Digital Commons Network^™

Population Estimation Of The Euphrates Softshell Turtle Rafetus Euphraticus In The Central Marshes (Unesco Site), Samer Ammar Taher, Hind Suhail Abdulhay

Baghdad Science Journal

The Euphrates softshell turtle Rafetus euphraticus was classified as Endangered species on the IUCN Red List and is thought to have undergone large, recent population declines. Species information in Iraq is limited to a few rapid surveys with little detailed information on breeding and distribution. The study aimed to estimate the population of R. euphraticus in the Central Marshes using simple extrapolation of the count. Quadrate methodology 5 km2 size each was used to record the distribution of Euphrates softshell turtles within the study site and ten surveys were carried out from October 2021 to September 2022 except for the …

"My Longest Relationship Is With Food": Exploring Eating Related Behaviors Throughout The Gender Identity Journey Of Transgender Males, Angeles Polett Coss

Dissertations

This study sought to explore how transgender adult males have navigated the development of their eating behaviors throughout their gender identity trajectory. While recent research has focused on gender identity development and protective factors of the transgender community, this study explored and examined elements regarding the eating related behaviors of transgender males. Interviews were conducted with six participants within the United States during semi structured virtual sessions; the age range of participants was 19 to 35. Results of this research revealed identity management, Sociopolitical discourse, identity management and inter-relational identity affirmations as inter-multicultural segments that connected with eating related behaviors …

Comparative Study Of Sol-Gel And Green Synthesis Technique Using Orange Peel Extract To Prepare Tio2 Nanoparticles, Hind Fadhil Oleiwi, Aseel J. Rahma, Siham I. Salih, Ammar A. Beddai

Baghdad Science Journal

Plant extracts have been widely explored as a safer alternative to conventional procedures for the manufacture of metal oxide nanoparticles. The present research concentrated on the synthesis and characterization of Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) using an environmentally friendly green synthesis approach (orange peel extract) compared with another technique (Sol-Gel method) at room temperature. The TiO2 nanoparticles were analyzed using an X-ray Diffraction (XRD) to determine the polycrystalline with Tetragonal structure anatase phase and average crystallite size 30.2 nm and 24.2nm of the sample prepared from Sol-gel and green methods respectively. FTIR spectroscopy was used to determine the functional groups of …

The Effect Of Heat Transformation And Rotation On Sutterby Fluid Peristaltic Flow In An Inclined, Asymmetric Channel With The Porousness, Asmaa A. Mohammed, Liqaa Zeki Hummady

Baghdad Science Journal

In this paper, the effect of the rotation variable and other variables on the peristaltic flow of Sutterby fluid in an Inclined asymmetric channel containing a porous medium with heat transfer is examined. In the presence of rotation, mathematical modeling is developed using constitutive equations based on the model of Sutterby fluid. In flow analysis, assumptions such as long wavelength approximation and low Reynolds number are used. The resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equation was analytically solved using the perturbation method. The effects of the Grashof number, the Hartmann number, the Reynold number, the Froude number, the Hall parameter, the Darcy …

Biosynthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles By Using Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Extracts, Hawazen H. Salih

Baghdad Science Journal

Due to its availability, affordability, effectiveness, and low cost, the green-based synthesis of silver nanoparticles by plants is gaining popularity. It is safe to handle and has a wide range of metabolites, including antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The production of AgNPs was established in this work utilizing aqueous and methanolic extracts of fresh Camellia sinensis leaves that reduced silver nitrate. This process enabled the creation of NPs, which were then characterized using a range of analytical techniques including ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Fluorescence Microscopy (AFM), X-ray scattering (XRD), and Zeta potential analyzer. The color of …

Synthesis, Characterization , Thermal Studies And Antioxidant Activities Of Transition Metal Complexes With Azo Dye Ligand, Amnah Mahdi Abdullah, Abbas Ali Salih Al-Hamdani

Baghdad Science Journal

Diazotization reaction between 1-(2,4,6-Trihydroxy-phenyl)-ethanone and diazonium salts was carried out resulting in ligand 4-(3-Acetyl-2,4,6-trihydroxy-phenylazo)-N-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide, this in turn reacted with the next metal ions (V4+ , Cr3+ , Mn2+ and Cu2+) forming stable complexes with unique geometries such as (Octahedral for both Cr3+ , Mn2+ and Cu2+ ,squar pyramidal for V4+). The creation of such complexes was detected by employing spectroscopic means involving ultraviolet-visible which proved the obtained geometries, fourier transfer proved the formation of azo group and and the coordination with metal ion through it. Pyrolysis (TGA & DSC) studies proved the coordination of water residues with metal ions inside …

On Partition Dimension And Domination Of Abid-Waheed 〖(Aw)〗_R^4 Graph, Jalal Hatem Hussein Bayati, Abid Mahboob, Muhammad Waheed Rasheed, Dur E Najaf

Baghdad Science Journal

A graph denoted by H, which has a simple link between its vertices, possesses the set of vertices V(H) . Given a graph, a set that is dominant, is a subset of vertex set such that any vertex outside of is close to at least one vertex inside of . The smallest size of for the dominating set is known as the graph’s domination number. When a linked graph H has a vertex x and a subset of the vertex set, the separation between x and S is given by. Pertaining to an ordered k-partition of , the illustration of …

Green Synthesis Of Manganese Dioxide Nanoparticles And Its Biological, Sabeeha K. Shanshool, Zainab J. Shanan

Baghdad Science Journal

The goal of this research is to prepare Manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles from plant extracts (Puncia granatum L peel, Artemsiai herba-alba Asso, Matricaria chamomilla L, and Camellia sinensis) and test their antibacterial activity. To evaluate the presence of phytochemicals in plant extracts, were used UV-Visible spectrophotometer analysis (UV– Vis), Zeta potential (ZP), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The production of MnO2 nanoparticles by plant extracts was shown to have distinctive features. The average crystallite size of manufactured MnO2 NPs was calculated to be between 14.22-21.0 nm, with zeta potential values -23.6, -20.04, -25.6, -16.7 mV, respectively. Manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO2 NPs) …

Synthesis, Spectroscopy And Biological Activity Study Of Some New Complexes With Schiff Base Derived From Malonic Acid Dihydrazide With 2-Pyridine Crboxaldehyde, Rehab Ghalib Hammoda, Naser Shaalan

Baghdad Science Journal

From synthesized novel ligand (L) made of Malonic acid dihydrazide and 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde, new complexes have been created. Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes were created as a result. FT-IR, UV-Vis, Mass, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, C.H.N., Chloride-containing, Molar Conductance, Magnetic Susceptibility, and Atomic Absorption have all been used to identify these compounds. For each Nickel, Copper, and Zinc complexes the characterization findings revealed complexes with hexadentate octahedral coordination geometry and tetradentate ligand. Two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtitles) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria, as well as candida fungus, were evaluated for the biological activities of the novel …

Derivative Spectrophotometric Methods For Simultaneous Determination Of Quercetin And Gentisic Acid In Capparis Spinosa L., Dlgash Hamad Maruf, Rizgar Hassan Mohammad

Baghdad Science Journal

Capparis spinosa L. is one of the medicinal plants used in traditional medicine which contains numerous phytochemicals including polyphenolic compounds. Quercetin and gentisic acid are two important phenolic compounds found in plants which display many medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer. Determination of both compounds together in a binary mixture is not achieved yet with spectrophotometric methods. In this study, two simple, rapid and accurate derivative spectrophotometric methods were developed and used for simultaneous quantification of quercetin and gentisic acid in binary mixtures of Capparis spinosa L. methanolic leaves extract. The first technique relies on the zero-crossing …

Total Phenolic, Flavonoids And Vitamin C Contents With Antioxidant Activity Of Urtica Dioica L. Leaves Growing In Zakho, Kurdistan Region-Iraq, Gharbia A. Omer, Lina Y. Mohammed

Baghdad Science Journal

The genus Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) is frequently grown in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and is used as a folk remedy by the locals to heal a variety of illnesses. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the total phenolic, flavonoid and vitamin C contents using spectrophotometric method with the determination of antioxidant activities for different solvents such as (aqueous, ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and n-hexane) using different antioxidant methods namely (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, reducing power assay, total antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide scavenging, hydroxyl radical, β -carotene- Linoleic acid and iron chelating assays) and ascorbic acid as standard reference. Our …

Modification Of The Multi-Stage Treatment (Anaerobic- Anoxic- Oxic) By Adding Almond Shells As Biological Carriers, Raghad Alshalabi, Rasin Zakieh, Naeima Ajib

Baghdad Science Journal

In this study, the treatment process Anaerobic- Anoxic- Oxic (A2O) was modified by adding almond shells as biological carriers. The performance of it has been evaluated in two groups for simultaneous removal of organic matter and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) from wastewater. In both groups the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 12.5 hours and mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) was 2000 mg/L. In the first group: The Oxic bioreactor was filled with packing up to 7% on an effective volume basis. In the second group: All bioreactors were filled with packing up to 7% on a volume basis for each …

Quantifying Image Quality In Aoslo Images Of Photoreceptors, Brea D. Brennan, Heather Heitkotter, Joseph Carroll, Sergey Tarima, Robert F. Cooper

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The use of “quality” to describe the usefulness of an image is ubiquitous but is often subject to domain specific constraints. Despite its continued use as an imaging modality, adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) lacks a dedicated metric for quantifying the quality of an image of photoreceptors. Here, we present an approach to evaluating image quality that extracts an estimate of the signal to noise ratio. We evaluated its performance in 528 images of photoreceptors from two AOSLOs, two modalities, and healthy or diseased retinas. The algorithm was compared to expert graders’ ratings of the images and previously published …

Development Of A Wearable Short-Wave Infrared Photoplethysmography Device For Detection And Monitoring Of Hemodilution During Postpartum Hemorrhage, Hannah Gruensfelder

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS

A Thesis on the Development of a Wearable Short-Wave Infrared Photoplethysmography Device for Detection and Monitoring of Hemodilution During Postpartum Hemorrhage

by

Hannah Gruensfelder

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Washington University in St. Louis, 2024

Professor Christine O’Brien, Chair

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), the leading cause of maternal death and morbidity, affects nearly 14 million people worldwide each year, disproportionally impacting racial minorities and people in low resource settings. A timely diagnosis of PPH is key in providing optimal patient care, as an estimated 90% of deaths due to PPH are preventable with early diagnosis and …

Student Self-Efficacy And Attitude In Organic Chemistry: A Comparison Of Two Pedagogical Approaches, Matthew Autry

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Cardiovascular Risk As A Mediator Of Associations Between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor With Longitudinal Brain And Cognitive Trajectories In Older Adults, Jennifer Shearon

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Prior work has shown that higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are associated with better brain health and cognitive function. There is also evidence that BDNF is present in cardiovascular tissue and that it may be beneficial for cardiovascular function. This is evidenced by higher BDNF being associated with lower incidence of coronary heart disease and mortality, and with lower incidence of cardiovascular risk factors. The goal of the current study was to investigate the relationship between BDNF and cardiovascular function, and to assess whether there is a mediating or moderating role of cardiovascular health in the relationship between …

Sheep Grazing Influences The Abundance, Diversity, And Community Composition Of Wild Bees And Other Insects In Livestock Pastures, Roshani Sharma Acharya, Timothy B. Leslie, Joan Burke, Kusum Naithani, Emily Fitting, Kelly Loftin, Neelendra K. Joshi

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pollinators contribute to the establishment of perennial native forages, but little is known about the effect of grazing practices on pollinator abundance and diversity in livestock pasture ecosystems. Grazing reduces floral resources available to bees and other insects, and as a result, may influence their communities. The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of sheep grazing on bees and other non-bee insects in livestock pasture established with seed mixes of native forb/legume/grass and warm season grasses. Each pasture was divided into two halves (in a split-plot design) using an electric fence in which one plot was …

Beyond The Bedroom Door: Investigating Representations Of Sex In Young Adult Literature, Amelia Gutche

English Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines representations of sex in young adult (YA) fiction, focusing on negative patterns, empowerment, and healthy relationships. Through analysis of seven YA novels and existing scholarship, three research questions are addressed: the evolution of sexual representations in the twenty-first century, patterns characterizing teenage sexual situations, and distinctions between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Findings reveal a shift toward more inclusive and empowering depictions, yet lingering conservative values and silences persist. YA literature often portrays sex as a source of fear and obsession, limiting adolescent power and perpetuating unrealistic ideals. Healthy relationships are characterized by support systems, mutual respect, and …

Spatiotemporal Gait Parameter Consistency Across Two Days Of Treadmill Walking In Stroke Survivors, Alejandro Aguirre Ramirez, Samantha N. Jeffcoat, Natalia Sanchez, Andrian Kuch

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Retraining impaired gait is essential in post-stroke recovery. This project aims to determine between day variability of spatiotemporal gait measures in treadmill walking post-stroke to differentiate between changes due to the intervention and measurement errors due to between day test-retest variability. Six individuals post-stroke performed a two-minute walk test at a self-selected speed (SSS) for two consecutive days. SSS was assessed through the six-minute walk test. Reflective markers were placed on anatomical landmarks (van den Bogert et al. 2013). The heel markers were used for step detection. We calculated spatiotemporal parameters: stride length, stride time, step length, stance time, and …

Spring 2024 Student Scholar Symposium Abstract Volume, Chapman University Center For Undergraduate Excellence

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Impact Of Subject Placement On Exam Questions​, Briana M. Craig, Jeremy L. Hsu

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Quizzes and exams are crucial elements of undergraduate biology courses; however, little research has been done exploring the importance of the phrasing used in the questions on these assessments. Question framing has the potential to impact student performance and sense of belonging greatly. In this study, we conducted an experiment where we created three versions of the exact same question except for the framing for the experimental scenarios. One version was written with self-referential framing using the term “you,” simulating the student conducting the experiment; another version used classmate-referential framing, placing one of their peers in the experiment; the third …

Introduction Of The Anatomy Academy Program To Children In A Rural Elementary School, Rox Aurelio, Madison Dobbs, Nicole Horn, Gianni Terrana

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Children in rural communities experience health and education disparities. Early exposure to health promoting habits can positively impact future health habits. Healthcare providers who grew up in rural areas are more likely to practice in rural areas. Doctor of physical therapy students and physical therapists implemented Anatomy Academy, a service-learning program aimed at promoting healthy living and introducing healthcare occupations, to elementary students in a rural area as this program had previously only been implemented in urban areas. The Biomedical Institutional Review Board at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas approved this study. A 40-minute lesson was delivered weekly for …

Study Of Plan Of The Day Adaptive Radiation Therapy Validity, Zane W. Burnett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Radiation therapy is the use of radiation sources or generators to treat patients. The most common usage is in the treatment of cancers. Adaptive radiation therapy (ART) is the use of either multiple radiation therapy plans or adjusting a radiation therapy plan for daily anatomical changes. Soft tissue in the lower abdomen and pelvis can be greatly displaced depending on a variety of factors, especially bladder and rectum fill. This paper focuses on the creation of multiple plans prior to treatment to have options each day. Depending on the alignment and anatomical changes, clinicians can choose which one is most …

Characterizing The Molecular And Cellular Changes Of Senescent Cells Induced By Diverse Stressors In 2d And 3d Microenvironments, Apoorva Chauhan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Aging is a risk factor for myriad diseases and is often associated with the accumulation of senescent cells. Cellular senescence, a process of irreversible cell cycle arrest, is associated with various changes in cellular morphology and function. While senescence will occur naturally in a time-dependent manner, it can be prematurely induced by various extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Most senescence studies model cell behavior in two-dimensional (2D) microenvironments; however, these models are not physiologically relevant. In this study, the effects of naturally occurring reactive oxygen species (ROS) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and commonly used chemotherapy drugs, doxorubicin and palbociclib, on cellular senescence …

“Sex Is Fun”: A Study Of Hook Up Behaviors And Experiences Of Post-College And Middle-Aged Adults, Joshua Corum

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research is a qualitative study of the hook up and casual sex behaviors and experiences of those in full adulthood, focusing on their motivations to hook up and the subsequent outcomes of those casual sex activities. Most of the existing scholarship on hooking up and casual sex primarily investigates the behaviors, attitudes, and experiences of college students within emerging adulthood. Little consideration is made for the ways in which adults negotiate hooking up and casual sex in other stages over the life course and after major life transitions. In this dissertation, I asked three questions: 1) How do adults …

Regulation Of Embryonic Eye Regrowth In Xenopus Laevis, Dylan Guerin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Regrowth of lost organs and tissues is an amazing ability that some animals possess. For regrowth to be considered full, the organism must regrow the organ or tissue to a state that is structurally and functionally similar to that which was lost. The ability of an organism to regrow lost or damaged tissue varies among animals, both in the mechanisms utilized to achieve regrowth, and in what body parts can be regrown. Potentially even closely related species can vary wildly in regenerative ability. Therefore, regenerative research can look to other tissues and organisms for direction in elucidating the mechanisms through …

Osteoarthritis In The Temporomandibular Joint And Knee Joint: A Macroscopic Study Of Cadaver Specimens, Jeremy James

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this study, thirty-one TMJs and twenty-eight knee joints were dissected from seventeen cadaveric subjects aged 69 to 95. Degenerative/osteoarthritic changes on the mandibular condyles, mandibular fossae, and femoral condyles were evaluated macroscopically and assigned a score on a disease severity scale (DSS) from 0 signifying “normal cartilage” to 4 signifying “severe OA”. Osteoarthritic changes were found in all TMJ and knee specimens. The average mandibular condyle DSS score was 2.68 ± 0.96, while the average mandibular fossa score was 2.90 ± 0.76; this difference in scores was significant (P = 0.035). Additionally, the mandibular fossa was equally or more …

Promoting Positive Dementia Attitudes Through Occupational Engagement: The Development Of A Dementia Awareness Program For Community Older Adults, Cynthia Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: This capstone project explored the effects of adding occupational engagement into a dementia awareness program on attitudes toward dementia among community-dwelling older adults, aiming to challenge dementia myths and promote an inclusive environment through occupational therapy perspectives. Methods: This project used a pre-test, post-test design with convenience sampling to develop and assess a dementia awareness program based on insights from Silverado Red Rock Memory Care Community and participation from members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the program. Changes in positive attitudes toward dementia were measured using the Dementia Attitudes …

Feasibility Of An Occupation-Based Intervention Manual For Outpatient Hand Clinics, Mia Moralez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose

The purpose of this quality improvement study was to determine the usefulness of an Occupation-based Intervention Manual (OBI) for hand therapists in Southern Nevada and if the utilization of the OBI manual supported client-centered outcomes regardless of diagnosis, age, or population.

Methods

Convenience sampling was used, and five participants met the inclusion criteria in the twelve-week study. Pre-interview questionnaire responses from the therapists were used to develop the OBI manual content and corresponding Utilization Tracker. Post-interview questionnaire responses were used to determine the application and outcomes of the OBI manual. Descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, and thematic analysis were used …

Mixed Methods Approach To Assess ‘Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor’ Activity Within ‘Alternative’ Health Contexts Of Human Maternal Placentophagy, Jacob C. White

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Rats with elevated opioid levels experience an even greater increase in pain threshold after placenta or amniotic fluid consumption via placental opioid-enhancing factor (POEF) in the afterbirth. POEF only enhances opioid hypoalgesia; it cannot produce hypoalgesia alone. Although the POEF molecule remains unidentified and its efficacy in humans is unknown, it could be a safe, novel pain treatment. People who consume placenta as an alternative postpartum health practice are ideal for testing POEF bioactivity. Though rat models show that bioactive POEF is highly sensitive, some forms of the practice in humans may conserve POEF.

This project is the first attempt …