Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Therapeutic Benefits Of Dance In The Academic Schedule: The Effects On Stress Among High School Students, Amanda Polanowski

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the minds of dance students about the stress they experienced as a result of their academic schedules and extracurriculars. The following research questions informed this study:

Q1 Does incorporating dance into the academic schedule lower stress in high school students?

Q2 In what mental state are students before and after taking dance class?

Q3 Does dance provide mental health benefits for high school students?

Student stress was evaluated before the study using a questionnaire as well as before and after each dance class through surveys. Eighteen students participated in a …

Assessing Impact Risk To Tropical Marine Ecosystems From Human Activities With A Southeast Asian Example, Fiona Culhane, Melanie C. Austen, Matthew Ashley, Jonson Javier, Sui Hyang Kuit, Nguyen Phuc Hung, Hau Duc Tran, Radisti A. Praptiwi, Sainal Sainal, Eva Justine, Prawesti Wulandari, Stefanie Broszeit, Jean Beth Jontila, Sofia Johari, Lota Creencia, Amy Yee Hui Then, Lea Janine Gajardo, Carya Maharja, Hong Ching Goh, Wan Mohd Syazwan, Yang Amri Affendi, Lê Ngọc Thảo, Jito Sugardjito, Tom Mullier, Olivia Langmead

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Society relies on intact marine ecosystems for ecosystem services such as nutrition, livelihoods, health and well-being. Yet, to obtain these benefits, we carry out activities, introducing pressures to ecosystems, damaging and degrading habitats and reducing their capacity to optimally provide ecosystem services. Biodiversity and ecosystem services are consequently being lost globally but impact chains from these activities are poorly understood, especially in tropical marine ecosystems. We identified for the first time impact chains linking activities with pressures they introduce in five tropical coastal and marine habitats, specifically through application in four Southeast Asian case study sites. Using expert elicitation based …

Incorporating The Pcl-5 Self Assessment Tool In The Treatment Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Using Virtual Reality Therapy, Janette Sanchez

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background. Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs when individuals experience a traumatic event causing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive difficulties (Sadock et al., 2017). Failure to assess changes in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can result in ineffective treatments (Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense, 2023). Purpose. Implement the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 screening tool as part of an outpatient clinic’s virtual reality exposure therapy protocol evaluating patients’ perceived effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy in post-traumatic stress disorder management. Methods. All staff and providers were educated on the use of the PCL-5 screening tool. Patients were …

Reframing A Data Sharing Mechanism For The Riparian Nations Of Helmand River Basin: Theory Of Planned Behavior Is Revisited, Najibullah Loodin, Gabriel Eckstein, Vijay P. Singh, Rosario Sanchez

Faculty Scholarship

Data and information exchange plays a crucial role in fostering water cooperation between the riparian nations of a shared watercourse. Taking an integrated approach combining Discourse Analysis and Document Analysis, this research aims at elucidating the challenges and the potential opportunities of data and information exchange on the Helmand River, a drought-stricken river basin shared between upstream Afghanistan and downstream Iran. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we offer nuanced perspectives on the data exchange model developed by Wehn. We argue that there are other underlying and essential elements that hinder the meaningful engagement of the riparian nations …

Racial Disparities In Domestic Violence: Analyzing The Intersection Of Race And Gender, Nia Grace Sharp

Honors Theses

This research explores the intersection of race, gender, and the litigation of domestic violence cases in Memphis, Tennessee. This is explored through qualitative research that combines a theoretical framework with structured interviews of criminal defense attorneys. Utilizing a sample of 5 attorneys with recent exposure to domestic violence cases, this study aims to reveal whether or not intimate partner violence is litigated differently across racial lines. This is done through analysis of the treatment of victims depending on race, sentencing rates, and perceptions of credibility within the justice system. The methodology involves five key steps: conducting a literature review to …

Parental Guidance Necessary: A Qualitative Study On The Impacts Of Parenting Styles, Mackenzie Longmire

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the long-term effects of parenting styles and attachment experiences on adult psychological well-being, relational competence, academic aspirations, and self-concept. Through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with three participants from the Chattanooga, Tennessee area, the study investigates how family dynamics—framed by Baumrind’s parenting models and Bowlby’s attachment theory—shape developmental trajectories across the lifespan. Findings indicate that authoritative parenting fosters resilience, empathy, and secure attachments, while authoritarian and avoidant parenting styles often lead to relational hesitancy and diminished self-worth. Emphasizing the value of responsive, balanced parenting, this study underscores its role in promoting emotional security and adaptive coping, with …

Evaluation Of The Etiology Of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (Rpl): An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study Exploring Obstetrician Gynecologist Clinical Provider Behaviors And Factors Contributing To Incomplete Evaluations, Emelia Grant

Doctor of Philosophy in Translational Health Sciences Dissertations

Background: More than 50% of patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are left without explanations for their losses. However, current research suggests that up to 90% of these individuals could receive explanations through evidence-based laboratory testing. Professional guidelines vary in their recommendations for laboratory testing and RPL evaluation, which can contribute to delayed or fragmented care and untreated maternal disease. Inequities in access to genetic testing further complicate the diagnostic landscape of RPL since payor policies often determine which tests are covered, leaving many patients without access due to financial constraints.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate current practices of …

Teaching Learning Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 2, Sastra Deemed To Be University

TLC Newsletter

No abstract provided.

U-Glide Program Fall 2024, Unf Office Of Undergraduate Research, Unf Graduate School

Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry, and Distinctive Experimentation (U-GLIDE) Symposium Programs

No abstract provided.

Young Adults’ Perceptions Of Adverse Childhood Experiences As Context And Causes Of Mental Health Conditions: Observations From The United States, Kathryn Sabella, Ian A. Lane, Murron O'Neill, Natalie Tincknell

Faculty Publications (Peer-Reviewed)

Background

Objective

Participants and setting

Methods …

Spatial-Textural Study Of Siliciclastics In A Navajo Sandstone Carbonate Lens, Christopher L. Rupe

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Flat-lying carbonate deposits in the Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone have long been interpreted as interdune lacustrine deposits. This dissertation critically assesses such inference through the study of an exceptionally well-preserved carbonate deposit in the Trough Canyon area, northwest of Moab, Utah. Thickness measurements along multiple cross-sectional exposures were used to construct an isopach map, approximating the original size and lenticular geometry of the deposit. Dip directions were recorded from foreset strata in cross-bed sets stratigraphically overlying the deposit to infer the approximately coeval direction of siliciclastic transport across the carbonate basin. These data sets yielded a contextual framework for studying …

Microplastic Degradation Compared Among Dated Salton Sea Strandlines, Maria Alejandra Roman Medrano

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This thesis investigates the environmental degradation of plastic materials, with a focus on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), through a multi-phase study conducted at the Salton Sea, a closed-basin lake in a semi-arid region of California. The research addresses three core objectives: (1) developing a microplastic (MP) extraction method tailored for clay-rich sediments, (2) characterizing surface degradation of various plastic types, including PET, BoPET, HDPE, LDPE, and EPS, using advanced microscopy and spectroscopy, and (3) examining the long-term weathering of PET through samples collected from dated lake strandlines.

The extraction protocol successfully isolates MPs without oxidation, using ZnCl₂ and extended soaking to …

Characterizing Tropical Forest Structure Using Semivariance And Crown Delineation, Brittani Joy Evon Chapman

Master's Theses and Capstones

The study of terrestrial carbon stocks is essential to understand global carbon cycles and the magnitude of anthropogenic carbon emissions. Forests are significant terrestrial carbon stores, with the above ground biomass of the Brazilian rainforest alone conservatively estimated to contain ten percent of the terrestrial carbon stock (Asner et al., 2001; Drake et al., 2002; Keller et al., 2004; Lloyd et al., 2007; Truehaft et al., 2014; Cushman et al., 2021). The Amazon Basin primarily consists of closed-canopy tropical forest, covering 5.8 x 106 km2 interspersed with substantial portions of cerrado surrounding the Amazon River and its tributaries in the …

Behavioral And Physiological Effects Of Ocean Acidification On Juvenile American Lobsters (Homarus Americanus), Todd Edward Stelling

Master's Theses and Capstones

Increased absorption of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) into the world’s oceans has resulted in ocean acidification (OA). Acidification induces physiological and behavioral responses from marine invertebrates that vary by taxa. Resilience to OA has been noted in crustaceans, though negative impacts are still reported. It has been shown that the American lobster (Homarus americanus) can be physiologically impacted by acidified conditions. We explored the effects of acidification on the hemolymph chemistry and the foraging behavior of juvenile American lobsters (carapace length, CL, 29 - 52 mm, 42 +/- 1.3 mm). We exposed 28 juvenile lobsters to individual pH values ranging …

Synthesis And Testing Of Peptide Iron Probes In Cell Studies, Fran Gomez

Master's Theses and Capstones

The study of iron within cells has advanced significantly since the Fenton reaction was proposed as a mechanism for ferroptosis. Various chemical probes have been developed for examining iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS), both of which are involved in the Fenton reaction. Iron, the most abundant transition metal in the human body, primarily exists as Fe(II) and Fe(III) in the cellular environment. The labile iron pool (LIP) is suspected to predominantly exist as Fe(II) due to endogenous reductants. Under ferroptotic conditions, Fe(III) produced in the Fenton reaction can be reduced back to Fe(II), even when chelated, re-inducing hydroxyl radical …

Identification Of Lncrnas Involved In The Host Response To Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infection, Mahgol Behnia

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an enveloped positive-sense RNA virus in the alphavirus genus of the Togaviridea family, that causes encephalitis in humans and equids. Currently no FDA-approved vaccine or treatment is available for human use, emphasizing the importance of studying host-VEEV interaction. lncRNAs are regulatory RNAs involved in modulation of antiviral pathways during viral infections. Here we report differential lncRNAs expression in primary mouse astrocytes and neurons during non-pathogenic (TC-83) but not pathogenic (TrD) VEEV infection. We further demonstrated that suppression of four lncRNAs increased TC-83 replication, with lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 15 (Snhg15) increasing TC-83 …

Timigp: A Computational Framework To Determine The Tumor Immune Microenvironment Associated With Prognosis And Immunotherapy Response, Chenyang Li

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Accumulating evidence has suggested that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) drastically impacts cancer patients’ clinical outcomes, including prognosis and immunotherapy response. However, understanding TIME remains challenging due to its complexity and heterogeneity. In this dissertation, we introduce TimiGP (Tumor Immune Microenvironment Illustration based on Gene Pairs), a computational framework designed to address this challenge. Leveraging single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) and bulk gene expression data alongside clinical information, TimiGP constructs a cell-cell interaction network that elucidates the relationship between immune cell function and relevant clinical outcomes, such as prognosis and treatment response. With immunological insights, these cell-cell interactions also facilitate the development …

The Role Of Wt1 In Müllerian Duct Development, Jace Aloway

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

WT1 is a zinc finger transcription factor widely expressed in the urogenital system. Human mutations of WT1 lead to pediatric nephroblastoma as well as frequent differences of sex development (DSDs). Previous studies have suggested that WT1 acts as an activator for Amhr2, a necessary component of typical male differentiation. We used the mouse as a model to investigate the role of WT1 in sex development, where we deleted Wt1 in the Müllerian duct (MD) mesenchyme using a novel conditional null reporter allele, Wt1 flox-RFP. This allele utilizes the Cre-lox system to delete exons 8 and 9 of Wt1 …

Pharmacological Inhibition Of Lsd1/Kdm1a In Diffuse Midline Glioma Models And Impact On Kinase Signaling, Faith Angelina Hernandez, Faith Angelina Hernandez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Diffuse Midline Gliomas (DMG) occur in the midline structures of the brain such as the brainstem. DMG, a subset of pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs), confers poor prognosis in children with survival rates below two years post-diagnosis. This is heavily due to limited treatment options as radiation and chemotherapy are only temporarily effective and surgery pose high risks. DMG are characterized by histone mutations typically occurring in histone 3.1 and 3.3 alleles, with about more than 80% of patients containing the H3K27 mutation. Recent publications, highlight epigenetic modulators as promising cancer-specific targets emphasizing their potential as a novel therapeutic strategy. Epigenetic …

Characterizing And Targeting The Genomic Consequences Of Atrx Deficiency In Glioma, Sharvari Dharmaiah

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Mutational inactivation of histone chaperone ATRX (a-thalassaemia/mental retardation X-linked) represents a defining molecular feature in several cancers, including malignant glioma. As standard of care only leads to transient responses and poor outcomes, there is an unmet clinical need for developing new therapies that target ATRX-deficient glioma. Loss of ATRX gives rise to abnormal G-quadruplex DNA secondary structures at GC-rich sites of the genome, such as telomeric and pericentromeric regions, enhancing replication stress and genomic instability. These mutations are mutually exclusive with TERT promoter mutations, promoting the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway as a telomere maintenance mechanism in ATRX-deficient glioma. …

When Is It Convenient For Indigenous Women To Influence State Policies?, Alaide Vences Estudillo, Norma Don Juan Pérez, Patricia Torres Sandoval, Fabiola Del Jurado Mendoza

Peace and Conflict Studies

This paper examines the difficulties that a network of Indigenous women in Mexico deal with when they seek peace for their people under a hybrid political structure. This paper discusses some distinctive aspects of the politics that these women engage in, how they conceive their political ideas, and how they use these ideas to structurally transform the colonial relationship that the liberal state maintains toward their people. They devise various strategies to influence state policies and to withstand the discrimination they face whenever they participate in democratic affairs.

Front Matter

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

The Magic Of Bioluminescence: How Animals Illuminate The Dark, Eleanor St. Clair

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

To Mine Or Not To Mine?: Discovery Of Polymetallic Nodules And Discussions On Deep-Sea Mining, Haze Doleys

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

The Bridge Newsletter Winter 2024, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

The Bridge Newsletter

• TED x Missouri S&T: Unveiling Resilience
• ElGawady named interim chair
• Ma named inaugural Kummer Impact Professor
• Sensor patent granted
• Burken awarded ASCE President’s Medal

Field Assessment Of Fertilization, Nursery, And Crop Management Practices Among Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Growers In The Ilocos Provinces, Philippines, Annalissa Aquino, Sancho Bon, Angelica Guanlao, Ann Mylalulex Magnaye, Filomena Sta Cruz, Pompe C. Sta. Cruz

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Growth and yield of many economically important vegetables like tomatoes are heavily influenced by crop management practices, particularly fertilizer application, irrigation scheme, and pest management. To attain maximum tomato yields and increase farmers’ profits, these crop production components must be optimized in local farm levels. Before optimization measures can be conducted, baseline information on prevailing practices needs to be evaluated. To assess the nutrient management and other crop production practices of tomato farmers in the Ilocos provinces, Philippines, on-farm surveys were conducted in 16 and 18 barangays planting fresh-type and processing-type tomatoes, respectively. The study involved a total of 88 …

Hildegard Of Bingen’S Embryology: Enabling Women’S Reproductive Power Without Seed, Minji Lee

Department of Religion Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This paper examines Hildegard of Bingen’s embryological theory within the intricate landscape of medieval medicine and religion. It situates Hildegard’s understanding of conception within ongoing historical debates surrounding the roles of male and female reproductive substances, particularly the concept of seed or semen. By analyzing her conceptual framework against prevailing classical and medieval reproductive theories, the research illuminates Hildegard’s distinctive contribution to understanding conception as a holistic bodily process. Classical embryological discourse predominantly oscillated between Aristotle’s one-seed theory—which positioned men as sole generative agents—and Galen’s two-seed theory, which marginally acknowledged female reproductive participation. While technically aligning with Aristotelian principles by …

Ai Or Student Writing? Analyzing The Situational And Linguistic Characteristics Of Undergraduate Student Writing And Ai-Generated Assignments, Larissa Goulart, Marine Laísa Matte, Alanna Mendoza, Lee Alvarado, Ingrid Veloso

Department of Linguistics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Since the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT, universities have faced the issue of whether there is still a place for written assignments in higher education. ChatGPT's capacity to mimic various written forms raises questions about the necessity of traditional assessments. Given this background, this study explores to what extent AI-generated assignments can replicate the situational and linguistic features of student-authored assignments. Using a corpus of undergraduate assignments from an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context, we compare student responses with ChatGPT's outputs. Employing a register approach, we analyze the situational and linguistic characteristics of texts across three different registers—essays, critiques, …

Impact Of Human Immunoglobulin Genetic Variants On The Expressed Antibody Repertoire., Eric Engelbrecht

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

B cells produce immunoglobulins (IGs; antibodies), which are critical protein components of the immune system. Human IGs are composed of two pairs of identical ‘heavy’ chains and ‘light’ kappa or lambda chains, encoded by genes located at three loci in the genome: the IG heavy chain locus (IGH, chromosome 14), and the IG lambda (IGL, chromosome 22) and kappa (IGK, chromosome 2) loci. Each locus spans ~920-100 kilobase pairs (Kbp) of DNA and harbors families of gene segments that are somatically rearranged during B cell development. The IG loci collectively harbor >180 functional genes, many of which are part of …

Cuisine As A Compass: Exploring The Therapeutic Benefits Of Community, Cooking, And More Within The Lgbtqia+ Population, Sera Shevchenko, Karen Park Otd, Otr/L, Bcp, Susan Macdermott Otd, Otr/L

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: The LGBTQIA+ population experiences unique barriers to occupation and well being. Anti-LGBTQ legislation encroaches on inclusive and affirming care affecting occupational access. Limited occupational participation and additional exhaustive adaptive strategies to engage in occupations safely have an emotional cost. This research study explores how food or mealtime occupations such as cooking, eating, and hosting can support LGBTQIA+ well-being. This research was made possible by LGBTQIA+ participants that are experts of their lived experience.

Methods: This mixed methods research used both qualitative and quantitative methods to gather data on the significance of food-based occupations, culture, mental health, and identity in …