Digital Commons Network^™

Applications Of Deep Learning And Signal Processing In Acoustics, Oceanography, And Biometrics, Ali Abdulmajeed Altaher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines multidisciplinary methods in marine research, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence. This dissertation tackles significant issues in ecological monitoring, ocean dynamics forecasting, and assistive technology via three independent but interrelated research streams.

The first study examines the localization and distribution of marine organisms along Florida’s East Coast via passive acoustic monitoring methods. The research analyzed more than 65,000 audio recordings to delineate the geographical distribution of several marine creatures, such as black drum, toadfish, Sei whales, North Atlantic right whales, dolphins, and false killer whales. A novel automated detection and localization model was developed, using an adaptive matching …

Is Infant Fear Related To An Increase In Maternal Stress?, Janairis F. Munoz-Perez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of infant fear responses on mother stress throughout the first year of life was investigated in this study. Between six and fourteen months, thirty mother-infant pairs were examined at three different time intervals. Maternal responses from the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (IBQ-R) and behavioral observations made during standardized lab tasks were used to evaluate infant fear. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to measure maternal stress at all time points, and behavioral stress was coded during the first session. The findings showed no overall significant correlation between the mother's subjective stress and the behavioral fear of her infant. …

Exploiting Undulating Fin Kinematics For Multi-Directional Swimming Control, Omar S. Odeh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Black Ghost Knifefish achieves remarkable swimming gait transition by leveraging the distinctive morphology and kinematics of a single, elongated undular fin. Alongside bi-directional swimming, complex maneuvers incorporating vertical movement and pitch control can also be attained. Inspired by the Knifefish, we explore a novel propulsive and directional control method for an undulating membrane affixed to a robotic vessel utilizing counter-propagating waveforms in tandem with a sigmoidal spatiotemporal pattern to control forward, backward, and turning of the vessel. The proposed actuation supplied the propulsion necessary for the robotic vessel to swim bi-directionally with heading control under varying flow speed conditions. …

Materia Non Medica: Reading Disability And Medical Narratives In The Daughter Of Doctor Moreau, Jessica Elizabeth Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a close reading of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, engaging Indigenous studies and disability studies to illuminate how the novel interrogates embodiment, medical authority, and human difference. By situating the text within historical frameworks of medicine and corporeality in Mexico, and alongside speculative modes that seek to recuperate non-Western epistemologies, the analysis reveals how Moreno-Garcia reimagines the body as mutable, relational, and politically charged. The narrative’s hybrid characters and transgressive identities offer a generative lens through which to explore bodily variance, not as deviation, but as a site of possibility. Ultimately, this thesis argues …

Investigating The Role Of Rps3 In The Homologous Recombination Dna Repair Pathway, Jerome Robert Dorsey

Theses and Dissertations

Ribosomal proteins have been demonstrated to perform extra-ribosomal functions beyond protein synthesis, including roles in cell signaling, transcription regulation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. Ribosomal protein S3 (RPS3), in particular, has been implicated in DNA repair and apoptosis pathways, suggesting a critical role in maintaining genomic stability. However, the specific mechanisms involving RPS3 are still unknown, particularly in the context of double-stranded break (DSB) repair. DSBs are among the most severe types of DNA damage, often resulting in chromosomal instability or cell death if not properly repaired. Nonhomologous End Joining (NHEJ) and Homologous Recombination (HR) are the two primary DNA repair …

“Digital Shame Shift”: From Telling The Pain To Recording The Truth — Black Maternal Health And Digital Counter-Narrative Storytelling On Tiktok, Odera Covenant Ezenna

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how digital storytelling on TikTok is used to challenge medical racism, with a particular focus on Black maternal health. Guided by Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Critical Technocultural Discourse Analysis (CTDA), the study examines how TikTok users—ranging from Black mothers to healthcare professionals—create and circulate counter-narratives through two prominent campaigns: #BlackMaternalHealthWeek and #BlackMamasMatter. These digital stories serve as acts of resistance, disrupting dominant medical discourse and amplifying the lived experiences of Black birthing individuals. The research analyzes over 2900 TikTok videos posted between 2021 and 2024, identifying key themes, storytelling strategies, and rhetorical shifts over time. The …

A Scoping Review Of Population Diversity In The Common Genomic Aberrations Of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Sean S. Kumar, Ninad Khandekar, Komal Dani, Saina R. Bhatt, Vinay Duddalwar, Anishka D' Souza

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Previous literature has shown that clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is becoming a more prevalent diagnosis and that the incidence and mortality differ both regionally and racially. While the molecular profiles for ccRCC are studied regionally through biopsy and sequencing techniques, the genomic landscape and ccRCC diversity data are not well studied. We conducted a review of the known genomic data on 6 of the most clinically relevant DNA biomarkers in ccRCC: von Hippel-Lindau (vHL), Polybromo-1 (PBRM1), Breast Cancer Gene 1-Associated Protein 1 (BAP1), Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase Domain-Containing 2 (SETD2), Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), and Lysine-Specific Demethylase 5C …

Phosphorus Removal Using Novel Carbon Adsorbents Derived From Waste Algae: An Industrial Ecology Approach To Mitigate Algal Blooms, Vithulan Suthakaran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High phosphate levels and warm temperatures in surface waters can stimulate the overgrowth of certain alga types, causing harmful algal blooms (HABs). HABs may adversely affect public health and have negative economic impacts due to associated healthcare costs, required clean-up activities, and tourism revenue loss. The overarching objective of this study was to utilize an industrial ecology approach and convert algal biomass into chemically modified activated carbon adsorbent materials for phosphate removal. Cyanobacterial biomass was collected from Lake Okeechobee in Florida and processed before activation using fast and energy-efficient microwave heating. To improve phosphate removal, the surface of the adsorbents …

Balancing Regeneration And Resistance: Targeting Dclk1 To Mitigate Gastrointestinal Radiation Injury And Oncogenesis, Landon L. Moore, Jerry Jaboin, Milton L. Brown, Courtney W. Houchen

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Ionizing radiation (IR) poses a dual challenge in medicine; while essential for cancer therapy, it inflicts collateral damage to normal tissues, particularly the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. High-dose IR triggers acute radiation syndrome (ARS), characterized by crypt stem cell depletion, mucosal barrier disruption, inflammation, and potential progression to fibrosis and secondary malignancy. Emerging evidence identifies the epithelial kinase doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1)—highly expressed in GI tuft cells and cancer stem-like cells—as a master regulator of post-IR responses. DCLK1 integrates DNA repair (via p53/ATM), and survival signaling (via NF-κB, TGF-β, and MAPK) to promote epithelial regeneration, yet these same mechanisms contribute to …

Fiber Photometry Analysis Of Spontaneous Dopamine Signals: The Z-Scored Data Are Not The Data, Conner W. Wallace, Clare Y. Slinkard, Rachael Shaughnessy, Katherine M. Holleran, Samuel W. Centanni, Christopher C. Lapish, Sara R. Jones

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Fluorescent sensors have revolutionized the measurement of molecules in the brain, and the dLight dopamine sensor has been used extensively to examine reward- and cue-evoked dopamine release, but only recently has the field turned its attention to spontaneous release events. Analysis of spontaneous events typically requires evaluation of hundreds of events over minutes to hours, and the most common method of analysis, z-scoring, was not designed for this purpose. Here, we compare the accuracy and reliability of three different analysis methods to identify pharmacologically induced changes in dopamine release and uptake in freely moving C57BL/6J mice. The D1-like receptor antagonist …

Visual Thinking Informed By Repetition: A Practice-Based Methodology, Julia Heurling

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

This artistic research proceeds from the idea that visual thinking is thinking about images through images. It explores how ideas are instigated, developed, and articulated exclusively through visual elements from a practice-based perspective. The use of repetition as a method of thinking is rooted in my previous practice as a pattern designer. I consider this a cognitive process based on the assumption that repetition is a tool for abstraction, as it changes one’s perspective from the particular to the general. Abstraction, in this context, becomes a method for processing information (i.e. to think visually).My artistic practice is engaged in combining …

Ontological Machines: Subjectivity And Relational Desire In Immersive And Interactive Environments, Toby Chanter

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

This practice-based artistic research focuses on two contemporary spaces; namely the pedagogical spaces of healthcare Simulation Based Education (SBE), and the exhibition spaces of installation art. These seemingly unrelated activities share a range of technological and operational similarities that render their combined study under the banner of ‘immersive and interactive environments’ both novel and necessary. The lack of broad engagement with questions of representation, aesthetics, and affect is conspicuous in an educational practice that is reliant on, and implemented through, a network of overtly visual mediums, material technologies, and sensory modalities. In healthcare SBE, clinical skills are acquired, and medical …

Above And Below The Horizon: A Practice-Led Investigation Into Liminal Thresholds Of Bodies Of Water, Rachael Allain

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

This thesis contributes to the debate on the interactions between art, science, and phenomenological experience, whilst offering new possibilities for investigation in this interdisciplinary field. The research investigated thresholds of the aquatic horizon; the outline in the distance where sky and water appear to coalesce. Artistic practice and critical discourse challenged and interrogated the intersection between analogue and digital, still and moving technologies, revealing aspects of the physical and conceptual horizons within and beyond the visible light spectrum. A range of theoretical concepts reconfigured my readings and interpretations of the phases of experience, through liminality and phenomenology. This provided a …

Un-Framing Transiting Trajectories: A ‘Beyond Disciplinary’ Approach To Curating In The Context Of Art And Science Discourse, Christina Ioanna Kazakou

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

Abstract

Artist Designed Systems In Community Radio, Lucinda Guy

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

Skylark is a full-time licensed radio station, founded by the author of this thesis. Since 2020 it has broadcast a continuous and ever-changing sound installation, rejecting the conventional radio schedules of presenters, programmes, music tracks, adverts etc. Its content is drawn from contributors within Dartmoor National Park, and includes oral histories, music, poems, field recordings, archive material and fragments of bespoke music. Skylark is also a public service and research project that intends to offer an innovative way forward for community radio in the UK. Such stations are intended to respond to their locations, include multiple voices, and be not-for-profit. …

#Tribe: A Study On Digital Tribalism In Saudi Arabia, Maha Alrehaili

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines digital tribalism in Saudi Arabia as a lens through which to explore the complex interplay between state, identity politics, and social media in an era of rapid transformation. Amidst ambitious modernization efforts under Vision 2030 and ongoing economic restructuring, the Saudi state has sought to establish a national identity by leveraging tribal heritage. This study investigates how the three major tribes, Harb, Qahtan, and Otaibah, are responding to rapid modernization through an examination of their digital presence on X (formerly Twitter).

Employing a comparative case study design and content analysis of three years of digital activity, this …

Investigation Of Multiple Factors Influencing The Vector-Borne Transmission Of Salmonella Typhimurium Via Blattella Germanica, Landen Sean Van Hulzen

Dissertations and Theses

The German cockroach (Blattella germanica) is a common urban pest that lives ubiquitously in human structures around the world. German cockroaches are a severe public health threat as they are known carriers and vectors of human pathogens including Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Shigella spp, and more. German cockroach infestations have been associated with Salmonellosis outbreaks. While mechanical transmission by the German cockroach vector is well known, new research suggests that more nuanced biological transmission has a role in maintaining and transmitting Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). Despite this recent finding, many biological variables influencing vector-borne transmission of S. Typhimurium …

Convergence In Cancer: Integrative Multi-Modal Modeling For Pan-Cancer Drug Response Prediction, Jessica Zylla

Dissertations and Theses

Heterogeneity and rarity can make cancer difficult to study and treat. Cancer's heterogeneity, evident in tumor locations, tumor cell types, subtypes, and microbiota within the tumor microenvironment, complicates diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Research into the tumor microenvironment and its microbiota is an evolving area of oncology that may advance cancer drug-patient response. Cancer-omics signatures are crucial to drug response, yet there is no tool that physicians use as a gold standard. Research indicates that microbial presence can alter drug metabolism and immune response, affecting cancer-drug efficacy on a patient-specific basis. This work highlights the need for training readiness in transdisciplinary …

American Indian Survivors Of Domestic Violence And Self-Perceived Mental Health After Seeking Domestic Violence Services, Arial Swallow

Dissertations and Theses

Domestic violence has long-term impacts on women’s emotional, psychological, and physical health, with American Indian women experiencing disproportionately high rates of violence and face unique barriers in overcoming challenges of healing. As part of a larger study, this research aimed to better understand the healing process of American Indian women domestic violence survivors in rural areas. This study examined findings from a mixed methods approach, which investigated the significance of identifying co-occurring mental health needs and providing support, education, and resources to address these needs. The research utilized a quantitative method of descriptive statistics, identifying survivors who endorsed mental health …

Your Foot Is Not A Brick: Using A Multi-Segment Foot Model To Explore The Actions Of The Ankle-Foot Complex During Uneven Terrain Gait., Tayler Jon Hoekstra

Dissertations and Theses

The field of biomechanics has seen continued development of models to be used and circumstances to be considered. An increasing number of more complex models for the foot known as multi-segment foot models (MSFMs) have created opportunities to better understand the compensatory motion of this vital portion of human anatomy. This research seeks to utilize one such MSFM model to increase understanding in how human ambulation changes in uneven terrain environments. Unique inner-foot joints defined by the Rizzoli foot model (RFM) were measured for and compared for subjects traversing both even and uneven terrain to quantify joints that experienced significant …

An Exploration Of The Experiences And Factors Influencing Physical Activity In People With Parkinsons, Heather Hunter

School of Health Professions Theses

Abstract:Background: Physical activity plays a crucial role in enhancing the well-being and quality of life of people with Parkinsons. Despite substantial evidence supporting its benefits, people with Parkinson’s struggle to maintain an active lifestyle. This thesis explored the perspective of people with Parkinsons on their engagement in physical activity.Methodology: This research employed a person-centred approach, comprised of three sequential phases. Phase One: A systematic review utilising the JBI approach of meta-aggregation synthesised the best available qualitative evidence of people with Parkinson's' views and preferences regarding physical activity interventions. Phase Two: Constructive Grounded Theory was used to explore the beliefs, attitudes, …

The Role Of A Pelvic Orthotic In The Management Of Chronic Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain: A Feasibility Study And Validation Of A Novel Body Perception Measure, Bradley Halliday

School of Health Professions Theses

Chronic pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) affects an estimated 10% of post-partum women and is typically recalcitrant to conservative management. One novel option to manage this is a customised Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthosis (DEFO), however, currently non studies have evaluated the clinical and cost-effectiveness or acceptability of this orthotic in post-partum women. Further, the mechanism of action of this orthotic is unknown. One mechanism may be to impart an effect on the disturbed body perception, which preliminary evidence has demonstrated is affected in women with PPGP. Current understanding is limited by an absence of research into women with PPGP and …

The Role Of Oral Nitrate Reducing Bacteria In Cardiovascular Health: Impacts Of Diet And Exercise, Craig Clarke

School of Health Professions Theses

This thesis investigated the important role of oral bacteria in blood pressure regulation and vascular function through the NO3--NO2--NO pathway following exercise or dietary interventions. Study 1 examined the effect of antibacterial mouthwash on the oral microbiome and nitrate metabolism in vegetarians and omnivores. Notable alterations in bacterial composition were observed after mouthwash administration, including reductions in the Prevotella genus (from 27.7% to 9.6%, P = 0.001) and Actinomyces genus (from 9.5% to 5.7%, P = 0.001), along with decreases in Prevotella melaninogenica (from 18.1% to 6.2%, P = 0.001) and Rothia dentocariosa (from 0.09% to 0.04%, P = 0.001). …

The Revolving Door Of Epilepsy Emergencies, Sarah Lennard

School of Health Professions Theses

This thesis explores the revolving doors of epilepsy emergencies, focusing on the key factors that contribute to repeated attendances at emergency departments (ED) following seizures. The study is based on five peer-reviewed journal articles that provide a comprehensive review of current evidence, risk factors for ED attendance, clinicians' perspectives, and the use of technology in epilepsy management. The research identifies several critical factors influencing ED attendances, including mental health issues, medication adherence, and social determinants such as deprivation and homelessness. The findings highlight the need for integrated care pathways, improved communication between healthcare providers, and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations. …

A Critical Exploration Of Social Transformation Through Occupation, Miranda Cunningham

School of Health Professions Theses

Background: In occupational therapy and occupational science, scholars and practitioners advocate for a stronger focus on social transformation. However, there is limited evidence on how occupation-based interventions contribute to addressing inequalities and fostering change for marginalised populations. Methods: This study applied critical occupational science and realist theoretical frameworks to examine the use of arts-based occupations for social transformation. It comprised three strands: (1) a narrative review of arts-based occupations in social change, (2) a realist review of participatory photography, and (3) a realist evaluation of a socially engaged art group in primary schools. Findings: Arts-based occupations have been employed by …

Investigating The Link Between The Oral Microbiome And Cardiovascular Health In Regards To Nitrate/Nitrite Metabolism., Lisa Du Toit

School of Health Professions Theses

This thesis evaluated nitrate metabolism and the link between cardiovascular health and periodontal disease. The first study compared effects of high-nitrate vegetables and pharmacological salt supplementation on the oral microbiome composition in hypertensive individuals. Seventy participants (50-70-y-old, clinical systolic BP (SBP) 130-159 mmHg, diastolic BP (DBP) <110 mmHg) were randomly allocated to group 1 (n = 24) consuming 300 mg/d nitrate in green leafy vegetables form, group 2 (n = 23) consuming 300 mg/d potassium nitrate in form of pills and low-nitrate vegetables, and group 3 (n = 23) consuming potassium chloride pills (placebo) and low-nitrate vegetables. Groups 1 and 2 showed similar microbial salivary changes, increased Neisseria species, and decreased Veillonella species post treatment, suggesting nitrate-dependent changes.The second study investigated oral health and microbiome composition of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia (n = 10, SBP = 150 ± 8 mmHg, DBP = 98 ± 9 mmHg) compared to normotensive pregnancies (n = 11, SBP = 111 ± 5 mmHg, DBP = 80 ± 9 mmHg). Pregnant women with pre-eclampsia showed higher plaque levels compared to normotensive pregnant women (P = 0.038), although activity of oral nitrate-reducing bacteria (P = 0.088) was not statistically significant. Plasma nitrate levels were significantly were lower in women with pre-eclampsia (P = 0.024). The third study evaluated the effect of chlorhexidine (CHX-M n= 21) and propolis (PROP-M n= 24) mouthwashes on abundance and activity of nitrate-reducing bacteria in healthy individuals. CHX-M increased relative abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria (P < 0.001), but significantly impaired nitrate-reducing activity (P < 0.001) compared to baseline and PROP-M. PROP-M significantly increased plasma nitrate levels (P = 0.047) and reduced systolic BP (P = 0.022).The fourth study compared the effect of CHX-M, PROP-M, amoxicillin (AMX) and metronidazole (MTZ) on salivary nitrate-reducing activity within a 24-hour period using an in-vitro protocol. Results showed that MTZ significantly increased nitrate-reducing activity after 24-hours (P = 0.001) compared to all the other treatments (AMX, P = 0.025; CHX-M, P = 0.01; PROP-M, P = 0.023). Overall, this thesis suggests that poor oral health may impair the oral nitrate–nitrite pathway, thereby reducing nitrate bioavailability in women with pre-eclampsia. Diets rich in high-nitrate vegetables showed beneficial changes in the oral microbiome; however, these were not associated with blood pressure reduction. In contrast, use of propolis mouthwash increased plasma nitrate bioavailability, contributing to blood pressure reductions. Finally, it was observed metronidazole significantly enhanced nitrate-reducing activity.

Factors Affecting Metabolism And Metabolic Control In Phenylketonuria, Alex Amorim Pinto

School of Health Professions Theses

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited metabolic disorder treated by a phenylalanine restricted diet in order to avoid neurocognitive impairment. Blood phenylalanine is the main outcome marker which is modulated by many dietary factors. Traditionally, L-amino acid-based protein substitutes are the main nitrogen source but more recently glycomacropeptide-based protein substitutes (GMP) have been introduced and are associated with several health benefits. The following aspects were studied in this thesis: 1) metabolic control achieved in patients with PKU compared with the European PKU guidelines; 2) life-long change in natural protein tolerance; 3) impact on metabolic control of different natural protein sources (animal …

Reproductive Innovation And Reproductive Exceptionalism: How Private Health Insurance Coverage Of Fertility Treatment Complements Hostile Governmental Action And Expands Access To Assisted Reproduction In The United States, Myrisha S. Lewis

Faculty Publications

The use of fertility treatment and assisted reproductive technology (ART) in the United States and globally is increasing over time. As of April 2023, the World Health Organization estimates that approximately one in six individuals have faced infertility globally. Fertility treatment includes the use of drugs to stimulate egg production, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and, for some, the use of gestational surrogacy to aid in childbirth. Debates have abounded and continue to abound in federal legislatures, state legislatures, and society more broadly about the morality of abortion, contraception, and assisted reproduction, as well as whether governments, public insurers, and private …

Bringing Self-Determination Theory To The Forefront: Examining How Human Resource Practices Motivate Employees Of All Ages To Succeed, Rick A. Laguerre, Janet L. Barnes-Farrell

Management Faculty Research and Publications

Self-determination theory (SDT) is widely used in human resource (HR) practice studies to explain how HR practices impact work outcomes. However, there is little empirical evidence establishing the complete SDT mediational process in the HR domain, which entails basic psychological needs and motivation acting as mediators of relations between HR practices and work outcomes. The present study addresses this issue with a mixed methods approach. Using an item classification task with subject matter experts (N = 48), HR practices were classified as autonomy-, competence-, and relatedness-supportive. Based on this scheme, we tested an SDT-based conceptual model in a three-wave …

Graduate Catalog 2025-2026, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.