Digital Commons Network^™

A Catalog Of Diversity Of The Lichen Genus Cladonia Within Carter Caves State Resort Park, Carter County, Kentucky, Crecie Kelly, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Lichens are a symbiotic organism consisting of two components: a mycobiont (fungus) and a photobiont (algae and/or cyanobacteria). These organisms play a significant role within the environment such as food resources, in practical uses such as dyes or medicine, and as environmental indicators. Current understandings of the lichens in Kentucky remain broad and incomplete. The purpose of this study is to catalog the diversity of the lichen genus Cladonia within Carter Caves State Resort Park (CCSRP), a park known for its high biological diversity. Cladonia has the highest macrolichen species richness in Kentucky. This genus of fruticose lichens can grow …

The Undertreatment Of Pain In Women, Abigail R. Schultz

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Pain is a prevalent reason for patients to seek medical care. Despite a high incidence of pain conditions, there is evidence suggesting that women, in particular, experience undertreatment of pain. The undertreatment of pain in women can contribute to long-term negative health effects and physical suffering. • The QSEN principles are the foundation to quality improvement research and implementation. Within this project, patient-centered care, safety, and evidence-based practice are incorporated to highlight the key focus of the need for women’s health advocacy and pain management

Detection Of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes In Bacteria Collected From The Triplett Creek Watershed, Heavenly Mays, Emily Morgan, Geoffrey W. Gearner

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Ongoing research in the Triplett Creek Watershed (TCW) focuses on assessing water quality and monitoring bacterial contamination. The spring 2024 sampling efforts aimed to evaluate bacterial density and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across multiple sites. To screen for AMR in bacteria, the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used. A total of 35 bacterial isolates were tested against multiple antibiotics. This revealed 26 isolates were resistant to Erythromycin, 32 isolates were resistant to Clindamycin, 2 isolates were resistant to Colistin, 7 isolates were resistant to Ampicillin, 4 isolates were resistant to Amoxicillin with Clavulanic acid, 2 isolates were resistant to tetracycline, 3 …

Comparative Analysis Of R-Cards And Idexx Quanti-Tray/2000 For The Detection And Enumeration Of Bacteria In Environmental Water Samples, Heavenly Mays, Emily Morgan, Geoffrey W. Gearner

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Kentucky Watershed Watch program, a non-profit that relies on the help of volunteers, trains Kentucky residents on proper analytical procedures needed to assess waterways near their homes. Volunteers can deliver samples to established labs for bacterial analysis or independently test sample sites’ pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, and Escherichia coli levels. One of the ways the Watershed Watch program analyzes water quality is by using R-Cards, sample cards that contain a chromogenic medium useful for detecting and enumerating E. coli. These cards cost $1 each and are quite simple to set up, whereby one mL of sample site water …

Expectation Vs Reality: Attempting To Circularize Ch. Iv In Yeast Resulted In A Ch. Iv-Ii Fusion, Dylan R. Carroll, Blake D. Hoover, Megan S. Shirley, Adelyn J. Weaver, Mark T. Wilson, Melissa A. Mefford

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Chromosomes are structures that transmit genetic information from one cell to another during cell division • Eukaryotes, like humans, have linear chromosomes containing ends called telomeres that act as buffers to protect the genome • Loss of telomere sequences is associated with aging, and the activation of the enzyme telomerase is correlated with most cancers • Question: Why do eukaryotes have linear chromosomes?

Bryoflora Of Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area In Northeastern Kentucky, Teagan Pattinson, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Bryophytes include liverworts, hornworts, and mosses - Ecological importance: primary colonizers, retain moisture in the environment, cycle nutrients, and act as bioindicators (McKnight et al., 2013) - Bryophytes have a dominant gametophyte life cycle phase and lack complex vascular tissue - Incredibly adaptable to a wide array of environments and can grow on almost any surface - The objective of this project is to document the diversity of bryophyte species in the Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Elliott County, KY - This WMA features narrow, deep sandstone gorges, creating a perfect environment for a diverse range of …

The Dawn Of A New Lappin: The Revision And Reorganization Of The Morehead State Archives, Ava Fluharty, June Lennex-Stone, Shelby Turner, Jennifer O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Geology Program has formal book, fossil, journal, map, mineral, and rock collections dating to the 1950’s. These specimens were donated by biological and physical sciences faculty prior to the 1960 hire of Dr. John Philley and greatly expanded upon by Drs. Philley, James Chaplin, Jules DuBar, and H.W. Straley III through the 1990’s. Prior to construction of the “C-wing” of Lappin Hall, the collections previously housed in laboratory classrooms in the path of the new corridor connecting the “B-wing” and “Cwing”, as well as those housed in the “A-wing” were boxed and stored in multiple temporary locations until new …

Evaluation Of Cutting Sizes And Sticking Cutting Times On Propagation Of Rosemary, Emma R. Miller, Emily B. Cobb, Alyssa F. Covell, Mary H. Jackson, Mollie K. Mayabb, Ace B. Shelby, Leo Shelby, Seaanna G. Skinner, Madeline Walsh, Ricky C. Young, Amy S. Collick, Alireza Rahemi

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a well-known culinary and medicinal herb in the Lamiaceae family, which is native to the Mediterranean area. It is a source of antioxidants and has several benefits for the body's health, such as antiinflammatory, anti-fungal activity, anti-aging, and support of the digestive system. Rosemary has several habit types: trailing, creeping, and upright; its flowers can be blue, violet, pink, or white. It could be propagated by seeds or by vegetative methods. Seedlings can show a high level of genetic diversity; therefore, vegetative propagation is used to keep the mother traits of the cultivars. One of the …

Rewiring An Enzyme: K135f Mutation In Malate Dehydrogenase, Lauren Ratz, Kaci Schmoll

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2025

Malate Dehydrogenase (MDH) is an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of malate to oxaloacetate by reducing the cofactor NAD+ to NADH in the citric acid cycle, playing a crucial role in cellular metabolism. Alterations in the MDH structure have been linked to metabolic diseases and cancers, though its overall structure remains poorly characterized. To better understand MDH, we manipulated its structure by inserting a point mutation into the flexible loop region at position 135, exchanging a lysine (Lys) to a phenylalanine (Phe). We hypothesized that mutating a positively charged amino acid (Lys) to an aromatic amino acid (Phe) would cause …

Sigma Zeta National Math And Science Honor Society Inducts 31 New Members, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

The Beta Tau Chapter of Sigma Zeta National Honor Society held its induction ceremony recently. A group of 31 students were honored as new members, and the new officers were installed. Graduating seniors were also recognized.

April 16, 2025 (Vol. 109, No. 26), Daily Easten News

Daily Eastern News: 2024-2025

No abstract provided.

The Lumberjack, April 16, 2025

Cal Poly Humboldt's Student Newspaper

The student newspaper of Humboldt State University.

A Qualitative Investigation Of Middle School And High School Students' Perspectives On Their Cultural Identities, Jasmine Blake

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Adolescence is a critical period for identity development. Previous research highlights the challenges related to having an unclear conception of one’s identity. Importantly, qualitative research on using student voice and student perspectives of their cultural identities to improve overall school climate and teacher-student relationships has been overlooked. To improve culturally responsive practices, researchers should account for the voices of primary stakeholders that may be missed in quantitative research methods. Thus, the current study aims to use qualitative interviews of middle and high school students to use student voice to improve culturally responsive practices and further our understanding of cultural humility. …

Transnational Childcare Labor And The Politics Of Affect In Contemporary Black Women’S Fiction, Gul Deniz Hos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Neoliberal globalization has stimulated a continuous rise in migrant women’s domestic work in industrialized Western countries. In the global North, a growing number of female immigrants have supplemented precarious, low-waged, unprotected, unstable, or even unwaged care labor undertaken by mostly female residents as cleaners, caregivers, nurses, babysitters, or domestic service workers. Thus, ironically, non-migrant women’s participation in the public workforce is enabled by migrant women’s mostly devalued, underpaid domestic work in private households. It also upholds the perception that childcare is a private rather than public responsibility. The exploitation of women’s reproductive labor and the feminization of childcare has a …

Family Perspective On The Opioid Crisis: A Qualitative Exploration Of Responsibility, Prevention, And Treatment Access, Stella Ukaoma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

ABSTRACT The opioid epidemic has inflicted a terrible toll on communities and families across the United States for decades. Family members with loved ones who misuse opioids have an especially intimate view of the initiation and progression of addiction, as well as the factors that lead to recovery. Perspectives from this population are underrepresented in the literature and may provide unique and valuable insight. The present research draws from in-depth interviews with twenty-seven individuals whose loved ones (i.e., children, spouses, siblings, etc.) either currently or historically had misused opioids. This study explored family members’ experiences and perspectives on key topics …

Household Composition And Its Influence On Youth Mental Health And Violence Outcomes: A Systematic Review, Comparative Analysis, And National Survey Findings, Clarion Jamil Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Youth mental health and violence have emerged as critical public health concerns, with increasing rates of anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and youth violence in recent years. Household composition plays a crucial role in shaping child mental health outcomes, yet research has largely focused on single-parent and stepparent households, with limited attention to grandparent-headed households. This dissertation explores the relationship between household composition and child mental health, with a particular focus on anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and experiences with violence. Using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 (n=53,267), this research employs logistic regression models to …

Early Detection Of Colon Cancer Through Colonoscopy: Analysis Of Tumor Size And Resection Length, Alyssa Haddock

Honors Theses

Colon cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with early detection critical for improved outcomes. Colonoscopy is a primary screening tool that can reduce incidence rates through the identification and removal of precancerous polyps. This study examines how undergoing a colonoscopy prior to diagnosis impacts two key surgical outcomes: tumor size and colon resection length. Data were collected from 70 de-identified patients who underwent colon resection for colon cancer between 2019 and 2024 at two regional hospitals in East Texas: Hunt Regional Medical Center and Mother Christus Frances Hospital. Using pathology reports, tumor size and …

Imsaloquium 2025 Event Booklet, Student Inquiry And Research (Sir)

IMSAloquium Event Booklets

Cover designed by Aimanohi Imoukhuede, IMSA student,

Welcome to IMSAloquium, our annual, school-wide celebration of learning! This booklet contains abstracts for over 225 outstanding projects conducted by IMSA students in the 2024-25 academic year. The topics range from biomedical research to artificial intelligence, from history to the social sciences, and from business to entrepreneurship

Perfectionism, Anxiety, And Depression: A Comparison Of Student Mental Health At East Texas A&M University: Honors Vs Non-Honors, Connor Hall

Honors Theses

Honors students at East Texas A&M University (ETAMU) may have higher expectations to succeed due to greater course load and pressure versus students who are not in the honors program. These expectations can lead to stress that may cause perfectionism, anxiety, or depression (Rice, 2006; Wan, 2022; Van Praag, 2004). This study sought to determine if higher expectations and course load could lead to differences in mental health in honors versus non-honors students at East Texas A&M University. In order to determine these mental health characteristics, data was gathered using responses to a Qualtrics survey sent to 7527 ETAMU undergraduate …

The Implications Of The Scientific Developments Behind Oxidative Stress, Heat-Shock Proteins, And Antioxidants On Neurodegenerative Pathology, Nolan Wilbourn

Honors Theses

Homeostasis is essential for the health and development of all organisms, serving as a universal defense mechanism that ensures the stability of physiological processes faced with external and internal stimuli in the form of health challenges (Archana et al., 2017). Maintaining homeostasis is crucial for our health, as it helps keep the body's internal balance. However, this delicate equilibrium is challenged by various environmental factors, such as diet, exposure to chemicals, and fluctuations in temperature (Collier et al., 2017). These disruptions can lead to dysfunction in cellular processes, particularly affecting the production and regulation of proteins vital for biological functions. …

The Effect Of Female Athlete Menstrual Cycles On Their Athletic Performance, Millie Allgood

Honors Theses

Previous research studying the effects of the menstrual cycle on athletic performance has focused on women who do not participate in any athletic activity or participate at a recreational or professional level (Dupuit et al., 2023; Ekenros et al., 2022). Few studies have tested collegiate athletes and those which have examined theoretical effects or psychological impacts rather than direct performance outcomes (Carmichael et al., 2021). It is widely agreed upon that reproductive hormones have broad influences throughout the body including body composition, response to stress, appetite, energy expenditure, and blood-glucose regulation. These factors directly contribute to physiological abilities such as …

Drinking Behavior And Performance In Neonatal Swine, Yasmine Taylor

Honors Theses

This behavioral study analyzes the relationship between water intake and growth performance in pre-weaned piglets. Growth is paramount in pork production, and maximizing growth in weaned piglets has been thoroughly researched. However, one crucial aspect of growth is often overlooked: water, especially in neonatal piglets. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if there is a positive relationship between water intake and performance in pre-weaned piglets by observing different behaviors. Weights were recorded at birth, after 7-10 days, and at weaning. Piglets were observed three times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening, for 21 days via scan sampling. Observation …

The Effects Of Diverse Bitter Gourds On Newly Formed Mcf-7/G1p3 And Mcf-7/Vector Cancer Cells, Eder Colmenero

Honors Theses

Breast cancer has become one of the deadliest cancers to affect women worldwide. Although treatments have been developed, no cure has been found for this disease. An emerging field with cancer treatments shows how isoflavones can be critical to limiting hormone-related cancers. In this study, the effects of Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) extracts will be investigated in two separate cell lines. These cell lines include MCF-7 and G1P3 with the G1P3 cell line being the more aggressive cancer. Bitter gourd, which is mainly harvested in Asia, has been shown to display apoptotic features when contracting cancer. Although it is unknown …

The Effects Of Maclura Pomifera On Mcf-7/Vector And Mcf-7/G1p3 Breast Cancer Cells, Khushi Bhatt

Honors Theses

Breast cancer is considered one of the most common types of cancer, mainly affecting women worldwide. The most aggressive type is Triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for approximately 10-15% of the total amount of breast cancer cases. The majority of breast cancer cases are regarded as estrogen receptor-positive, accounting for 70% of the total number. Current treatment options consist of immunotherapy, surgery, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy. Research in breast cancer treatment has been a topic of interest in recent years, as the rate of individuals becoming diagnosed is increasing. The Osage orange, or Maclura pomifera, is a fruit native to …

First Record Of Corella Japonica In California, Lauren M. Stefaniak, Marie L. Nydam, Susanna López-Legentil

Marine Science

Many ascidian (sea squirt) species are common members of fouling communities, particularly on floating substrates such as docks and pilings and through maritime transport, have been introduced worldwide. For the past 30 years, marinas in Southern California have been regularly monitored for introduced species due to their proximity to the international shipping terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. Here, we report on the first record in the eastern Pacific of an ascidian in the family Corellidae (O. Phlebobranchia), Corella japonica, found at the Newmarks Yacht Centre in Los Angeles Harbor. This study further highlights the importance of continuously …

How Childhood Maltreatment Shapes Brain Regions: Considerations For Speech-Language Pathology, Alexa G. Sees

Honors Thesis

Childhood maltreatment is a pervasive issue that affects millions of children worldwide, leading to alterations in key structures such as the limbic system, basal ganglia, corpus callosum, visual cortex, and language areas. These changes result in significant cognitive, emotional, and neurological consequences, such as learning deficits, emotional regulation issues, memory problems, reduced vocabulary size, speech errors, etc. This thesis explores the neurological effects of childhood maltreatment and their implications for speech-language pathology, highlighting how maltreatment-induced brain changes affect areas within the scope of speech-language pathology, such as social communication, language development, and behavior management. These results underscore the importance of …

Fourth Annual Research Symposium Program With Abstracts, Office Of Research Affairs, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Boonshoft School of Medicine Research Symposium

The program booklet is a compilation of abstracts from oral and poster presentations at Wright State University's Fourth Annual Boonshoft School of Medicine Medical Research Symposium held on April 16, 2025.

Avian Detection Data And Environmental Covariates For Utah, Usa Over The Years 2017-2021, Amanda L. Hayes-Puttfarcken

Browse all Datasets

Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) detection data for the state of Utah, USA, and LANDFIRE uncharacteristic exotic Departure Score data over Utah during our study period, as well as additional environmental covariates used to make the model more ecologically accurate. Environmental covariates include average May precipitation, average June temperature, distance to the nearest road, percent canopy cover, and the percent of three habitat types as defined by LANDFIRE; open tree canopy, herbaceous, and shrubland.

Cystic Fibrosis-Related Neurodegenerative Disease Associated With Tauopathy And Cognitive Decline In Aged Cf Mice, Danica F. Patton-Parfyonov, Xinming Wang, Sarah Barker, Deborah A. Corey, Edwin Vázquez-Rosa, Nichele Abeyesundere, Whitney M. Ward, Rebecca Darrah, Jung A. Woo, David E. Kang, Andrew A. Pieper, Thomas J. Kelley

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Highly effective modulator therapies (HEMT) are increasing the lifespan for many people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), making it necessary to identify and understand CF specific age-related consequences. In this study, we examine the impact of aging on cognitive function and age-related brain pathology in a CF mouse model focusing on phospho-Tau (pTau) pathology. Methods: Cognitive function was measured by novel object recognition and spontaneous alternation behavior tests. Hippocampal neuronal function was assessed by measuring long-term potentiation (LTP) electrophysiology, the synaptic correlate of learning and memory. Tau pathology was assessed by immunohistochemical analyses and western blot assessment of pTau levels …

How Aza Zoos And Aquariums Are Helping To Fill The Gap, Erika Bauer, Grace Fuller, Candice Dorsey

Animal Sentience

Oldfield & Bonano (2024) identify significant gaps in scientific knowledge about certain animal taxa, such as reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish. Despite some efforts, published literature remains limited, forcing decision-makers to rely more on experiential knowledge than scientific evidence. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are uniquely positioned to bridge these gaps and advance animal welfare science by fostering collaboration, building partnerships, and promoting multi-disciplinary approaches to welfare assessments.