individual and are often characterized by symptoms of emotional exhaustion, …

Dental Access And Public Health Policy Gaps, Hafsa Tasneem

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Oral health is a key component of overall well-being, yet it is often overlooked in public health policy and planning. While regular dental care can prevent long-term complications, many individuals delay or forget treatment due to barriers such as cost, lack of insurance, scheduling difficulties, and limited awareness of available resources. I did this study as I came across health disparities in underserved communities and wanted to see if the results would be similar in a university population that is insured and has access to more resources. To investigate challenges that individuals within a university community face in accessing dental …

Investigating The Effects Of Sod1 Knockout On Oxidative Stress And Stress Coping Styles In Zebrafish Using Crispr Technology, Tai Prauner, Ryan Wong

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Reactive oxygen species are byproducts of cellular metabolism that, when not efficiently neutralized, can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that converts superoxide radicals into less harmful molecules. While its molecular function is well documented, the role of SOD1 in shaping stress-related behavior remains underexplored. This project aimed to establish foundational tools for studying the behavioral impact of SOD1 knockout across proactive and reactive stress-coping styles in zebrafish.

To support future gene-editing experiments, microinjection and breeding protocols were refined across wildtype AB, proactive, and reactive zebrafish lines. No embryos were injected with CRISPR-Cas9 …

Diagnostic Categories And Epistemic Injustice In Clinical Psychology, Thomas Eilers

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This study investigated how clinical psychologists reasoned about and used diagnostic categories in practice. Diagnostic categories are limited and sometimes reductive systems of understanding people. They can also bring with them epistemic injustice, a type of wrong done to someone specifically in their capacity as a knower. In this case the concern is that a mental health diagnosis is a serious attack on a person’s credibility, wherein their experience is seen as less legitimate insofar as it is caused by an illness. Four semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinical psychologists. Psychologists generally described using diagnosis as one of many tools …

Conversations With Friends: How Gender And Politics In The 2024 U.S Presidential Election Was Perceived By The People And By The Numbers, Hadley H. Burke

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The 2024 U.S. presidential election were largely unprecedented, with President Joe Biden withdrawing from the race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Nominee mere months before election day. The events that followed were rife with opportunity to explore the intersection of gender and politics, a topic of increasing relevance as women have become more politically active over the past century. Going beyond the traditional gender gap research, which demonstrates the divergent voting patterns of women and men, this research seeks to understand how the gender of the candidate influences vote choice. Using empirical data on the gender …

Evaluating Fly-Ash As A Sustainable Solution For Contaminant Removal From Wastewater, Calyn Wisdom

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Access to clean and safe water is an escalating global concern due to the persistent presence of toxic contaminants in aquatic environments. Among these, synthetic dyes and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent two distinct yet significant classes of pollutants, both posing serious environmental and public health risks. Dyes in water contribute to intense coloration, elevated chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD and BOD), reduced light penetration, and disruption of aquatic ecosystems, with potential health risks to humans upon exposure. PFAS, often termed "forever chemicals," are synthetic organofluorine compounds associated with a range of adverse health effects, including endocrine disruption, …