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Otterbein Aegis Spring 2024, Otterbein Aegis

Aegis: The Otterbein Humanities Journal

Contents:

Editors’ Introduction , Editorial Board Members

Essays; “Dress as a Weapon”,“ Kubrick’s Survivors: Breaking the Cycle of Violence in Stanley Kubrick’s Killer’s Kiss and The Shining”, “The French Muslim Debate”, “The Hole and The New Minimalist Object”, “The Loneliness of Womanhood”, “ The Road Towards Sustainable Resource Management in the Brazilian Amazon and Beyond”, “Understanding Desire in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut”

Book Reviews; Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, Esmond and Ilia: An Unreliable Memoir, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, I’m Glad My Mom Died, My Body, North Woods, Only the Clothes on Her Back, The Art of Darkness: A …

Asexuality In Science Fiction: A Study Of Non-Sexual Queer Intimacy In Short Stories By Ursula K. Le Guin, Samuel Delany, And Theodore Sturgeon, Mik Dressler

Honors College Theses

The study of asexuality is still a relatively new concept in queer studies, and the rarity of asexual literature poses questions about how media can help further develop this study. This question takes unique shape in the genre of science fiction, one deeply and intrinsically tied to queer storytelling but very often hypersexualized. This essay evaluates the asexual themes of four sci-fi short stories which predate modern vocabularies and frameworks of asexuality: “The Widget, The Wadget, and Boff” by Theodore Sturgeon, “Unchosen Love” and “Mountain Ways” by Ursula K. Le Guin, and “Aye, and Gomorrah” by Samuel Delany. Referencing queer …

Emeriti News Spring 2024, Emeriti Council

Emeriti News

• Message from the Chair
• Wednesday II Events
• Student Scholarships
• Scholarships for Books
• Graduation Ceremony
• 25 Year Club
• Senior Citizens' Opportunity Program in Education (SCOPE)
• From the Faculty Senate
• In Memory of ...
• Stay in Touch, Share Your Story

Borglum’S Horse Flies: The Early Opposition To Mount Rushmore, Riley Merritt

Honors College Theses

This thesis explores the evolution of opposition to Mount Rushmore from 1923-1927—the period before carving began. The resistance was led by a group of preservationists who were concerned about the potential ecological and societal impacts of the project. While much of the existing scholarship has focused on the relationship between the local Indigenous community and the monument, I argue that the preservationists, who opposed the site for their own reasons, deserve similar attention. I aim to reframe the Mount Rushmore controversy within the broader context of the conservation movement, thereby contributing to wider environmental and historical debates. I also emphasize …

Mandating Trauma-Informed Care Education For Indiana Nurses: A Health Policy Analysis, Lori Hardie

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: The prevalence of trauma exposure poses a significant concern for public health. Extensive research has established the correlation between trauma and adverse health consequences. Studies indicate that adopting trauma-informed care (TIC) can enhance satisfaction, communication, and overall patient health outcomes. However, the current state of TIC education in academic programs and professional practice settings needs to be improved.

Objectives: The goal of this policy analysis project was to devise specific language and strategies to promote the implementation of a TIC education mandate for Indiana nurses.

Methods: The design of this project was an analysis of governmental …

Measuring Implementation To Impact: Evaluation Of A Chronic Pain Integrative Medical Group Visit Program, Paula Tomczak Msn, Rn, Lmt, Cph, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Chronic pain is a public health crisis. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend non-invasive mind-body therapies as a first-line treatment, and studies indicate they can be successfully delivered in group settings using an Integrative Medical Group Visit model. A Federally Qualified Health Center piloted a nurse-led Integrative Chronic Pain Group program for Medication Assisted Treatment patients experiencing chronic pain and opioid use disorder, for which an evaluation was needed.

Objectives: This evaluation examined program quality, value, and significance to provide a progress report toward established goals to inform stakeholder decision-making and improve effectiveness.

Methods: Following the CDC Program Evaluation Framework, …

Evaluating Ecological Conditions Of The Salinas River After The Removal Of Arundo Donax During Wet And Dry Years, Savannah Y. Saldaña

AES Theses

River ecosystems in the United States are facing significant ecological and economic impacts from invasive species. In California, along the Salinas River, Arundo donax has become a major concern, aggressively outcompeting native plant species and altering river flow and regime. The Resource Conservation District of Monterey County has been removing A. donax since 2014 using methods like mowing and applying herbicides and cleared an additional 415 acres in 2019. The study investigates the changes in invertebrate communities before and after A. donax removal, using the California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) and the Dry Stream Condition Index (DSCI) to assess ecological …

Developing Metrics Of Ecological Integrity For Wetlands On The Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation, Rebecca Baggott

AES Theses

This study highlights the critical function that benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs) play in monitoring ecological health and provides a thorough framework for creating metrics to evaluate the ecological integrity of wetlands on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. This research aims to improve wetland management by introducing a multi-metric index (MMI) based on benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomy data, in light of the important ecological roles of inland freshwater wetlands, such as decomposition, biogeochemical cycling, and support for biodiversity. Along with the urgent need to address anthropogenic pressures that pose risks to these ecosystems, these wetlands are of cultural and environmental importance to the …

Effectiveness Of Aerial Monitoring Of Spatial And Temporal Changes Of Santa Catalina Island Rhodolith Beds, Charnelle Wickliff

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The distribution and abundance of rhodolith beds off Santa Catalina Island, California are impacted by natural and anthropogenic factors. These complex, unattached coralline habitats provide food and shelter for important species; however, little is known about temporal variation in bed cover and distribution. Abiotic factors like heavy storms and surge can change bed boundaries and shape. Anthropogenic factors, such as disturbance from mooring chains, can create patchiness within beds. Studies of bed distribution and tracking changes in habitats have historically been done using labor-intensive SCUBA diving. This approach has excellent resolution at small scales but is limited in the temporal …

Drivers Of Intertidal Purple Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus Purpuratus) Reproductive Capacity Along The Central Coast Of California And Implications For Kelp Forest Recovery, Isaak Haberman

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Kelp forests are integrally important ecosystems along eastern Pacific coastlines, sequestering carbon, reducing wave erosion, and increasing biodiversity in coastal marine communities. However, kelp forest coverage in central California has experienced major decline in the past decade, being replaced with unproductive urchin barren habitats. The factors affecting the establishment and persistence of urchin barrens have been extensively researched in the subtidal, but the influence of intertidal sea urchin populations is unknown. Moreover, intertidal populations are likely connected to subtidal communities via larval dispersal, so an understanding of intertidal urchin reproductive dynamics is important. I collected urchins and biological and environmental …

Promoting College Retention For Minority First-Generation Students: The Importance Of Transitional Adjustment, Academic Support, And Validation, Jacoby A. Watkins

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

College retention is a topic of concern for many leaders of post-secondary institutions. This study explores the multifaceted elements of a summer bridge program aimed at bolstering college retention for minority first-generation students through a combination of mentorship, academic support, and community-building initiatives. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationships between the essential elements of first-generation minority college students’ participation in the summer bridge program and how these elements may affect retention rates at a local four-year institution in Southeast Florida. Using a survey instrument as the research methodology, the researcher investigated the program's impact on students' …

The Ethicality Of Gene Alteration In Human Embryos, Alyssa Scudder

Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics Essay Contest

No abstract provided.

Evangelism In The Usa: A Look Back And A Look Ahead, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

Innovations in approaches, methods, and techniques for fruitful evangelism are a hallmark of the church in the United States. This article explores eleven evangelistic innovations observed in the last half of the twentieth century and offers seven insights for the future.

“Personal, Relational, And Extraordinary”: Learning From The Spiritual Language Of Gen Z, Gabrielle Poma

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the crucial role of language in understanding the spiritual lives of young people today, commonly known as “Gen Z.”

Though significant disaffiliation rates among young people often cause alarm within faith communities, this paper argues that listening carefully to the language of young people provides a more nuanced, in-depth picture that statistics on religious affiliation do not capture, which is critical in developing effective pastoral care for young adults.

This paper opens with a sociocultural approach to Gen Z, drawing upon generational analysis and sociological data to demonstrate how different types of research yield varied results in …

A Salutogenic Program For Menopause - Enhancing Well-Being With Yoga Therapy, Donna Rachlin

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Menopause, a natural transition for women, often brings about a multitude of physical, psychological, and emotional challenges. As life expectancy rises, a significant portion of a woman's life is spent post-menopause. This thesis explores the potential of yoga therapy as a complementary approach to enhance well-being and improve quality of life during this significant phase. It describes IRB research about Yoga Therapy for Menopause- a salutogenic program that aims to create a safe and educational platform for women who are navigating the changes that menopause brings. This research underscores the effectiveness of yoga therapy as a complementary approach to coping …

Crispr, Omega, And Fanzor: Mixed Blessings Of Genome Editing Technology, Haeun Tae

Senior Honors Theses

A little more than a decade ago, CRISPR-Cas system was identified as a potential gene editing tool. This RNA-guided DNA cleavage system, which naturally provides immunity to the prokaryotic host cell, has been engineered since for its application in agriculture, genomic screening, and hereditary genetic disorder treatment and cures. Recently, a eukaryotic CRISPR-Cas-like system, Fanzor, was reported, under a new class of the RNA-guided system (termed OMEGA). The discovery has increased the potentials of genetic modification more than ever, while simultaneously increasing the need for ethical considerations and guidelines. The history, structure, and functions of the two RNA-guided systems, as …

Dean's Report-Spring 2024, Marina K. Holz

GSBMS Dean’s Report

No abstract provided.

Differential Gene Expressions Patterns In Diabetes In Relation To Cognitive Declines Associated With Diabetes, Dylan Downs

Honors Theses

The chronic metabolic disorder classified as diabetes, is growing at an alarming rate in many countries all across the globe. Diabetes is characterized by an above average blood glucose measurement, due to insulin production and insulin response abnormalities within the body. This increase in blood glucose has detrimental effects on all physiological systems, commonly associated with organs such as the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. One of the less understood and commonly disregarded side effects of diabetes is related to the cognitive declines associated with the disease. Cognitive declines associated with diabetes include memory loss, speech impairments, and decreased motor …

Improving Fertility While Synchronizing Estrus In Beef Heifers When Feeding Mga, Anisa Olavarria

Honors Theses

Melengestrol Acetate (MGA) is used to suppress estrus in cattle and is used to synchronize estrus. However, when fed to beef cattle during the absence of a corpus luteum, a transient progesterone producing organ after ovulation, the dominant follicle is unable to regress becoming persistent resulting in decreased fertility of the oocyte. In this study, two treatment protocols were designed to test if administering GnRH, a hormone used to induce ovulation resulting in the formation of a corpus luteum at the beginning of the MGA feeding will prevent fewer persistent follicles and improve the fertility of the ovulation immediately following …

Features Selection In Regression Models Using Variance-Based Sensitivity Analysis, Jakob Spiller

Honors Theses

Variance-based sensitivity analysis serves as a crucial tool for assessing the variability of inputs on the output of complex mathematical models. In this thesis, we study Sobol indices, a class of variance-based sensitivity analysis, to quantify the importance of each input variable on the overall variability of the model output. We initially discuss Sobol’s first and total order indices. This includes a brief demonstration through two examples: the Sobol G-function and a polynomial function each with six input variables. These examples serve to highlight the theoretical foundations and practical applications of Sobol’s indices in analyzing model sensitivities. Mainly, we apply …

Life Line Spring 2024, Otterbein Biology And Earth Science Department

Life Line - The Biology Department Newsletter

In this Issue:

The Department Welcomes Dr. Grooms; Otterbein's New Pollinator/Rain Garden; Alumni Return to Share Research; Svitana Serves on Ohio EPA VAP Rules Review Advisory Committee; Field Geology Students Explore Death Valley and the Grand Canyon; Students Volunteer at Remote Area Medical Clinic; The Mussels of the Stillwater River and Greenville Creek; More Than "Just" a Chickadee; An Enriching Time at the Zoo; Human Reaction Times; Using Computer Models to Inform Real World Control Methods in Street Dogs; Svitana Continues Work with NGWA; DIY Microbial Fuel Cell Challenge; Birds of a Feather...; Students Research Impact of Sunscreens on Corals; …

Intensive English Program Design For Minnesota Public School District, Ellen Bialka

Capstone Collection

The recent rise in undocumented immigrants in Minnesota has brought to light significant demographic shifts within the state. Many individuals in this population have limited or no proficiency in English, which highlights the challenges immigrant communities face in adapting to their new linguistic surroundings. As a result, educators have been presented with the challenge of serving a growing number of immigrant children in their schools. To tackle this issue, an intensive English program was developed for a suburban public school district in Minnesota to offer a more targeted approach to improving English proficiency among students before beginning courses required for …

Menossance ™: Post-Maternity Strategies, Elizabeth Pursell

Theses

Inside the private lives of middle-aged women, significant suffering unfolds in silence. The universal “change” is shrouded in shame. The obstacles particular to women during midlife include physical, emotional, financial, professional, familial, and societal. Many suffer through the indignities of menopause while adjusting to an “empty-nest” (Gullette, 2002, p.554). Droves of middle-aged women are also part of the so-called “Sandwich Generation” (Hong, 2002, p. 358). They are sandwiched between the responsibilities of their children and their elders, all while tenuously balancing careers and menopause. As described in Umma’s Table, “The sandwichgeneration [is] impossibly caught between multigenerational responsibilities, navigating labyrinthine sociomedical …

Identifying The Location Of The Rfk-2 Spore Killer Gene On Chromosome Iii Of Neurospora Crassa, Princy A. Patel

Senior Theses – Biological Sciences

Meiotic drivers are selfish genetic elements that skew transmission in their favor. In the filamentous fungus N. crassa, one such meiotic driver is Spore killer-3 (Sk-3). In a cross between Sk-3 and a spore killer-sensitive mating partner (Sk-S), only half of the ascospores (sexual spores) survive. Nearly all of the survivors inherit the genes for spore killing. Previous studies have established that a gene called rfk-2 (required for spore killing) is essential for the spore killing activity of Sk-3. The rfk-2 gene has been mapped to Chromosome III, but its exact location …

Structure, Dynamics, And Redox Reactivity Of An All-Purpose Flavodoxin, Sharique Khan, Ahmadullah Ansari, Monica Brachi, Debarati Das, Wassim El Housseini, Shelley Minteer, Anne Frances Miller

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Flavodoxin Of Rhodopseudomonas Palustris CGA009 (Rp9Fld) Supplies Highly Reducing Equivalents To Crucial Enzymes Such As Hydrogenase, Especially When The Organism Is Iron-Restricted. By Acquiring Those Electrons From Photodriven Electron Flow Via The Bifurcating Electron Transfer Flavoprotein, Rp9Fld Provides Solar Power To Vital Metabolic Processes. To Understand Rp9Fld's Ability To Work With Diverse Partners, We Solved Its Crystal Structure. We Observed The Canonical Flavodoxin (Fld) Fold And Features Common To Other Long-Chain Flds But Not All The Surface Loops Thought To Recognize Partner Proteins. Moreover, Some Of The Loops Display Alternative Structures And Dynamics. To Advance Studies Of Protein–protein Associations …

Digital Learning And Higher Education In Brazil: A Multicultural Analysis, Ana Ivenicki

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Special Issue

The Effect Of Asynchronous Virtual Exchange On Intercultural Competence Among Undergraduate Students, Curtis Chu, Todd Hooper, Mariko Takahashi, Michael Herke

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Spring 2024 Graduation Survey Responses, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Graduation

Spring 2024 Graduation survey responses master file without identifiers.

A Review On Irisin, The Beta 3-Adrenergic Receptor, And Zinc Alpha 2-Glycoprotein’S Impact On Metabolic Health, Dawson Troutman

Honors College Theses

This thesis aims to provide insight into how Irisin, the beta 3-adrenergic receptor, and zinc alpha 2-glycoprotein can impact human metabolism. Analyzing studies on the impact these species have on thermogenesis and lipolysis help provide a clearer picture on their use in potential management of metabolic issues.

A Comparative Study Of Clinicopathological And Immunohistochemistry Features Among Sample Of Young Patients With Breast Cancer (≤35 Years) And Older (> 35 Years), Suha Yasir, Ahmad Abd Al Shaheed

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

BACKGROUND:Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. In Iraq, breast cancer ranks the first among the top ten malignant neoplasm affecting the community.  During 2016, 897 women died from the disease, and registered as the first cause of cancer related mortality among Iraqi females (23.6%) and second to bronchogenic cancer (12.1%) among males and females, and this study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological, immunohistochemistry features of patients with breast cancer ≤ 35 years, in comparison to those > 35 years, and the impact of age on their prognosis.PATIENTS AND METHODS:In this …