Digital Commons Network^™

Spatial Ecology Of Mountain Lions Throughout Their Distribution In California, Kyle D. Dougherty

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mountain lions (Puma concolor) have been studied extensively throughout their wide geographic distribution in the Western Hemisphere, but most research has been conducted at relatively small spatial scales. We used GPS telemetry data contributed by researchers in 16 study areas throughout California to advance understanding of mountain lion spatial ecology. First, we investigated multi-scale resource selection of mountain lions relative to spatially varying risk of intentional human-caused mortality associated with livestock depredation management. We show that individuals that proactively avoided mortality risk when selecting home ranges were able to relax their avoidance of risk when making resource selection …

Hybridization Between The Rare Gray-Headed Chickadee And The Abundant Boreal Chickadee In The Midst Of Shifting Climate, Matthew R. Armstrong

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As species respond to changing climate, distributions and abundances may shift and alter species interactions. Hybridization, a relatively widespread phenomenon becoming more common with climate change, can have beneficial and detrimental effects on population growth rates and genetic integrity. Beneficial effects due to the introduction of advantageous alleles and increased genetic diversity may result from hybridization. Species may also accrue fitness costs associated with changing climates if mismatches occur between environmental variables and phenotypes. The gray-headed chickadee, Poecile cinctus lathami, is an extremely rare songbird that has experienced marked declines in recent decades within its restricted distribution in Alaska …

Phylogeny And Disparity Of Ammonoid Family Acanthoceratidae Over Ocean Anoxic Event 2, Lindsey Howard

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The widespread use of genera as proxies for species in paleobiological studies might affect the results of these studies. Although most attention has been given to taxonomic diversity studies, this could also be true of disparity and phylogenetic studies. In particular, the assumption that particular character states truly diagnose all members of a genus might distort results. This study examines the disparity of Acanthoceratid ammonoids at both the generic and species level. 149 species from 42 genera were examined with 52 characters measured. Following the measurements, an inverse modeling simulation was run 100 times to generate a simulated phylogeny with …

French Interwar Popular Romance And Ideals Of Femininity: A Literary And Historical Study Of Magali, Kelly Kamrath

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Against a background of political turmoil, economic crises, and cultural upsets from both within and abroad, France between the two World Wars was home to a flourishing romance novel industry. At first glance lighthearted love stories seem simple and frivolous in comparison to the canonical writings of the time, such as those of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre. However, this literature was far from art for art’s sake. The romance novels of interwar France, written half a century before the scholarship of romance fiction would truly begin, have yet to receive the attention they deserve. During the interwar period, …

Geospatial Distribution Of Rhizocarpon Lichens In The Peri Himal, Matt Lehmann, Daniel Havlat

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

Lichenometry, a technique used primarily in high latitudes and mountainous regions to date rock surface exposure, relies on estimations of lichen growth rates. Utilizing Rhizocarpon lichen, lichenometry has been extensively applied to date Late Holocene glacial landforms. In this study, we explore Rhizocarpon distribution in the Peri Himal of the Nepal Himalaya to understand the microclimatic and environmental mechanisms that dictate their growth location. We collected 25 data points throughout the western moraine of Ponkar Glacier near Kehcakyu Khola and around Ponkar Lake. Through this data we raised the question, under what conditions do Rhizocarpon lichen grow in high altitude …

Forum, Volume 48, No. 2, Summer 2024, Florida Humanities, Pam Daniel

FORUM: The Magazine of Florida Humanities

Contents: Letter from the Executive Director -- From the Secretary of State -- From the Editor -- Humanities Live -- Oral History -- Treasure -- Cover to Cover -- The Photographer as Storyteller -- Lewis Hine "Suffer the Little Children" -- E.G. Barnhill "In Living Color" -- Marion Post Wolcott "Their Place in the Sun" -- E.L. Weems "Black Pride" -- Gary Monroe "On the Edges" -- Loomis Dean "The Trip of a Lifetime" -- First Person -- Person of Interest -- A Taste of Florida -- The Quiz

Deconstructing Disability In Malawi: A Multi-Perspective Qualitative Study On Understandings, Policy Development, And Policy Implementation, Johanna Lee

Capstone Collection

Disability models serve as frameworks to conceptualize understandings of disabilities, influencing the creation of policies and programs. The United Nations, through the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), has established international standards influenced by disability models from the Global North. Despite Malawi’s efforts to adopt the CRPD through numerous measures, people with disabilities still face challenges in accessing healthcare. The effectiveness of current policies in the health sector remains unclear. Therefore, it is crucial to consider local perspectives on disabilities, as well as differences in culture and livelihoods. This research employs thematic analysis to assess the perceptions …

Music Education In The Urban Classroom: Issues Of Equity And Access, Lakeisha Walker

Theses

Music education in urban classrooms plays a crucial role in shaping students' overall development and academic success. The field of music education is not immune to the challenges of equity and access that exist in urban settings. It is essential to address these issues to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to participate in music programs and reap the countless benefits that come with them.

The importance of this topic in the field of music education cannot be overstated. Research has shown that students who participate in music programs demonstrate improved academic performance, enhanced cognitive skills, and increased creativity. …

Menstrual Hygiene Amongst School Girls: Still A Messy Business, Naghma Rizvi, Saleema A. Gulzar, Tazeen S. Ali, Syeda Aleena Fazal, Alishah Aziz Gulzar, Yasmin Parpio, Rimsha Hirani

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Menstruation has become a taboo topic among adolescent females, affecting their reproductive health, particularly in more traditional South Asian nations such as Pakistan. The study highlights the societal silence surrounds menstruation, which leads to detrimental practices and attitudes among school-age females. The study reveals the sociocultural, psychological, and educational challenges that teenagers encounter. The presence of myths and misconceptions adds to unsanitary habits, which undermine education and reproductive health.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in urban Karachi. The participants were 850 unmarried school-going female adolescents aged 13 to 19. The data were collected using a pre-coded questionnaire. …

Characteristics And Treatment Of Acute Myeloid Neoplasms With Cutaneous Involvement In Infants Up To 6 Months Of Age: A Retrospective Study., Juliette Renaud, Bianca F. Goemans, Franco Locatelli, Martina Pigazzi, Shelagh Redmond, Claudia E. Kuehni, Alice Destaillats, Todd A. Alonzo, Robert B. Gerbing, Alan S. Gamis, Richard Aplenc, Raffaele Renella, Todd Cooper, Francesco Ceppi

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Myeloid neoplasms account for 50% of cases of pediatric leukemias in infants. Approximately 25%-50% of patients with newborn leukemia have cutaneous extramedullary disease (EMD). In less than 10% of patients, aleukemic leukemia cutis or isolated extramedullary disease with cutaneous involvement (cEMD) occurs when skin lesions appear prior to bone marrow involvement and systemic symptoms. Interestingly, in acute myeloid leukemia with cutaneous EMD (AML-cEMD) and cEMD, spontaneous remissions have been reported.

METHOD: This is a multicentric retrospective cohort study aiming to describe characteristics, treatment, and outcome of infants with either cEMD or presence of cutaneous disease with involvement of the …

Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome In Children: The Impact Of Smad4 And Bmpr1a Mutations On Clinical Phenotype And Polyp Burden., Shlomi Cohen, Anat Yerushalmy-Feler, Isabel Rojas, Claudia Phen, David A. Rudnick, Colleen B. Flahive, Steven H. Erdman, Ramit Magen-Rimon, Ivana Copova, Thomas M. Attard, Andrew Latchford, Warren Hyer

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: A constitutional disease-causing variant (DCV) in the SMAD4 or BMPR1A genes is present in 40%-60% of patients with juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS). The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical course and polyp burden in children with DCV-positive JPS compared to DCV-negative JPS.

METHODS: Demographic, clinical, genetic, and endoscopic data of children with JPS were compiled from eight international centers in the ESPHGAN/NASPGHAN polyposis working group.

RESULTS: A total of 124 children with JPS were included: 69 (56%) DCV-negative and 55 (44%) DCV-positive (53% SMAD4 and 47% BMPR1A) with a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 4 (2.8-6.4) …

Risk Factors For Postpartum Depression And Severe Distress Among Mothers Of Very Preterm Infants At Nicu Discharge., Julie A. Hofheimer, Elisabeth C. Mcgowan, Lynne M. Smith, Samantha Meltzer-Brody, Brian S. Carter, Lynne M. Dansereau, Steven Pastyrnak, Jennifer B. Helderman, Charles R. Neal, Sheri A. Dellagrotta, Thomas Michael D O'Shea, Barry M. Lester

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE:  To identify psychological, medical, and socioenvironmental risk factors for maternal postpartum depression (PPD) and severe psychological distress (SPD) at intensive care nursery discharge among mothers of very preterm infants.

STUDY DESIGN:  We studied 562 self-identified mothers of 641 infants born(NOVI) conducted in nine university-affiliated intensive care nurseries. Enrollment interviews collected socioenvironmental data, depression, and anxiety diagnoses prior to and during the study pregnancy. Standardized medical record reviews ascertained prenatal substance use, maternal and neonatal medical complications. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Brief Symptom Inventory were administered at nursery discharge to screen for PPD and SPD symptoms, respectively.

RESULTS: …

Preeclampsia, Fetal Growth Restriction, And 24-Month Neurodevelopment In Very Preterm Infants., Jennifer Check, Coral Shuster, Julie Hofheimer, Marie Camerota, Lynne M. Dansereau, Lynne M. Smith, Brian S. Carter, Sheri A. Dellagrotta, Jennifer Helderman, Howard Kilbride, Cynthia M. Loncar, Elisabeth Mcgowan, Charles R. Neal, T Michael O'Shea, Steven L. Pastyrnak, Stephen J. Sheinkopf, Barry M. Lester

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Preeclampsia has direct influences on a developing fetus and may impact postnatal health, and fetal growth restriction (FGR) is often seen co-occurring with preeclampsia. The development of children born very preterm after preeclampsia diagnosis with and without FGR is not well characterized.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of preeclampsia and FGR with developmental and/or behavioral outcomes in a cohort of very preterm infants.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this cohort study, infants in the prospective Neonatal Neurobehavior and Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants study were enrolled between April 2014 and June 2016 from 9 US university-affiliated neonatal intensive care …

The Use Of Hearing Tests To Assess Otitis Media With Effusion In Children With Down Syndrome., Mackenzie O'Donnell, Nasrin Sultana, Nasreen Talib, Jason May, Michael Slogic

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome is associated with an increased risk for otitis media with effusion (OME), a childhood condition in which fluid accumulates in the middle ear, potentially leading to hearing loss. The American Academy of Pediatrics Down syndrome guidelines and the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery OME guidelines recommend hearing testing to assess the hearing status of children with Down syndrome diagnosed with OME.

METHODS: Through an Institutional Review Board approved retrospective chart review at Children's Mercy, this project assessed how clinical factors affect the frequency in which children with Down syndrome receive hearing testing after …

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2023, Jason Kelley, Travis Faske

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The 2023 edition of the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies Series includes research results on topics pertaining to corn and grain sorghum production, including weed, disease, and insect management; economics; irrigation; agronomics; soil fertility; mycotoxins; cover crop management; and research verification program results. Our objective is to capture and broadly distribute the results of research projects funded by the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board. The intended audience includes producers and their advisors, current investigators, and future researchers. The Series serves as a citable archive of research results.

Increased Co2 Levels During The First Half Of Incubation At High Altitude Modifies Embryonic Development Of Fertile Leghorn Breeder Eggs, Marco A. Juarez-Estrada, Erik I. Lopez-Ruiz, Sonia Lopez-Cordova, G. Tellez-Isaias, Omar F. Prado-Rebolledo

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The exchange of oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) within an incubator has a significant impact on embryonic development (ED) and hatching processes. This study examines the influence of non-ventilation (NV) conditions during the first ten days of incubation at high altitudes on Leghorn hens hatching eggs. Five hundred four hatching eggs were equally divided into three treatment groups and placed in twelve incubators (R = 4). The first group was subjected to standard ventilated conditions (V) during the setting phase. The ventilation inlet holes of the remaining incubators in the NV treatments were closed with …

Assessing Rice Phenological Features With Hyperspectral Imaging Insights From Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (Emit), Shahryar Fazli, Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In California's Central Valley, water management and crop health, particularly in rice cultivation, are critical. This paper details the application of Earth surface Mineral dust source InvesTigation (EMIT) hyperspectral imaging, specifically employing Spectral Correlation Mapper (SCM) and Spectral Information Divergence (SID), for precise phenological analysis. By aligning EMIT data with Hyperion satellite references, we address spectral and geographical discrepancies. Our methodology includes seasonal sampling of spectral curves to capture the phenological stages of rice. Results show a strong correlation (R ² = 0.86) between August EMIT and Reference dataset, emphasizing EMIT's utility in enhancing agricultural practices and water efficiency in …

July 2024 Louisiana Bar Exam, Louisiana Supreme Court Committee On Bar Admissions

Louisiana Bar Exams

No abstract provided.

The Brain Is In Your Court: Evaluating Intellectual Property Infringement Audience Through The Lens Of Neuroscience, Madyson Kent

Washington and Lee Law Review

To protect creations of the mind, the law needs to understand the mind. Thankfully, the rapidly emerging field of neuroscience provides an invaluable glimpse into the inner workings of the human brain. Now that scientific instruments provide a window into the living brain, it is time to reexamine the way intellectual property law decides the outcomes of infringement lawsuits.

Critically examining neuroscience in the context of the law helps to answer the most fundamental question in an intellectual property lawsuit: Was there infringement? A judicial hesitancy to understand the thought processes of artists and creators results in relying on the …

Burnout Among Medical Residents, Coping Mechanisms And The Perceived Impact On Patient Care In A Low/ Middle Income Country, Charles Muteshi, Elizabeth Ochola, Dorothy Kamya

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Burnout is a syndrome that result from chronic workplace stress and it characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal accomplishments. Studies report higher burnout levels in medical personnel compared to the general population. Workplace burnout has been directly linked to medical errors and negative coping strategies such as substance abuse. The aims of this study were to assess the level of burnout in medical residents, evaluate their impressions about coping mechanisms and assess perceived impact on patient care in a low/ middle income country setting.

Methods: This was a cross sectional, mixed methods survey carried out at Aga …

July 2024 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Identifying Goalkeeper Movement Timing From Single-Camera Broadcast Footage Through Pose Estimation: A Pilot Study, Reddy Chethan, Woohyoung Jeon

Health & Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Featured Application: This research describes a methodology for identifying the moment when a goalkeeper initiates their save attempt in the frontal plane, providing a way to benchmark the timing component of a save attempt. This study explores how open-source pose estimation can be utilized to identify goalkeeper dive initiation during soccer penalty kicks. The purpose of this study is to provide an accessible, low-cost heuristic methodology for identifying goalkeeper dive initiation. This study uses single-camera broadcast footage (1080 p resolution, 50 frames per second) of all 41 penalty shootout kicks attempted during the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup. We isolated …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Amino Acid Capped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles, Aislin Isaak, Jonah Groce, Jerry Harris

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Antibiotics have been used for treating different bacterial infections ranging from meningitis to urinary tract infections. With those uses comes an increase in the number of drug resistant bacteria strains. Zinc Oxide (ZnO) is used in medicine to help treat and prevent different skin irritations like minor burns, cuts, and rashes. Metal oxides are being studied as potential antibiotics; this research focuses on capping ZnO nanoparticles with biologically active molecules to enhance their ability to combat bacteria. ZnO was synthesized with glutamic acid and valine. All the materials were made by alkali precipitation at 65oC. The materials were made by …

Digital Nucleic Acid Memory: Up-Scaling Ssdna Synthesis Of Novel P11453.1 Scaffold For Dna Origami, Jeremy Naftzger, Audrey Thompson, Benjamin Balzer, Luke Woodbury, Eric J. Hayden

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

The limitations of conventional memory materials, both in physical and economic aspects, necessitate the development of novel memory materials and methods. Digital Nucleic Acid Memory (dNAM) is one such memory method, which leverages DNA’s high information density, stability, and energy efficiency for non-volatile long-term memory applications, such as archival storage. dNAM uses DNA origami to form an information matrix where fluorescent DNA strands can bind to represent Binary 1’s and 0’s. This process is dependent on the size of the DNA Origami, therefore being dependent on the size of the ssDNA scaffold. The custom novel ssDNA scaffold P11453.1 is synthesized …

Private Management Of African Protected Areas Improves Wildlife And Tourism Outcomes But With Security Concerns In Conflict Regions, Sean Denny, Gabriel Englander, Patrick Hunnicutt

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Protected areas can conserve wildlife and benefit people when managed effectively. African governments increasingly delegate the management of protected areas to private, nongovernmental organizations, hoping that private organizations’ significant resources and technical capacities actualize protected areas’ potential. Does private sector management improve outcomes compared to a counterfactual of government management? We leverage the transfer of management authority from governments to African Parks (AP)—the largest private manager of protected areas in Africa—to show that private management significantly improves wildlife outcomes via reduced elephant poaching and increased bird abundances. Our results also suggest that AP’s management augments tourism, while the effect on …

Transcriptome Reveals The Key Genes Related To The Metabolism Of Volatile Sulfur-Containing Compounds In Lentinula Edodes Mycelium, Zheng Li, Fei Pan, Wen Huang, Shuangshuang Gao, Xi Feng, Meijie Chang, Lianfu Chen, Yinbing Bian, Wenli Tian, Ying Liu

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Lentinula edodes (L. edodes) is a globally popular edible mushroom because of its characteristic sulfur-containing flavor compounds. However, the formation of the volatile sulfur-containing compounds in the mycelium of L. edodes has not been studied. We found that there were also sulfur-containing aroma compounds in the mycelium of L. edodes, and the content and composition varied at different stages of mycelial growth and development. The γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) and cysteine sulfoxide lyase (C-S lyase) related to the generation of sulfur compounds showed the highest activities in the 15-day sample. Candidate genes for the metabolism of volatile sulfur compounds in mycelium were …

Applying Machine Learning Models Derived From Administrative Claims Data To Predict Medication Nonadherence In Patients Self-Administering Biologic Medications For Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Christian Rhudy, Courtney Perry, Michael Wesley, David Fardo, Cody Bumgardner, Syed Hassan, Terrence Barrett, Jeffery Talbert

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Adherence to self-administered biologic therapies is important to induce remission and prevent adverse clinical outcomes in Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to use administrative claims data and machine learning methods to predict nonadherence in an academic medical center test population.

METHODS: A model-training dataset of beneficiaries with IBD and the first unique dispense of a self-administered biologic between June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2019 was extracted from the Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental Administrative Claims Database. Known correlates of medication nonadherence were identified in the dataset. Nonadherence to biologic therapies was defined as a …

Β-Aminopropionitrile Induces Distinct Pathologies In The Ascending And Descending Thoracic Aortic Regions Of Mice, Michael K. Franklin, Hisashi Sawada, Sohei Ito, Deborah A. Howatt, Naofumi Amioka, Ching Ling Liang, Nancy Zhang, David B. Graf, Jessica J. Moorleghen, Yuriko Katsumata, Hong S. Lu, Alan Daugherty

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) is a pharmacological inhibitor of LOX (lysyl oxidase) and LOXLs (LOX-like proteins). Administration of BAPN promotes aortopathies, although there is a paucity of data on experimental conditions to generate pathology. The objective of this study was to define experimental parameters and determine whether equivalent or variable aortopathies were generated throughout the aortic tree during BAPN administration in mice. METHODS: BAPN was administered in drinking water for a period ranging from 1 to 12 weeks. The impacts of BAPN were first assessed with regard to BAPN dose, and mouse strain, age, and sex. BAPN-induced aortic pathological characterization was …

Maternal Sacrifice And Resilience: The Legacy Of Harriet Jacobs And Enslaved Black Motherhood, Beverly A. Duran

GLI MA in American History Student Works

This paper explores the unique role of enslaved Black women in preserving family and cultural identity during the American slavery era, focusing on the life and writings of Harriet Jacobs. Through her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs exemplifies the extraordinary sacrifices and resilience of enslaved mothers, who navigated the dual burdens of racial and gender oppression. The study delves into Jacobs’s years-long confinement in an attic to avoid separation from her children and her use of storytelling, education, and cultural practices to resist dehumanization. It highlights how enslaved women, despite systemic constraints, developed strategies to …

Deep Learning-Based Geomorphic Feature Identification In Dredge Pit Marine Environment, Wenqiang Zhang, Xiaobing Chen, Xiangwei Zhou, Jianhua Chen, Jianguo Yuan, Taibiao Zhao, Kehui Xu

Faculty Publications

Deep learning methods paired with sidescan sonar (SSS) are commonly used in underwater search-and-rescue operations for drowning victims, wrecks, and airplanes. However, these techniques are primarily used to detect mine-like objects and are rarely applied to identifying features in dynamic dredge pit environments. In this study, we present a Sandy Point dredge pit (SPDP) dataset, in which high-resolution SSS data were collected from the west flank of the Mississippi bird-foot delta on the Louisiana inner shelf. This dataset contains a total of 385 SSS images. We then introduce a new Effective Geomorphology Classification model (EGC). Through ablation studies, we analyze …