Digital Commons Network^™

How Setting Impacts The Progression Of Male Queer Protagonists In Proxy And Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe, Cesar Negroni

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Alex London's novel Proxy explores the life of a male queer teenager named Sydney Carton, who resides in a Science Fiction dystopia, and is forced to evade punishment for crimes he did not commit. Benjamin Alire Saénz’ novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe explores the life of a male queer protagonist Ari Mendoza, who lives in an idealistic version of the 1980s, and struggles with coming to terms with his sexuality. In this essay, I assert that each male queer protagonist is shaped by their respective settings due to the nature of their constantly changing environments. …

Healthy Rivers Are Critical For Colorado's Water Resources Resilience: How Colorado Water Law Needs To Evolve To Protect Our Natural Stream Systems, John Cyran, Hattie Johnson, Jacquelyn Corday, Andrew Teegarden

Colorado Environmental Law Journal

Over the past 200 years, the large majority of Colorado's rivers have been altered to make way for development, agriculture, or transportation, or to deliver water to users more efficiently. Rivers have been buried by mining debris or concrete, channelized, levied, wholly diverted, riparian vegetation lost by grazing or land use practices, and thousands of miles of streams have become incised, disconnected from their foodplains. Numerous scientific studies over the past twenty years have documented why degraded rivers are problematic and why healthy functioning river systems connected to their foodplains provide numerous critical services beyond water delivery, including increased protection …

Pesticide Poisonings And Deadly Hazards: Using The Farm Bill To Protect Workers, Melissa Mcelroy

Colorado Environmental Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Four Veterinary Antibiotics On Constructed Treatment Wetland Nitrogen Transformation, Matthew Russell, Tiffany L. Messer, Deborah A. Report, Richard L. Smith, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Daniel D. Snow, Ariel P. Reed

UK CARES Faculty Publications

The use of wetlands as a treatment approach for nitrogen in runoff is a common practice in agroecosystems. However, nitrate is not the sole constituent present in agricultural runoff and other biologically active contaminants have the potential to affect nitrate removal efficiency. In this study, the impacts of the combined effects of four common veterinary antibiotics (chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine, lincomycin, monensin) on nitrate-N treatment efficiency in saturated sediments and wetlands were evaluated in a coupled microcosm/mesocosm scale experiment. Veterinary antibiotics were hypothesized to significantly impact nitrogen speciation (e.g., nitrate and ammonium) and nitrogen uptake and transformation processes (e.g., plant uptake and …

The Role Of Microrna-152 In The Pathogenesis Of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy, Joy Olaoluwa Gbadegoye

Alternative Theses and Dissertations (AETDs)

Diabetes mellitus, one of the world’s fast-growing diseases, is characterized by high death rates from cardiac complications named diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM is a heart disease that occurs in both type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Many management options have been explored in the management of DCM, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, etc.; however, limited success has been recorded from these. MicroRNAs, recently discovered gene regulators, have been reported to be associated with various physiology and pathological processes in the mammalian body. These include cell proliferation, cell death, senesis, carcinogenesis, diabetes, and heart failure, among others. Various miRs have been …

A Meta-Analysis Of Seafood Species Mislabeling Rates In The United States, Sarah Ahles

Food Science (MS) Theses

Seafood is vulnerable to species mislabeling due to factors such as complex global supply chains, varying prices, and similar appearance of species. Numerous studies have been published reporting a range of mislabeling rates for various forms of seafood. However, these studies oftentimes focus on lesser-consumed species that are vulnerable to species mislabeling. As a result, the overall mislabeling rate of commercially sold seafood in the U.S. remains unknown, especially for the most consumed species. Thus, the objective of the current study was to compile the results of seafood mislabeling studies into a single resource to provide informative statistics on U.S. …

Catastrophic Progress: A Queer Materialist Analysis Of The 2023 Trans/Bud Light Controversy, Brianna Radke

English (MA) Theses

On April 1, 2023, Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender woman and social media influencer, made a March Madness post on Instagram sponsored by Bud Light. The response from the conservative right was swift and extreme, galvanizing protests against Anheuser-Busch InBev and resulting in a massive loss in sales that is still discussed in news and pop culture circles today. The event offers unique analytic value, particularly through the nexus of queer and materialist theoretical frameworks, providing a glimpse into the growing conflict between big business and queer-allied consumers. From a materialist perspective, the Bud Light/Mulvaney controversy demonstrates how social media – …

Changes In Soil Chemical Attributes, Horticultural Performance And Fruit Yield Of Peach Cultivars Following Preplant And Annual Applications Of Composted Mulch Amendments, Jeffrey Hopkins

All Theses

Southeastern peach orchards often have poor soil quality due to native soil composition, intensive farming practices and generational replanting of trees in the same locations. This study investigated using mulch amendments to improve the chemical and physical quality of soil prior to planting a new peach orchard. At the beginning of the four-year study, a single-ground municipal composted mulch was incorporated into the soil at two different rates and three cultivars of peaches, ‘Rubyprince’, ‘Julyprince’, and ‘BigRed’ were planted on berms. Thereafter, the same mulch product was annually applied to the top of the berms at two different rates to …

The Effects Of Palm Cooling On Power, Strength, And Endurance: An Investigative Study, Klye Henningsgard, Riley Mattheis, Shawn Stolz

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Modern day athletes are continuously searching for ways that they can find a competitive advantage over their peers. This study aimed to assess if palm cooling was effective in increasing power, strength, and/or endurance during exercise. After completing a warmup, 24 participants (11 males,13 females; age 22.75 ± 1.36) were assessed on two separate occasions where they performed three separate exercises: vertical jump to analyze power, isometric knee extension to analyze strength, and Queen’s College Step Test to analyze endurance. On the first day of testing, participants were randomly assigned into a cooling or non-cooling group. Thus, completing all three …

The Correlation Between The Season Of Birth And Early Childhood Development In Healthy Children: Evidence From Midwest Region Of The United States, Paige E. Argent, Emma R. Botker, Anna L. Kiffmeyer, Victoria K. Maiz, Alexis N. Pettersen

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: While many different factors may affect early childhood development, one significant factor is the season of birth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the season of birth and early childhood gross motor development in healthy children ages 0-5 years old in the greater Midwest area.

Methods: Parents of 372 children completed self-reports on their children’s gross and fine motor development using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Parents were provided with an online survey version of the ASQ. Data was based upon closed-ended questions and analyzed using the percentages of responses …

Understanding Road Users’ Use And Misuse Of Fluorescent And Retroreflective Materials At Night, Savana King

All Dissertations

Nighttime pedestrian fatality rates in the U.S. continue to rise. Nighttime visibility aids – including retroreflective garments – can enhance the conspicuity of pedestrians to drivers at night. Yet, pedestrians rarely take advantage of retroreflectivity and instead often wear fluorescent garments that are not useful at night. This research explored whether road users’ misunderstandings of two critical principles – retroreflectivity and fluorescence – support the misuse of visibility-enhancing garments. This project also explored whether materials that combine retroreflectivity and fluorescence (“combined-performance materials”) circumvent road users’ misconceptions. Two experiments quantified observers’ expectations for how bright fluorescent, retroreflective, or fluorescent-retroreflective materials will …

University Of Baltimore Law Review, Volume 53, Issue 2, Summer 2024

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Alleviating The Burden Of Coerced Debt: Legal Solutions To Intimate Partner Credit Abuse, Kristine Martinez

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Dam Lesson: How Learning From Hydropower Governance Can Protect Biological Diversity As We Adapt To The Demands Of Climate Change, Adam Fetian

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Proof-Of-Concept For Converging Beam Small Animal Irradiator, Benjamin Insley

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The Monte Carlo particle simulator TOPAS, the multiphysics solver COMSOL., and

several analytical radiation transport methods were employed to perform an in-depth proof-ofconcept

for a high dose rate, high precision converging beam small animal irradiation platform.

In the first aim of this work, a novel carbon nanotube-based compact X-ray tube optimized for

high output and high directionality was designed and characterized. In the second aim, an

optimization algorithm was developed to customize a collimator geometry for this unique Xray

source to simultaneously maximize the irradiator’s intensity and precision. Then, a full

converging beam irradiator apparatus was fit with a multitude …

“Sav” The Bay: Achieving The Chesapeake Bay Program’S Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) Restoration Goals Through Law, James Duffy

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Practical Application Of In-Vitro Tissue Digestion As A Means Of Producing Species-Specific Larval Diets And The Impact Of Dietary Protein Composition On Growth And Metabolism In Freshwater Fish, Giovanni Settle Molinari

Dissertations

The heavy reliance on live feeds is currently restricting the growth and sustainability of the aquaculture industry, therefore, the overall goal of this research was to improve the utilization of formulated dry diets at first feeding of larval fish. This was done with a specific focus on the production and provision of the optimal dietary protein form and composition. Chapter 2 aimed to provide an efficient protein source for larval fish by using same-species muscle and endogenous enzymes to produce hydrolysates and by providing a series of diets with increasing molecular weight protein fragments through larval development. Largemouth Bass (Micropterus …

Utilizing Biomimicry To Design Sustainable Architecture, Virginia Hammond

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nature has an integral relationship with architecture and serves as a sustainable role model and inspiration for designers. The process of biomimicry in architecture has the potential to produce more sustainable design solutions and foster a connection between humans and nature. Existing biomimetic design projects have varying strengths and weaknesses as examples of the process. Utilizing guidelines and references from key leaders in biomimetic design consultancy (Biomimicry 3.8), selected case studies are assessed for their ability to demonstrate the benefits of this design strategy. Using these evaluations, the case studies are diagrammed and critiqued to determine how new projects could …

Geometric Principles In Architecture Aesthetics, Vincent Gemmiti

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study focuses on geometric formalism in three major monuments across different architectural eras in time. The use of three distinct geometric principles to outline the use of pure or manufactured shapes and figures helps to discover and isolate an aesthetic component of architecture within which it is contained. A collection of studies are implemented and are focused on orthographic drawings from each monument in horizontality and verticality, consisting of a dual set of overlay and interpretative drawings for each type of orthographic representation for each monument. A discussion follows and highlights the changes or similarities over time the role …

Family-Centered Care For Lgbtq+ Parents Of Infants In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Integrative Review, Olivia S. Yinger, Aubrey E. Jones, Keisa Fallin-Bennett, Chelsea Gibbs, Rachel H. Farr

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Background: Having an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can disrupt parent well-being, the transition to parenthood, and the typical trajectories of infant and child health. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other sexual and gender minority identity (LGBTQ+) parents, this stress may be compounded by health disparities and fear of stigma and discrimination; however, research is lacking about LGBTQ+ parents of infants in the NICU. Objectives: The purpose of this integrative review was to better understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ parents of NICU infants, with a focus on experiences of stigma and discrimination, sources of strength …

Transcriptomic Profiling Of Engineered Human Gene Integration In The Mouse Genome Following In Vitro Gene Editing, Ethan Potts, Made Harumi Padmaswari, Christopher Nelson

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Gene replacement is a promising method of therapy for genetic diseases. However, safety and efficacy are areas that need more research. This experiment aims to use RNA sequencing and bioinformatic techniques to provide answers to these questions and provide direction to future studies to develop a gene replacement therapeutic. C2C12 mouse myoblast cells were transfected with a vector containing a CRISPR-Cas9 system and the Human Factor IX (hF9) gene in order to hijack target genes and integrate the hF9 gene. The two target genes, myoglobin (Mb) and creatine kinase (Ckm), were chosen for their high rate of expression and low …

Real-Time Measurements From Wearable Sensors To Enhance Stability On Uneven Terrain, Sophie Copelin

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The presented thesis is a study of sensation associated with inversion/eversion movement about the anterior/posterior axis. The long-term goal is to create a system that provides feedback to a prosthesis user, so their chances of falling is decreased. This feedback system would use wearable sensors to detect certain angles, so that sensory feedback could be provided. The study aimed to determine if Xsens Movella DOT sensors could be used in a system like this, so the accuracy of the Xsens Movella DOT sensors was assessed and the difference in angles that could be determined by them when compared to that …

The Pam-1 Aminopeptidase Protects Against Neurodegeneration In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Caleb Coil

Honors College Theses

The deteriorating effects of neurodegenerative conditions seem inescapable for many as they age. The experimental exploration of the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for neurodegeneration is aided using animal models. For instance, genetic screens have identified the puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA) as a novel effector of neurodegeneration, as mutations in PSA in fruit flies result in perturbations of neuron anatomy and an accelerated onset of neuron death. We have tested the hypothesis that PAM-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of PSA, plays a similar role in governing neurodegeneration in nematodes. Genetic strains were created that express the green fluorescent protein (GFP) in …

Differences In Risk And Protective Factors For Suicide In Latinx And White Lgb Adults, Maria Hernandez

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Suicide in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) adults is on the rise, as well as those that identify as Latinx LGB. To identify those at risk and prevent future suicide, researchers rely heavily on risk and protective factors to determine those individuals that may be more susceptible to suicide. However, the existing research on these factors is very limited and has been hyper focused on internalizing factors that contribute to suicide risk. Additionally, research in LGB and Latinx populations is limited because researchers have focused mostly on White and heterosexual populations. This study identifies one risk and one protective factor …

Evaluating The Epidemiological, Hormonal, And Psychosocial Sex-Based Differences In Sports-Related Concussion Outcomes, Samantha Kanny

All Dissertations

Sports-related concussions (SRCs) affect approximately 3.8 million athletes in the United States per year. A multitude of risk factors including age, sex, concussion history and prior medical conditions have been observed to significantly increase sports-related concussion symptom burden. Researchers have posited many reasons to explain sex-based differences in SRC outcomes, often categorized by biological characteristics or sociocultural factors, however, females are vastly underrepresented in sports-related concussion research, making it difficult to understand the true mechanisms underlying SRC sex-based differences. The goal of this dissertation is to help fill the current gap in knowledge on sex-based differences in sports-related concussion outcomes. …

Une Library Services Quarterly Report May 2024, Une Library Services

Quarterly Reports

Highlights of accomplishments of the University of New England's Library Services department.

The Media’S Representation Of Female Athletes During Drug Scandals, Cassandra Leigh Lavigne

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Nsu Business Graduate Student Catalog 2024-2025, Nova Southeastern University

Huizenga Postgraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Demography With Drones: Detecting Growth And Survival Of Shrubs With Unoccupied Aerial Systems, Peter J. Olsoy, Andrii Zaiats, Donna M. Delparte, Matthew J. Germino, Bryce A. Richardson, Anna V. Roser, Jennifer S. Forbey, Megan E. Cattau, T. Trevor Caughlin

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Large-scale disturbances, such as megafires, motivate restoration at equally large extents. Measuring the survival and growth of individual plants plays a key role in current efforts to monitor restoration success. However, the scale of modern restoration (e.g., >10,000 ha) challenges measurements of demographic rates with field data. In this study, we demonstrate how unoccupied aerial system (UAS) flights can provide an efficient solution to the tradeoff of precision and spatial extent in detecting demographic rates from the air. We flew two, sequential UAS flights at two sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) common gardens to measure the survival and growth of …

Eco-Anxiety Effects College Students, Alexa Edmundson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

A survey was conducted on the UNL student population to evaluate whether college students, 18-25 year olds who are currently attending an accredited post-secondary school, are experiencing eco-anxiety and if eco-anxiety affects their pro-environmental behaviors. Climate change is taking a toll not only physically on us but also mentally. The mental health of people, especially college students, is not often studied in relation to climate change, but if we are to understand how to create change in this issue then we need to be looking at the whole picture. The hypothesis is that if college students are experiencing eco-anxiety, then …