Digital Commons Network^™

Transition Programs To Facilitate Employment For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lillian I. Usen

Anthropology

It is well-documented in the literature that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have difficulty transitioning from school to the workforce. This group experiences challenges adjusting to the expectations of the workforce and a high unemployment rate is reported among adults with ASD. There are several notable barriers that inhibit adults with ASD from achieving gainful employment: inadequate preparation for the demands of the workforce, especially along vocational and social skill domains, are likely impacting this issue. Deficits in social skills and communication are reported as key factors that contribute to low employment and low employment skill retention among individuals …

Cover Art - A Bite Darling, Dakoda Mccallum

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Developing Community-Engaged Learning In Chemistry To Address Food Insecurity And Nutrition With University Farms And Gardens, Douglas B. Collins, Mark Spiro

Faculty Contributions to Books

Adding context to educational environments has shown benefits in a variety of cases, but it can be difficult to generate relatable and relevant real-world materials with which students can engage meaningfully. Community engaged learning (CEL) is a high impact educational practice that delivers place-based context to course content through a partnership with community organizations. It has been demonstrated in the literature that CEL leads to improved academic outcomes for students, and there has been increasing interest in having CEL appear throughout the curriculum (across levels and disciplines). Introducing community engagement can be challenging for courses that traditionally have significant amounts …

Co-Occurrence Of Recurrent Migrainous Headaches And Transient Global Amnesia Following Minor Head Trauma: A Case Report, Aziz Badruddin Sonawalla, Saadia Arshad, Shafaq Saleem

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

A 32-year-old male, with a history of recurrent throbbing headaches, presented with three episodes of minor trauma to the head followed by throbbing headaches and blurred vision. In two of these episodes, he also had clinical features suggesting the occurrence of transient global amnesia (TGA) at the same time. Although migraines as well as TGAs are reported to occur following minor head trauma, the simultaneous occurrence of both is rather unusual and would support the fact that spreading depression is the main pathophysiological mechanism underlying TGAs as it is for migraines. We report an unusual case of migraine and TGA …

Implementing Minnesota American Indian Tribe State Standard In Suburban Minnesota Ecology Curriculum, Sadie R. Spaeth

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of the study was to create curriculum supporting the new Minnesota Native American State Standard 4.2.2.

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Commencement: December 2023, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

“Pms Is Not Just A Cliché”? A Media Framing Analysis Of Pms And Pmdd In The New York Times, Gleyce Any Sales De Castro

Communications Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Journalists in health news are often responsible for creating, adapting, and editing scientific information for media consumers. This inherently involves some media “framing”, even if neither they nor the audience is attuned to it. Scholars agree that news media can increase awareness about health, as well as jeopardize individuals’ notion of health. Importantly, news outlets can also encourage social equality through education (du Pré, 2017). One such health news topic, severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), is emerging in journalistic discussion regarding its distressing impact upon women and assigned females at birth (AFAB). Analyzing a top-read newspaper …

Investigating The Microbiome Of The Eye And The Potential Of Probiotic Use In Optometry, Rachel Hartgerink

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

While the eye was once considered free of resident bacteria due to its efficient immunity mechanisms, recent studies have determined that most healthy eyes contain a variety of microbiota. Many studies have been aimed at classifying bacteria that are part of the core microbiome of the eye and the conditions under which they differ. As with gut health, a dysbiosis of ocular bacteria could correlate to disease, which presents the idea of treatment with probiotics to help regulate the microbiota of the eye. This study utilized growth assays to determine a common probiotic’s effect on bacteria that can be found …

Characterization Of Ocular Surface Pathology And Tear Film Dysfunction Due To Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Judy Weng

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Untreated diabetes mellitus leads to development of microvascular and macrovascular complications affecting heart, nerves, kidney, and eyes. While the etiological mechanisms of diabetes-associated retinopathy and cataract have been well characterized, the time kinetics and the severity of diabetes-mediated injury to the ocular surface and its various components like tear film, goblet cells and glycocalyx, has not yet been investigated. These pathological changes can potentially cause dry eye and corneal injury including epithelial erosion, impaired wound healing and keratopathy. As the mainstay treatment option for the management of dry eye disease due to diabetes mellitus, artificial tears are frequently used. Therefore, …

Benefits Of Primary Grade Dual Language Immersion Programs, Karen Green Mesa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Sex Trafficking: Saudi Arabian Women's Perspectives, Jennifer O. Rowland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Rising Threat - Deepfakes And National Security In The Age Of Digital Deception, Dougo Kone-Sow

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This paper delves into the intricate landscape of deepfakes, exploring their genesis, capabilities, and far-reaching implications. The rise of deepfake technology presents an unprecedented threat to American national security, propagating disinformation and manipulation across various media formats. Notably, deepfakes have evolved from a historical backdrop of disinformation campaigns, merging with the advancements of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to craft convincing but false multimedia content.

Examining the capabilities of deepfakes reveals their potential for misuse, evidenced by instances targeting individuals, companies, and even influencing political events like the 2020 U.S. elections. The paper highlights the direct threats posed by …

A Review Of Threat Vectors To Dna Sequencing Pipelines, Tyler Rector

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Bioinformatics is a steadily growing field that focuses on the intersection of biology with computer science. Tools and techniques developed within this field are quickly becoming fixtures in genomics, forensics, epidemiology, and bioengineering. The development and analysis of DNA sequencing and synthesis have enabled this significant rise in demand for bioinformatic tools. Notwithstanding, these bioinformatic tools have developed in a research context free of significant cybersecurity threats. With the significant growth of the field and the commercialization of genetic information, this is no longer the case. This paper examines the bioinformatic landscape through reviewing the biological and cybersecurity threats within …

The F* Words: Food, Fermentation, And Feminism, Yimiao Wang, Special Collections, Fleet Library

11th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2025

Entry for the 11th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, Main Reading Room. Juror: Roger S. Williams.

Bridgewater Review, Vol. 41, No. 1, December 2023

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Wac Report Writing Across The Curriculum (Wac) 2023 Summer Institute, Jonathan Shirland, John Mulrooney, Sean Mcpherson

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Extraction Of Transcriptional Regulators For The Polyhydroxyalkanoate Depolymerase Gene From Streptomyces Nymphaeiformis, Kara B. Eppard, Stephen F. Baron

Honors Projects

Plastic waste has become an increasingly prevalent environmental pollutant. This problem is exacerbated by the inability of plastic to degrade under most natural conditions. In contrast, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biologically produced, plastic-like polymers that can be broken down and metabolized by bacteria. The bacterium Streptomyces nymphaeiformis can degrade the PHA, polyhydroxybutrate (PHB), using an extracellular PHB depolymerase, which is encoded by the phaZ gene. PHB depolymerase is synthesized only in the presence of PHB or its monomer, but not glucose, suggesting that transcription of phaZ is regulated, presumably by transcriptional regulatory proteins that bind to its promoter region. The DNA …

Nuclear Argonaute Hrde-1 Is Required For Proper Development And Maturation In C. Elegans, Hadeel Ali Zourkout

2023 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) maintain transgenerational gene silencing in C. elegans. siRNAs are loaded into Argonaute proteins to form an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which functions in the nucleus or cytoplasm. In the nucleus, RISC directs the establishment of H3K9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) to silence loci. One nuclear Argonaute protein is HRDE-1. Here, we show that HRDE-1 is required for development and maturation in C. elegans. Brood size assays of hrde-1 mutants and wild-type (N2) hermaphrodites grown at permissive temperature (20℃) and under heat stress conditions (25℃) were performed to examine the number of eggs laid, eggs hatched, and matured progeny. …

Full Issue, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Investigating Effects Of Major Fabrication Parameters For Optimizing Liposome Formulations, Bianca Chavez

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Reward-Based Processing And Its Clinical Correlates In Adolescents With Epilepsy And Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders, Daniela A. Ventura

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Augmented Reality On Perceived Credibility And Photo Editing Motivation, Jose Zarate

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Ru(Ii) Polypyridyl Photosensitizers For Phototherapy, Houston Cole

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation describes the design, synthesis, and photobiological characterization of key target molecules that modify the 1) length of the IP-nT “PDT” ligand, 2) electronic nature of the bipyridine or phenanthroline type ancillary ligands, and 3) chirality of the coordination complex. The targets and subsequent studies will test the hypothesis that molecules with low-lying and long-lived 3ILCT states are responsible for this unusually high photocytotoxic potency and seeks to further understand what structural features (aside from the IP-nT ligand) lead to more favorable photobiological properties.

The Associations Between Stress, Depression, And Health Complications: A Comparative Study Between Young And Old African American Childbearing Adolescents, Lakyah Morgan

2023 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Stress and depression are noted as major psychological determinants impacting health outcomes for childbearing women. African American (AA) women have been shown to experience “wear and tear” or “weathering” over time with increasing complications. Via secondary analysis, the current study explored the association between stress, depression, and maternal and infant health complications and examined a potential trend of “weathering” emerging between younger and older AA childbearing adolescents. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved primary study examined birth experiences and mental health of adolescents up to nine months postpartum. The current study noted significant associations between postpartum depression (EPDS scores) and …

Why Are We Creatives? Understanding The Psychology Of Creativity Between Children And Adults With References To Leonardo Da Vinci And Michelangelo Buonarroti, Jordyn R. Garca

2023 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

This paper examines the differences in creativity between children and adults, including certain components that can influence creativity, or in certain instances, can also diminish it. With the support of biographers, clinical psychologists, and scholars, this paper also includes information regarding the lives of two of the world’s most well-known artists, and in certain instances the challenges they faced regarding childhood and mental health. Growing up, it is often encouraged that children should develop their creativity and learn to make their own decisions without fear of failure. However, it is not commonly accepted in society for an individual to want …

The Effects Of Poloxamer 188 On Wound Closure In A Mouse Brain Endothelium Model, Mia Claire Grubbs

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a crucial role in maintaining central nervous system homeostasis and, if structurally and functionally compromised, can lead to severe neurological consequences. This thesis explores the therapeutic potential of Poloxamer 188 (P188) in the context of BBB wound healing. P188, FDA-approved copolymer that is known for its cytoprotective properties, is examined for its impact on endothelial monolayers through in vitro scratch wound assays. The study aims to establish a consistent endothelial monolayer model, quantify wound healing dynamics, and assess the efficacy of P188 at varying concentrations. The thesis goals include detailed methodologies such as cell culture …

The Children’S Final Girl: Exploring Feminism, Horror, And Adolescence In Coraline, The Last Cuentista, And A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Hannah Rose Lussier

English Theses - Archive

The uses of femininity throughout the horror genre have been widely studied in order to identify the role of the woman within these works. This thesis works to apply Carol Clover’s trope of the Final Girl to contemporary children’s horror texts in order to unveil the underlying schematics that shape adolescent characters. Using Neill Gaiman’s Coraline, Donna Barba Higuera’s The Last Cuentista, and Daniel Handler’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning, this thesis aims to position contemporary children’s protagonists as the Final Girl, which in turn attempts to explain the uses and misuses of common horror motifs such …

Closing Educational Gaps: One Inquiry Experience At A Time, Caroline Soliman

2023 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Learning is a large component of everyday life, with most occurring in an educational setting. As students navigate the school system year after year, existing educational gaps increase. This study observed inquiry learning techniques in the classroom to assist students in making connections with new and previous knowledge while helping students understand the new material they are learning. Students across multiple classes in the same grade and school were taught their regularly scheduled lesson plan, but it was designed as an inquiry lesson plan. The students then wrote down what they observed/ learned and any connections they made. Those journal …

Growing Agriculture Literacy’S Presence In America’S Classrooms, Emily Stone

Journal of Food Law & Policy

“Americans, as a whole, were at least two generations removed from the farm and did not understand even the most rudimentary of processes, challenges, and risks that farmers and the agricultural industry worked with and met head-on every day.” This quote perfectly describes the mindset of agriculture stakeholders in 1981 as they began to realize the drastic steps our education system had taken away from using principles of agriculture in K-12 education. As they saw it, Americans were moving out of rural America, away from farms, and becoming less connected to the food they daily consumed. Simultaneously, the education system …

Chewing The Welfare Cud: A Digested Analysis Of A Consumer Versus Producer-Defined Standard Of Welfare Practices In Animals Raised For Human Consumption, Caitlin C. Robb

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Since the eighteenth century, animal well-being remains a concern for American citizens. Yet, underlying this concern is the thought that while humans should not be cruel to animals, animals are still private property subject to human ownership. Therefore, multi-faceted questions of what constitutes “animal welfare” find a place in modern American debate. One such question becomes: should the producer or the consumer define welfare practice standards of animals raised for human consumption?7 This note provides an answer to this question by first analyzing the robust history of animal welfare in the United States, along with the domestic and international impact …