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2024 Fall Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Fall 2024 commencement program. Commencement was on Friday, December 13, 2024.

Cyperus Blepharoleptos Maxent Ecological Niche Models, Samuel A. Schmid, Maxwell G. Gebhart, Gray Turnage

GRI Publications

Invasive species are one of the foremost threats to global biodiversity and predicting where they can inhabit is of primary concern for researchers and resource managers. Ecological niche models (ENMs) are a useful tool for addressing this problem. This study focuses on Cyperus blepharoleptos (Cuban bulrush), an aquatic sedge that is invasive in the southeastern United States. To model the ecological niche of C. blepharoleptos, 1,137 records were compiled from North and South America and partitioned into training and testing data. Five BioClim variables (BIO1, BIO7, BIO12, BIO14, and BIO15) were selected as environmental variables for modeling. Using Maxent, 12 …

Understanding Anatomy & Physiology Students’ Knowledge And Perceptions Of Learning Sex And Pleasure, Yaileen Velazquez

Honors Capstones

Undergraduate anatomy & physiology (A&P) is an opportune place for future healthcare providers to learn a diversity of topics related to human health and function, including sexual health. However, the current undergraduate curriculum and instruction in A&P classes do not support students in achieving a high level of understanding of sexual health, including sexual anatomy and physiology. Previous studies have shown that college students obtain a mean score of lower than 65% in sexual knowledge tests, with the lowest mean scores on sections concerning sexual anatomy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (Weinstein et al., 2008). Sexual pleasure is an important …

Black Mothering: Experiences Of Black Mothers In Safety Conversations With Black Sons, Theresa Libios

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black mothers raising Black sons in the United States face the immense challenge of preparing their Black sons for a society where police violence pose significant threats to their safety. The critical safety conversations, commonly referred to as "The Talk," highlight the need for culturally informed interventions to address the psychological toll on Black mothers. This study explored the lived experiences of Black mothers navigating these safety conversations, with the goal of fostering empathy and developing culturally competent mental health services. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study, grounded in intersectionality theory, examined the interconnected influences of race, gender, and systemic oppression …

Climate Change Impacts On Dryland Ecosystems, Tanner Tainui Aiono

Theses and Dissertations

Dryland ecosystems are some of the most prevalent ecosystems on Earth and have recently shown stress indicators from climate change. These water-limited systems are vulnerable to increases in temperature and changes in precipitation, especially when looking at carbon cycling dynamics across biological sol crusts and vegetation mortality patterns. This dissertation aims to 1) evaluate how precipitation dynamics, vegetation location, and microclimate conditions influence biological soil crust carbon conditions, and 2) evaluate how topographic influences drive patterns of plant mortality during prolonged drought on the Colorado Plateau. Using high-resolution monitoring of long-term NEE chambers, we found that intermediately disturbed biocrusts are …

Development Of Sensing Capabilities For Agricultural Robotics, Carter Noh

Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural robotics is a rapidly growing industry with the possibility to revolutionize food production. Agricultural robots often require custom sensing solutions to perform specific tasks. Developing the appropriate sensing capabilities for an application is therefore an important step in the automation process. In this thesis I present two case studies in developing sensing capabilities for agricultural robotics applications. First, I introduce a sensor that can provide simultaneous measurements of force and position. The sensor was developed to enable high-throughput measurement of maize stalk stiffness on a robot platform. It uses multiple sets of strain gauges on a cantilever beam to …

Fsu Winter Commencement December 13, 2024, Fayetteville State University

Graduation Exhibit

Program for Fayetteville State University Winter Commencement December 13, 2024

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Harry L. Williams, President & CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Denmark’S Depth Model Version 2.0 – Improved Compilation Of Bathymetric Data Within The Danish Waters, Giuseppe Masetti, Philip Sigaard Granding, Kasper Langdahl, Lasse M. Schwenger, Kristian V. Kristmar

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

Denmark’s Depth Model version 2.0 (DDM v2.0) is the latest iteration of a Digital Bathymetric Model (DBM) for Danish waters, offering a grid resolution of 50 meters. The compilation integrates hundreds of survey datasets, including both modern and historical sources, as well as satellite-derived and crowdsourced bathymetric data. The model is referenced to Mean Sea Level (MSL) datum and – due to the adopted compilation process – is not designed for safety of navigation. DDM v2.0 is accessible through the Danish Geodata Agency's website and constitutes a significant contribution to the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Bathymetry initiative.

Identifying Opportunities For Nature-Based Solutions With Geospatialized Life Cycle Assessments And Fine-Scale Socioecological Data, Gabriela Shirkey, Annick Anctil, Ranjeet John, Venkatesh Kolluru, Leah Mungai, Herve Kashongwe, Lauren T. Cooper, Ilke Celik, Joshua B. Fisher, Jiquan Chen

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

As we increasingly understand the impact that land management intensification has on local and global climate, the call for nature-based solutions (NbS) in agroecosystems has expanded. Moreover, the pressing need to determine when and where NbS should be used raises challenges to socioecological data integration as we overcome spatiotemporal resolutions. Natural and working lands is an effort promoting NbS, particularly emissions reduction and carbon stock maintenance in forests. To overcome the spatiotemporal limitation, we integrated life cycle assessments (LCA), an ecological carbon stock model, and a land cover land use change model to synthesize rates of global warming potential (GWP) …

An Exploration Of The Contributions Of Parenting Styles And Peer Relationships On The Emotional Expression Of Second-Generation Indian-Americans, Smitha M. Kashi

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation used a qualitative analysis methodology to study the contributions of parenting styles and peer relationships on the emotional expressivity of second generation Asian Indian-Americans. Seven participants participated in a 60 - 90 minute long semi-structured interview and the content was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Most previous research regarding this topic has been conducted on White American or European individuals and does not take into consideration the many intersectionalities that second-generation Indian-Americans hold. Many participants discussed the lack of direction they experienced in regards to learning about their emotions and disclosed that college and young adulthood provided …

Gardner-Webb Honors Achievements Of 2024 Summer And Fall Graduates, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

In Gardner-Webb University’s commencement ceremony on Dec. 13, former N.C. Commissioner of Labor Josh Dobson challenged his audience of over 400 graduates to follow their dreams with all their hearts. Dobson, a 2005 GWU alumnus, served over 14 years as a North Carolina elected leader and recently became the president and chief executive o!icer at North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA).

The Fashion Regulation Fight, Eliot L. Force

Capstones

Fast fashion is a rising global phenomenon with terrible consequences for the environment and laborers across the world. In the US, fashion-specific environmental and labor regulation is practically non-existent at the federal level, but some individual states have begun proposing fashion regulation bills with the aim of curbing the industry’s harms. But in every state where these regulations have been proposed, powerful industry trade groups and companies have been fighting back against those proposed regulations, with much success, through lobbying. As climate change gets worse and the fashion industry’s practices remain unchanged, the need for regulation only becomes greater, but …

Stress Management Education Module For Nursing Students, Valentina Loreto-Ashley

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background. Stress refers to a state of mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Research indicates that stress negatively affects university students.

Problem. Researchers have found that 30% of undergraduate nursing students have symptoms of burnout resulting from an overaccumulation of stressors and 97.8% were at moderate risk for developing burnout.

Approach. An educational module consisting of a 15-minute YouTube videos was designed, developed, and implemented to increase awareness about stress, reduce feelings of anxiety, and identify integration potential of such a module in nursing education to promote student well-being. Participants completed an online survey before …

Using Genomics And Transcriptomics As A Tool To Understand Unique Phenotypes Of Hemipteran Insects That Are Relevant To Agriculture And Public Health, Hunter Kelly Walt

Theses and Dissertations

In the past couple of decades, advances in genomic sequencing technology have caused an unprecedented increase in biological data. Because of the quantity and size of these datasets, the need for biologists with computational expertise also increased, and using these large genomic datasets has revolutionized the way we can answer biological questions. In this dissertation, I apply genomic and transcriptomic data to answer questions about insects of the order Hemiptera that are relevant to agriculture and public health. My dissertation mainly focuses on stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), many of which are agricultural pests, and bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), which are …

Board Of Trustees Agenda, Dec. 13 2024, Indiana State University Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees

No abstract provided.

Development Of Novel Nanocarriers With Multi Modal Action Against Lung Cancer, Gayathri K

Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer ranks among the top causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The deteriorating environment and unhealthy lifestyle in the modern era has further contributed to the exponential increase in lung cancer incidence across the globe. Lung cancers fall under two major types based on the location of the tumour in the lung namely, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) which is more aggressive, and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which is more prevalent. Late diagnosis has been a major cause for poor prognosis as the cancer is detected only in an advanced stage.

Conventional therapies like chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy against lung cancer …

Assessing Ecosystem Health Of A Completed Mitigation Bank Projects In California: Case Study Analysis, Alexandra I. Novoa

Master's Projects and Capstones

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, providing essential ecological functions. These functions include water purification, flood protection, shoreline stabilization, and more. Due to increasing urbanization and development, preserving wetlands is critical. Mitigation Banks combat the loss of wetland acreage from unavoidable development. Mitigation banks were developed to offset the adverse effects of development on wetlands. However, more research is needed on the effectiveness of these mitigation banks in restoring ecologically significant wetland acreage.

Key metrics, including soil health, hydrology, and microbial functionality, were analyzed from literature and restoration project reviews to identify opportunities for improving mitigation …

Post Chondral Defect Reconstruction And Knee Functionality: How Do Aci And Mosaicplasty Compare?, Kate Stutz, Megan Howard

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Chondral defects significantly contribute to the overwhelming number of patients suffering from degenerative joint disease (DJD) daily. In efforts to prevent this pathology, chondral reconstruction procedures have emerged to prevent early development of this condition. Two current methods utilized include osteochondral autograft transplantation (OATs) and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). In isolation, the effectiveness of each technique has been evaluated, however there has yet to be a definitive comparison of equivalency between the two. Through utilizing PubMed, we conducted a literature search in order to gather studies conducted directly comparing these two interventions, which we narrowed down to four studies by …

A New Treatment For Knee Osteoarthritis: Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Injections, Anne Bernot, Elizabeth Colantonio

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: Assess the effectiveness of microfragmented adipose tissue injections at lowering knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scores (KOOS) 6 months post treatment in patients aged 18-75 with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis compared to platelet rich plasma injections. Design: systematic literature review. Methods: A search of PubMed and Google Scholar was performed using the terms “Lipogems”, “adipose tissue injection”, “Micro Fragmented adipose tissue injections”, “Micro Fragmented adipose tissue and PRP”, and “MFAT vs. PRP knee”. The search was limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the past ten years. Results: Three randomized control trials (RCTs) met inclusion …

An Overview Of Japanese Kampo: An Integrative Approach To Medicine, Olivia Yaste

Honors College Theses

There is a growing interest in the use of traditional medicine for the treatment of disease and health conditions around the world. The traditional medicine system of Japan has been in place for thousands of years and the traditional herbal system, Kampo, has been fully integrated into the modern national healthcare system. The compilation of information on topics surrounding Kampo written in English is scattered, making it difficult to gain a broad understanding of the subject without immense time and effort. This paper aims to review the existing literature on a variety of topics surrounding Kampo in order to give …

The Shaky Democratic Legitimacy Of Cosmopolitan Law And Its Destiny In Times Of Crisis, Sergio Dellavalle

Buffalo Law Review

From its earliest introduction in 1795, the notion of cosmopolitan law has made a long way, to finally become an established reference point in the legal discourse. Nonetheless, the concept still raises four fundamental questions. The first focuses on how it has been developed and which were the fundamental authors and theoretical steps that characterized the emergence of this notion. The second and most essential question refers to the meaning of cosmopolitan law by focusing on what characterizes the legal norms that we call cosmopolitan as well as on what distinguishes them from the broader field of traditional international law. …

Analysis Of Cortical Evoked Auditory Response Detection In Adults Using Machine Learning, Pranavi Beerelli

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the use of machine learning (ML) techniques to automate the detection of Cortical Evoked Auditory Responses (CEARs), which are key in understanding how the auditory cortex processes sound stimuli. Traditionally, analyzing these auditory responses has relied on manual interpretation by audiologists, a process that can introduce variability and human error, particularly in complex cases. To address this challenge, the research utilizes advanced deep learning models, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) networks, and Bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) architectures, to analyze Electroencephalography (EEG) data and classify the presence or absence of auditory responses automatically. …

Lignin Cationization For The Removal Of Phosphates And Nitrates From Effluents Of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Fannyuy V. Kewir

LSU Master's Theses

The removal of phosphates and nitrates from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents is important for preventing pollution of receiving waters. In this study, we chemically modified alkaline lignin (aLN) with quaternary ammonium groups to obtain biodegradable cationic lignin (cLN). We characterized the cLN and tested its efficacy for removing phosphates and nitrates in a lab setting and on field-collected WWTP samples. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies were performed in aqueous media, and the effects of several variables (contact time, pH, initial concentration, and adsorbent dose) were investigated. The Langmuir isotherm described phosphate and nitrate adsorption well, with R2 values of …

Adolescent Suicide Prevention Techniques, Kaitlyn R. O’Malley

Honors Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to understand prevention techniques for adolescent suicide. Suicide is defined as death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds (WHO). From 2021 to 2022, the number of suiciderelated deaths increased by 2.6%. 48,123 people died from suicide in 2021 alone. (CDC) From 2011-2021, 13% of high school girls tried to commit suicide, and 30% of them considered trying (Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report: 2011–2021). Suicide is very preventable in society, which is why, with how many people try …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Mardon Skipper (Polites Mardon), Eleanor P. Gaines

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Mardon skipper (Polites mardon) using NatureServe methodology, 2024.

Transcriptomic Landscape Of Mammalian Ventral Pallidum At Single-Cell Resolution, Lite Yang, Lisa Z Fang, Michelle R Lynch, Chang S Xu, Hannah J Hahm, Yufen Zhang, Monique R Heitmeier, Vincent D Costa, Vijay K Samineni, Meaghan C Creed

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The ventral pallidum (VP) is critical for motivated behaviors. While contemporary work has begun to elucidate the functional diversity of VP neurons, the molecular heterogeneity underlying this functional diversity remains incompletely understood. We used single-nucleus RNA sequencing and in situ hybridization to define the transcriptional taxonomy of VP cell types in mice, macaques, and baboons. We found transcriptional conservation between all three species, within the broader neurochemical cell types. Unique dopaminoceptive and cholinergic subclusters were identified and conserved across both primate species but had no homolog in mice. This harmonized consensus VP cellular atlas will pave the way for understanding …

Persons Or Human-Mimicking Robots? Implications Of Ai For Moral Status, Kate Burckle, Catherine Peters

Honors Thesis

Rapid progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), in which AI technologies can now perform human tasks, e.g. hold advanced conversations, cook, clean, and navigate harsh terrain, blurs the line between humans and robots. The emergence of advanced AI technologies suggests that AI programs may develop consciousness in the near future, prompting important questions: if AIs attain abilities to perform the same tasks and exercise capacities traditionally limited to humans, do they deserve similar moral status? If so, what treatment would we owe to them? Through examination of competing accounts of personhood and moral status, this paper seeks to …

Identifying Opportunities For Nature-Based Solutions With Geospatialized Life Cycle Assessments And Fine-Scale Socioecological Data, Gabriela Shirkey, Annick Anctil, Ranjeet John, Venkatesh Kolluru, Leah Mungai, Herve Kashongwe, Lauren T. Cooper, Ilke Celik, Joshua B. Fisher, Jiquan Chen

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

As we increasingly understand the impact that land management intensification has on local and global climate, the call for nature-based solutions (NbS) in agroecosystems has expanded. Moreover, the pressing need to determine when and where NbS should be used raises challenges to socioecological data integration as we overcome spatiotemporal resolutions. Natural and working lands is an effort promoting NbS, particularly emissions reduction and carbon stock maintenance in forests. To overcome the spatiotemporal limitation, we integrated life cycle assessments (LCA), an ecological carbon stock model, and a land cover land use change model to synthesize rates of global warming potential (GWP) …

Assessing Ocean Attitudes, Decision-Making, And Learning Of Oceanography Camp Especially For Girls Participants, Serenity Poston-Hymel

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

The ocean provides many important economic, nutritional, and cultural resources and ecosystem services to human populations. However, many anthropogenic activities are threatening ocean ecosystems and these vital resources (Inniss et al., 2016). Ocean literacy is the knowledge, attitude, and behaviors that pertain to the ocean, its systems, and its relationships with humans (Brennan et al., 2019; Schoedinger et al., 2005). A key goal of ocean literacy is encouraging informed decisions and behaviors pertaining to the ocean, leading to responsible management and use of ocean resources (Santoro et al., 2018). Ocean attitudes and environmental moral reasoning are vital in influencing positive …

Key Epigenetic And Signaling Factors In The Formation And Maintenance Of The Blood-Brain Barrier, Jayanarayanan Sadanandan, Sithara Thomas, Iny Elizabeth Mathew, Zhen Huang, Spiros L Blackburn, Nitin Tandon, Hrishikesh Lokhande, Pierre D Mccrea, Emery H Bresnick, Pramod K Dash, Devin W Mcbride, Arif Harmanci, Lalit K Ahirwar, Dania Jose, Ari C Dienel, Hussein A Zeineddine, Sungha Hong, Peeyush Kumar T

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) controls the movement of molecules into and out of the central nervous system (CNS). Since a functional BBB forms by mouse embryonic day E15.5, we reasoned that gene cohorts expressed in CNS endothelial cells (EC) at E13.5 contribute to BBB formation. In contrast, adult gene signatures reflect BBB maintenance mechanisms. Supporting this hypothesis, transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct cohorts of EC genes involved in BBB formation and maintenance. Here, we demonstrate that epigenetic regulator's histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) control EC gene expression for BBB development and prevent Wnt/β-catenin (Wnt) target genes …