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Educational Influences On Environmental Perception: A Semester Analysis Of The New Ecological Paradigm Scale In Undergraduates, Zoe Zingler

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study evaluated the impact of a geography course, GEOG 181: Global Environmental Issues, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on students’ endorsement of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) using a pre-course and post-course NEP scale survey. Analyzing paired responses (n = 40) through t-tests and z-scores, only four of 15 statements had statistically significant shifts observed for the entire sample. However, a targeted analysis of students initially possessing lower endorsement of the NEP—early deniers—revealed significant paradigm shifts post-course. While women initially showed stronger NEP endorsement, men demonstrated notable changes following the course towards endorsement of the NEP. Academic majors, whether …

Many Direct-To-Consumer Canine Genetic Tests Can Identify The Breed Of Purebred Dogs, Halie M. Rando, Kiley Graim, Greg Hampikian, Casey S. Greene

Computer Science: Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE To compare pedigree documentation and genetic test results to evaluate whether user-provided photographs influence the breed ancestry predictions of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests for dogs.

ANIMALS 12 registered purebred pet dogs representing 12 different breeds. METHODS Each dog owner submitted 6 buccal swabs, 1 to each of 6 DTC genetic testing companies. Experimenters registered each sample per manufacturer instructions. For half of the dogs, the registration included a photograph of the DNA donor. For the other half of the dogs, photographs were swapped between dogs. DNA analysis and breed ancestry prediction were conducted by each company. The effect of …

Tradition And Transition On The Seward Peninsula: Bridging The Gap Between Potential Mining Development And Indigenous Livelihoods, Ridwan Akogun

Student Publications

Alaska’s Seward Peninsula communities are at a pivotal intersection of natural resource development and Indigenous subsistence livelihoods. As the demand for graphite, a vital component in the transition towards a decarbonized economy increases, a proposal has been made to establish a large graphite mine 60km North of Nome. Thus, these communities find themselves at the forefront of balancing economic development with environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. There remains a notable policy gap in accounting for the impacts of extractive industries on livelihoods in this region and this research integrates specific spatial and temporal land-use data to inform adaptive recommendations.

Consequences Of Altered Burn Regimes On Plant Community Diversity In The Pineywoods Of East Texas, William Steinley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The re-establishment of historic fire return intervals is vital to restoring forest health, species diversity, natural succession regimes, and reduction of some invasive species. Studies on the effect of fire frequencies on southern pine understory plant communities have revealed increased plant diversity and richness in response to fire, particularly in longleaf pine. The National Forests and Grasslands of Texas (NFGT), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the privately-owned Winston 8 Ranch are intensively managed using prescribed burns at different frequencies for a variety of management objectives.

In this study we aimed to further investigate the effect of fire frequency, stand characteristics, …

A Path Toward Race-Conscious Standards For Youth: Translating Adultification Bias Theory Into Doctrinal Interventions In Criminal Court, Jessica Levin

UC Law SF Journal on Gender and Justice

This article demonstrates how advocates can leverage empirical literature regarding adultification bias to craft doctrinal interventions that recognize and remedy the disproportionately harsh treatment of Black youth in the juvenile and adult criminal legal system. Through case examples, all of which I litigated in the Civil Rights Clinic at Seattle University School of Law, I demonstrate how adultification bias was used to explain the racial disproportionality in the transfer of young people to adult court for prosecution, as well as the harshness of the sentences received by young people in both juvenile and adult court. These cases provide roadmaps for …

Intrinsically Disordered Proteins And Their Role In Biomolecular Condensates, Danielle Latham

All Dissertations

Proteins are biomacromolecules responsible for the functions of life. While classically proteins are thought to be well structured in order to perform a specific function, 50% of proteins within Eukaryotic cells contain intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), regions with no well-defined structure. IDRs are often used for cell signaling, responding to external factors such as temperature changes or the presence of small molecules. To understand how IDRs can function without structure, it is important to understand the dynamics of such systems. Understanding IDR intramolecular and intermolecular interactions will shed light on IDR dynamics. Intramolecular interactions are first explored using fluorescence spectroscopy …

174th Commencement, Spring

Commencement Programs

Commencement program (graduate and undergraduate exercises) for Spring 2024

Rna Expression Of 6 Genes From Metastatic Mucosal Gastric Cancer Serves As The Global Prognostic Marker For Gastric Cancer With Functional Validation., Yun-Suhk Suh, Jieun Lee, Joshy George, Donghyeok Seol, Kyoungyun Jeong, Seung-Young Oh, Chanmi Bang, Yukyung Jun, Seong-Ho Kong, Hyuk-Joon Lee, Jong-Il Kim, Woo Ho Kim, Han-Kwang Yang, Charles Lee

Faculty Research 2024

BACKGROUND: Molecular analysis of advanced tumors can increase tumor heterogeneity and selection bias. We developed a robust prognostic signature for gastric cancer by comparing RNA expression between very rare early gastric cancers invading only mucosal layer (mEGCs) with lymph node metastasis (Npos) and those without metastasis (Nneg).

METHODS: Out of 1003 mEGCs, all Npos were matched to Nneg using propensity scores. Machine learning approach comparing Npos and Nneg was used to develop prognostic signature. The function and robustness of prognostic signature was validated using cell lines and external datasets.

RESULTS: Extensive machine learning with cross-validation identified the prognostic classifier consisting …

Early Molecular Events Of Autosomal-Dominant Alzheimer's Disease In Marmosets With Psen1 Mutations., Gregg E Homanics, Jung Eun Park, Lauren Bailey, David J Schaeffer, Lauren Schaeffer, Jie He, Shuoran Li, Tingting Zhang, Annat Haber, Catrina Spruce, Anna Greenwood, Takeshi Murai, Laura Schultz, Lauren Mongeau, Seung-Kwon Ha, Julia Oluoch, Brianne Stein, Sang Ho Choi, Hasi Huhe, Amantha Thathiah, Peter L Strick, Gregory W. Carter, Afonso C Silva, Stacey J Sukoff Rizzo

Faculty Research 2024

INTRODUCTION: Fundamental questions remain about the key mechanisms that initiate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the factors that promote its progression. Here we report the successful generation of the first genetically engineered marmosets that carry knock-in (KI) point mutations in the presenilin 1 (PSEN1) gene that can be studied from birth throughout lifespan.

METHODS: CRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate marmosets with C410Y or A426P point mutations in PSEN1. Founders and their germline offspring are comprehensively studied longitudinally using non-invasive measures including behavior, biomarkers, neuroimaging, and multiomics signatures.

RESULTS: Prior to adulthood, increases in plasma amyloid beta were observed in PSEN1 mutation …

Female Students’ Sense Of Belonging Influence On Engineering Technology Degree Retention: A Phenomenological Study, Edith Wittenmyer

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify and understand the phenomenon of sense of belonging regarding female students’ lived experiences that may impact retention rates for female students in engineering technology majors at this particular major midwestern university. Delving deeper into the lived experiences of engineering technology female students is the focus of this research. The study’s outcome may support academic policy changes which will increase retention and graduation of female students in pursuit of engineering technology degrees.

Barley Production: Effects Of Weather Damage And Varietal Purity On Quality, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Australian barley is regarded for its quality and suitability for both malting and animal feed, although varietal differences and environmental conditions during production can influence its quality.

The Influence Of Informal Economy On Voluntary Contributions To Informal Social Organisations, Nyagwegwe Wango

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This study explores the dynamics of the informal economy and the voluntary contributions made to groups, associations, and memberships within this sector. It provides an overview of the background information on these organizations, their operations, and the issues surrounding protection and risk mitigation. Additionally, the study delves into the practices of voluntary contributions within the informal economy. Qualitative research methods, including interviews and focus group discussions, were employed to gather data from informal economy actors participating in informal social organizations such as the bodaboda association, food vending networks, and beach groups. The findings suggest that informal workers often pool money …

Ce 432 Syllabus: Stress Management, Karen Cathey

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course will provide an introduction to important concepts, issues, skills, and interventions related to the identification and management of personal stress.

The Historical Biogeography Of Spiny Lobsters In The Genus Panulirus And The Influence Of Environmental Conditions On The Adaptive Evolution Of Mitochondrial Protein-Coding Genes In The Achelata, Alyssa Baker

All Theses

Contemporary and historical changes in marine environmental conditions influence biodiversity drastically. In marine invertebrates with highly dispersive planktonic larvae, diversification is facilitated or constrained by tectonic plate movements altering geography, prevailing current patterns, and climate. The decapod crustacean infraorder Achelata, which contains the spiny (fam. Palinuridae) and slipper (fam. Scyllaridae) lobsters, is characterized by a long-lived phyllosoma larvae stage. Panulirus is the most economically significant and speciose genus of spiny lobsters, with 20 recognized extant species and 5 subspecies distributed throughout shallow tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. Diversification within these lineages has been proposed to be primarily driven by geological …

Towards Understanding The Function Of An Ets-Like Gene In Nematostella Vectensis: Generation Of A Knockout Mutant Line And A Transgenic Reporter Line, Emily Bullock

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Due to their unique phylogenic position as sister to Bilateria, Cnidaria are often credited with the utility of allowing for reconstruction of ancestral biology based on characteristics shared with bilaterians and other animals. This factor makes investigation into the nervous systems of cnidarians critical in understanding early neural evolution. Wamides, a class of neuropeptides, have been shown to play a regulatory role in life cycle transitions across many different species. The cnidarian specific Wamide neuropeptide, GLWamide, has previously been identified to play an accelerator role in the metamorphic timing of a specific species of sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. However, …

Establishing An Objective, Quantifiable Method For Detecting Erosive Tooth Wear, Camille Kita

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study aims to monitor and evaluate erosive tooth wear (ETW) by measurement of enamel surface thickness and texture in a clinical setting. The objective approach is fundamentally different from the standard subjective visual assessment that professionals in the dental field using the Basic Erosive Wear Evaluation (BEWE) method.

Twenty-nine hyposalivation and three control subjects were used in this longitudinal study, for a total of 597 samples (only 577 teeth were eligible for surface texture analysis) evaluated in a longitudinal study including both baseline and 12 month follow up surfaces. Each participant’s buccal surface of the tooth was first analyzed …

Improving Fertility: Evaluating The Addition Of Prednisone To Enhance The Effectiveness Of Clomid And Femara In Anovulatory Patients., Jeffrey Bradford

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chronic Anovulation and PCOS is a major infertility issue that affects the ability of many female patients to conceive and obtain a pregnancy. General anovulation is influenced by a combination of factors such as hypoandrogenism, hormonal imbalances, and an irregular menstrual cycle. The current methods of treatments include the usage of first-line medications such as Clomid and Femara or more expensive options such as menotropin regimens, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). While Clomid and Femara remain the most common and successful method, an estimated 25% of general anovulation patients will fail to ovulate despite a maximum dosage …

Characterization Of Mitochondrial Morphology In Drosophila: Early Embryogenesis Description Via Confocal Microscopy, Kendall Miller

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mitochondria are not static organelles, but instead are dynamic networks that undergo rapid changes in subcellular distribution, organization, and activity in response to external stimuli. Notably, mitochondria can undergo fission and fusion, collectively known as mitochondrial dynamics. Mitochondrial fusion creates assembled networks of mitochondria that are maximally efficient at generating ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Conversely, mitochondrial fission leads to network fragmentation and a shift towards glycolysis, which is the dominant mode of ATP generation in oxygen-limiting and stressed conditions. While mitochondrial dynamics have been intensively studied in isolated cells under stressful conditions, much less is known about how mitochondria behave …

Library News May 2024, Research Medical Library

Library News 2024

• AI Literature Search Tools
• New Resource: Henry Stewart Talks
• How to Write a Structured Abstract
• Summer Reading Recommendations
• "Alternate" vs. "Alternative": Which Is the Correct Alternative?

The Female Werewolf: The Wolf, The Woman, And The Dunce Outcast, Melina Wallace

All Theses

This creative thesis blends literary theory, popular culture, and personal anecdote to create an analysis of feminist and disability rage through recent narratives of female werewolves. The form consists of paragraphs cycling among these three categories in a way that aims to be disruptive and without rhythm to create the sensation of transformation. These stylistic choices work together with the contents of the thesis to push thought forward regarding the absence of women’s presence within the depiction of the werewolves, which has traditionally been a male-focused image. The thesis aims to analyze not only the absence of women from the …

From Instagram To Top Ranks: Unveiling The Influence Of Social Media Engagement On Business School Prestige, Hofran Kinkela Ngoma

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Social media usage by universities has become widespread, serving as a dynamic platform for engaging with a diverse audience that includes prospective students, alumni, and the broader community. This research paper delves into the multifaceted role of social media in universities, serving as a tool for communication, audience engagement, brand promotion, and academic support. The study aims to explore the correlation between universities' social media usage and their ranking performances. Utilizing Instagram and the U.S. News website as data collection platforms, the investigation gathers insights into social media usage and change in business school ranking over a ten-year span. By …

To What Extent Do Water Reuse Treatments Reduce Antibiotic Resistance Indicators? A Comparison Of Two Full-Scale Systems, Ishi Keenum, Jeanette Calarco, Haniyyah Majeed, E. Eldridge Hager-Soto, Charles Bott, Emily Garner, Valerie J. Harwood, Amy Pruden

Michigan Tech Publications

Water reuse is an essential strategy for reducing water demand from conventional sources, alleviating water stress, and promoting sustainability, but understanding the effectiveness of associated treatment processes as barriers to the spread of antibiotic resistance is an important consideration to protecting human health. We comprehensively evaluated the reduction of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in two field-operational water reuse systems with distinct treatment trains, one producing water for indirect potable reuse (ozone/biologically-active carbon/granular activated carbon) and the other for non-potable reuse (denitrification-filtration/chlorination) using metagenomic sequencing and culture. Relative abundances of total ARGs/clinically-relevant ARGs and cultured ARB were …

Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurite Outgrowth Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Repair: A Review, Adrienne Vaughan

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) can cause partial sensorimotor deficiency or total dysfunction, rendering patients unable to perform necessary tasks and dramatically decreasing their quality of life. tSCI is a very prevalent issue. In the United States alone, there are approximately 54 new cases of SCI per one million people each year, or 18,000 new cases annually. tSCI creates a lesion gap filled with axon-inhibiting fibrotic scar tissue. Comprehensive functional recovery following traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) requires axonal regeneration across wound site lesions. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurite outgrowth is often evaluated in PNI therapeutic research since it can …

Stress-Induced Oxytocin Reactivity As A Predictor Of Daily Support Seeking After Stress, Cecile Sunahara

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined whether stress-induced peripheral oxytocin (OT) was associated with support-seeking behaviors after stress in daily life. Healthy male and female participants (N=94) performed a standardized laboratory stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), and then completed two weeks of daily assessments of support seeking after stress. In line with preregistered hypotheses, plasma OT reactivity to the TSST (indexed as the area under the curve with respect to increase; AUCi) was associated with more frequent support seeking behaviors following stress in daily life. Moreover, this association was stronger for individuals with higher levels of attachment anxiety, relative to …

Development Of An Online Teaching Platform To Improve Access To Postgraduate Pathology Training In Sub-Saharan Africa, Richard Byers, Anita Byers, Chibamba Mumba, Angela Mutuku, Jennifer Singer-Rupp, Michael Wilson, Kenneth Fleming, Shahin Sayed

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Resource barriers to the provision of accessible training in cancer diagnosis in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) limit the potential of African health systems. Long-term provision via teaching visits from senior pathologists and trainee foreign placements is unsustainable due to the prohibitive costs of travel and subsistence. Emerging eLearning methods would allow pathologists to be trained by experts in a cheaper, more efficient, and more scalable way.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an online teaching platform, starting with hematopathology, for trainee pathologists in sub-Saharan Africa, initially in Nairobi, Kenya, and Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods: Course materials …

Harnessing Oyster Shells For Sustainable Coastal Restoration, Resilience And Ecosystem Enhancement, Falyn Mcquarrie

Capstone Projects

Climate change and coastal erosion are two major threats facing coastal wetlands and marshes, especially in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Climate change has been causing sea level rise and increased storm surge during natural disasters like hurricanes and tropical storms, exacerbating erosion. Improper management techniques are also a challenge that shorelines are facing, hard structures like seawalls can be expensive to maintain and can lead to further erosion. Living shorelines is an adaptive management approach that can be beneficial to climate change and erosion mitigation and can foster nursery environments that invite new species and juvenile fish to the area …

The Mathematics Of Financial Portfolio Optimization Incorporating Environmental, Social, And Governance Score Information, Ian Driskill

Master's Theses

We numerically investigate the effects that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores have on portfolio optimization with Modern Portfolio Theory assumptions and how ESG scores correlate with the market returns of a rated company's stock. Additionally, we review and analyze a research paper published in the Journal of Financial Economics regarding ESG investing titled “Responsible investing: The ESG-efficient frontier” by Pedersen, Fitzgibbons, and Lukasz. Our overall goal is provide insight for socially responsible inclined investors, to help them understand what ESG scores tell us and how those scores may effect their overall investment returns."

Comparing The Outcomes Of Titanium And Stainless Steel Flexible Nails In Repairing Pediatric Long Bone Fractures, Novelpreet Boparai, Suzan Kamel-Elsayed, Ehab Saleh

Posters

• Traditionally, pediatric femoral fracture treatment favored conservative methods.
• Surgical intervention was deferred until age 6, as non-operative approaches often resulted in complications.
• Titanium elastic nailing (TENS) emerged as an effective treatment for diaphyseal femoral fractures in ages 6 to 16. However, the choice between TENS and stainless steel elastic nailing (SSENS) remains debated due to inconsistent findings.

Metastatic Osteosarcoma Involving The Skin: A Systematic Review Of Patient Demographics, Clinical Characteristics, And Treatment Outcomes, Sarah Fried, Ameen Suhrawardy, Rafey Rehman, Malik Al-Jamal, Drew Moore, Darius Mehregan

Posters

Skeletal osteosarcomas - most common primary malignant bone tumor1 and commonly metastasize to:

• Lungs (95%)2 •

Other bones (50%)2 •

Kidneys (12%)2 •

Rarely to the skin3

Extraskeletal osteosarcomas (ESOS) – soft tissue tumors that may also metastasize to the skin4,5,6

Value in gathering data on this rare phenomenon:

• Informs biology and dermatologic care of patients suffering from this cancer.

This systematic review characterizes metastatic osteosarcomas involving the skin.

Molecular Mechanisms Of Sensory Post-Acute Sequelae Of Covid-19 Infection: A Comprehensive Literature Review, Maha Siddiqui

Honors Scholar Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the world in the last few years, bringing with it countless varying physiological effects, some of which extend beyond the acute phase of the infection. Long-term COVID-19, also referred to as "chronic" or “long-haul” COVID, has become an increasingly prevalent health issue in recent years. Long term sensory loss, particularly anosmia and ageusia (loss of smell and taste respectively), are among the biggest concerns to patients suffering from this condition due to the considerable detriment to their quality of life. This literature review aims to provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms associated with sensory …