Digital Commons Network^™

Placental Co-Culture Model Reveals Listeria Monocytogenes Utilization Of Monocytes For Vertical Transmission, Breanna Mackenzie Amelunke

Online Theses and Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic pathogen that can cross the protective placental barrier and infect the fetus, leading to congenital disabilities or death. Extracellular L. monocytogenes infection of the placenta has been well studied; however, the bacteria have not been observed translocating this barrier intracellularly. As an intracellular pathogen, L. monocytogenes could infect phagocytic cells that can be transported across the placental barrier. A novel cell co-culture system comprised of BeWo and HPVEC cell lines was established to model the human placental barrier. Barrier integrity was confirmed using immunostaining of tight junctions and a FITC-dextran permeability assay. The model was …

From The Governor's Desk To A Bullet In Your Chest: The Fatal Implications Of Anti-Trans Legislation, Iyan Wickel

Online Theses and Dissertations

Proposed discriminatory legislation in the hundreds has resulted in a renewed look at trans communities, both of support and vitriol. Just as new legislation has been proposed in recent years at a rate that is higher than ever before, so has the reported rate of murder of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, seemingly at a similar rate with hate fueled rhetoric and legislation. This general observation was the driving force behind this study; to determine whether or not anti-trans legislation in particular coincided with the rate of murder of trans and gender non-conforming people. The study at hand examined the …

Variation In Bat Activity Across Upland Embedded Wetlands In The Cumberland Ranger District Of The Daniel Boone National Forest, Brittany Ryan

Online Theses and Dissertations

Within the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF) in Kentucky, over 800 upland-embedded wetlands (UEWs) have been constructed in past decades to provide habitat for bats and other wildlife. This research focused on identifying differences in bat activity and occupancy across natural and constructed UEWs. Acoustic detectors were deployed at 9 natural and 31 constructed UEWs across the Cumberland Ranger District of the DBNF. Each UEW was surveyed across 3 intervals from May – August 2022, and each recording session spanned >3 consecutive nights, yielding a total of 413 detector nights. Occupancy modeling and AIC model selection were used to evaluate …

The Hidden Quality Cost Resulting From Food And Drug Administration Inspection Failures In Mid To Large Companies, Jonathan Walston

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An approach to identify and validate hidden quality costs associated with regulatory non-compliance from inspections by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not been previously researched. This dissertation presents a robust quantitative methodology to analyze the daily cumulative abnormal returns (CAR) on populations of publicly traded mid-to-large cap companies around FDA inspection events having negative outcomes. Three hypotheses have been tested focusing only on inspection events from companies falling under the biologics product type category. Hypothesis 1 states that there is no statistically significant correlation between the sum of CAR around inspection windows for such companies when a negative …

The Discovery Of Diverse Picophytoplankton Populations In The Columbia And Willamette Rivers Using Flow Cytometry, Kylee M. Lamberson

Chemistry Undergraduate Departmental Honors Theses

As important primary producers, picophytoplankton determine the flow of carbon and energy in aquatic ecosystems. Picocyanobacteria are one picophytoplankton group known to be dominant in oceans and lakes, but they are still poorly understood in river systems. This project examined picophytoplankton communities in two distinct river systems: the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in Portland, Oregon. I aimed to characterize and quantify the picophytoplankton populations in the context of the environmental conditions of the two rivers. I used flow cytometry to detect cells based on their relative size and pigment fluorescence. I sampled nearly weekly for ten months to capture population …

Coastal Wetland Restoration Through The Lens Of Odum's Theory Of Ecosystem Development, Friedrich W. Keppeler, Annette S. Engel, Linda M. Hooper-Bùi, Paola C. López-Duarte, Charles W. Martin, Jill A. Olin, Katelyn J. Lamb, Michael J. Polito, Nancy N. Rabalais, Multiple Additional Authors

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Advancing ecological restoration assessments requires a more detailed consideration of species interactions and ecosystem processes. Most restoration projects rely on a few metrics not always directly linked with ecological theory. Here, we used Odum's theory of ecosystem development to assess and compare the ecosystem structure and services of created marshes (4–6 years old) with preexisting, reference marshes in a brackish water region of the Mississippi River Delta. We built ecosystem models for created and reference marshes that integrated large datasets of stomach contents, stable isotopes, and taxa abundances. Despite strong resemblance in community structure, created marshes were at an earlier …

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Meropenem Tolerance In Acinetobacter Baumannii, Nowrosh Islam

Biology Dissertations - Archive

The emergence and proliferation of Gram-negative bacterial infections has become a serious public health concern due to their rapid rise of resistant to all the clinically available antibiotics. The increasing incidence of bacterial infections has prioritized the invention of new therapeutics to prevent the antibiotic treatment failure. Typically, Gram-negative bacteria use several defensive strategies such as modification of the cell envelope to escape the lethal effects of bactericidal antibiotics. Carbapenem beta-lactam considered last resort antibiotic to treat Gram-negative bacteria infections, while they are considered first line prescription against nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii (denoted as Ab). Beside resistance, the susceptible populations …

A Social-Ecological Systems Inquiry For Understanding Environmental Change In Los Angeles Outer-Ring Suburbs, Farnaz Kamyab

All Dissertations

Within the framework of the city's green infrastructure, urban and suburban green coverage play a pivotal role in delivering substantial benefits to health, economy, and the environment. However, the permanence of these green coverage is threatened by dynamic changes in neighborhood socio-economic, spatial, and ecological elements and their loss or degradation presents a problematic issue. Social-Ecological System Theory (SES) offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the potential correlations between socio-economic trends and the degradation of green coverage. This research is based on a case study of the highly diverse megacity, Los Angeles (LA), which encompasses a wide array of built-environments, …

Multi-Scale Characteriziation Of Pore Structure And Mass Transport In Natural Rocks, Xiaoqing Yuan

Earth & Environmental Sciences Dissertations - Archive

The mass transport process in porous natural rocks is notably influenced by the pore structure with both geometrical and topological attributes. Nevertheless, previous studies have not taken into consideration the sample size effect or the impact of diagenesis processes on petrophysical investigations of rocks, fluids, and rock-fluid interactions. Six rocks (one granodiorite, one limestone, two chalks, one mudstone, and one dolostone) with different extents of heterogeneity at six different particle sizes were studied to describe the effects of pore structure (especially connectivity) on mass transport. Thirteen geologically different rocks (two marbles, four fossiliferous limestones, six mudstones, and one sandstone) were …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Pyrazine-Based Prodrugs: A Novel Approach To Combat Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, Charles Chambers

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses - Archive

Synthesis and Characterization of Pyrazine-Based Prodrugs: A Novel Approach to Combat Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Charles Cole Chambers The University of Texas – Arlington, 2023 Supervising Professor: Dr. Joseph Buonomo. The work described in this thesis investigates the development and characterization of a novel prodrug designed to combat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), a significant and growing global health challenge. Central to this study is the synthesis of a pyrazine-based prodrug, which innovatively utilizes bicyclic orthoester (BOE) moieties to improve the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of this tuberculosis treatment. At the core of this research project is the strategic design of …

Parrotfish Skull, Grace Mikus, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

December 2023 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the December 2023 (Volume 2, Issue 5) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Providing Optimal Resident Sleep Hygiene In Assisted Living Communities; Opportunities For Design And Operation Teams To Collaborate And Share Their Unique Knowledge, Beverly B. J. Miller

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Research is emerging relating sleep hygiene to disease pathogenesis including Parkinson's, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and increased cardiovascular risk. The application of circadian science as it relates to human wellness has intensified as a result. The quality of sleep significantly impacts the wellness of residents living in long term care, however sleep hygiene research is lacking in assisted living (AL) communities.

The thesis question inquires; How can operation and design teams collaborate to optimize sleep health for residents in assisted living communities? The research methodology utilized a two-phase process. Phase I identified three AL communities as test sites, providing case studies …

Take A Load Off: Skeletal Implications Of Sedentism In The Feet Of Modern Body Donors, Malorie Albee

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Use Of Interleukin-12/23 Inhibitor For The Management Of Acne Fulminans., Hannah Gier, Alexa Israeli, Austin Cusick, Dawn Merritt

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Acne fulminans (AF) is a rare disorder marked by severe eruptions of inflamed nodules, hemorrhagic crusts, and ulcers accompanied by systemic symptoms and often laboratory abnormalities. Commonly affecting adolescent males with pre-existing acne, AF has been associated with isotretinoin therapy and elevated testosterone levels. With unknown pathogenesis, lesions frequently involve the trunk and face and are managed standardly with corticosteroids and isotretinoin. Uncontrolled or recurrent cases pose challenges due to prolonged high-dose corticosteroid use with increased scarring. In this study, we present a case of AF in a 17-year-old male unresponsive to corticosteroid and isotretinoin therapy, successfully treated with ustekinumab, …

174th Commencement, Fall

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Whose Woods These Are: Human-Environment Relationships Among Stakeholders Of South Mississippi's Longleaf Pine Ecosystem, Helen Greene

Master's Theses

Between 1870 and 1920, the longleaf pine belt of the southeastern United States experienced an extensive and unsustainable period of logging. In the years after the logging boom the landscape of the Southeast was reforested, but fire suppression and a preference among landowners for loblolly pine resulted in a dense and less resilient forest with reduced biodiversity. This research looks at the human geography of remnants of the longleaf pine ecosystem in South Mississippi and the nature of contemporary relationships between South Mississippi residents and this ecosystem.

In an effort to make sense of the complex relationships between people and …

Nymc Synapse Issue 41, School Of Medicine Student Senate, New York Medical College

The Synapse

No abstract provided.

Genetic And Environmental Drivers Of Migratory Behavior In Western Burrowing Owls And Implications For Conservation And Management, Kelly Barr, Christen M. Bossu, Rachel A. Bay, Eric C. Anderson, Jim Belthoff, Lynne A. Trulio, Debra Chromczak, Colleen L. Wisinski, Thomas B. Smith, Kristen C. Ruegg

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Migration is driven by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, but many questions remain about those drivers. Potential interactions between genetic and environmental variants associated with different migratory phenotypes are rarely the focus of study. We pair low coverage whole genome resequencing with a de novo genome assembly to examine population structure, inbreeding, and the environmental factors associated with genetic differentiation between migratory and resident breeding phenotypes in a species of conservation concern, the western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea). Our analyses reveal a dichotomy in gene flow depending on whether the population is resident or migratory, …

Moving Toward An Integrated Model Of The Father–Daughter Relationship During Adolescence, Rachel S. Blickman, Cynthia G. Campbell

Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective

This study offers a structural model of father–daughter relationships from the perspective of adolescent daughters and identifies relational constructs that promote closeness in the dyad.

Background

The relationship between fathers and daughters is important to daughters' healthy development yet is vulnerable to tension and distance, particularly during adolescence. Drawing on areas of father involvement that make positive contributions to the lives of adolescent daughters, we propose a relational framework of the father–daughter dyad.

Method

Undergraduate females (N = 206) retrospectively reported on their relationship with their biological father during adolescence using an assessment tool developed for this study. …

Statistical And Deep Learning Models For Reference Evapotranspiration Time Series Forecasting: A Comparison Of Accuracy, Complexity, And Data Efficiency, Arman Ahmadi, Andre Daccache, Mojtaba Sadegh, Richard L. Snyder

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is an essential variable in agricultural water resources management and irrigation scheduling. An accurate and reliable forecast of ETo facilitates effective decision-making in agriculture. Although numerous studies assessed various methodologies for ETo forecasting, an in-depth multi-dimensional analysis evaluating different aspects of these methodologies is missing. This study systematically evaluates the complexity, computational cost, data efficiency, and accuracy of ten models that have been used or could potentially be used for ETo forecasting. These models range from well-known statistical forecasting models like seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) to state-of-the-art deep learning (DL) algorithms like temporal fusion transformer …

How Low Can You Go?: Widespread Challenges In Measuring Low Stream Discharge And A Path Forward, Erin C. Seybold, Anna Bergstrom, C. Nathan Jones, Amy J. Burgin, Sam Zipper, Sarah E. Godsey, Walter K. Dodds, Margaret A. Zimmer, Margaret Shanafield, Thibault Datry, Raphael D. Mazor, Mathis L. Messager, Julian D. Olden, Adam Ward, Songyan Yu, Kendra E. Kaiser, Arial Shogren, Richard H. Walker

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Low flows pose unique challenges for accurately quantifying streamflow. Current field methods are not optimized to measure these conditions, which in turn, limits research and management. In this essay, we argue that the lack of methods for measuring low streamflow is a fundamental challenge that must be addressed to ensure sustainable water management now and into the future, particularly as climate change shifts more streams to increasingly frequent low flows. We demonstrate the pervasive challenge of measuring low flows, present a decision support tool (DST) for navigating best practices in measuring low flows, and highlight important method developmental needs.

Designing Healthy Communities Vip: Nampa Community Health Assessment Model Profile - Social Determinants Of Health (Champ-Sdoh), Amy Wood, Hailey Pierce, Jessica Schneider

VIP 2023

The Designing Healthy Communities VIP is a partnership between the Boise State Anthropology Department and the St. Luke’s Applied Research Division. Our team of Boise State students and St. Luke’s researchers are conducting qualitative user experience research in Nampa, Idaho. Phase one of our project consists of investigating the social determinants of health affecting patient access to healthcare through surveys and interviews. Phase two of our project is comprised of observing the patient clinical experience in St. Luke’s Nampa community clinics. Our mission is to collect data on what challenges our fellow community members in Nampa experience while using the …

Social Connections Across Migration: Do Golden- Crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia Atricapilla) That Socialize In Winter Also Breed Together?, Theadora A. Block, Bruce E. Lyon, Zachary Milakonis, Alexis S. Chaine, Daizaburo Shizuka

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Many birds that are territorial in the breeding season live in groups during the nonbreeding season, thereby gaining benefits such as protection from predators and increased access to resources. However, how the social connections in group life change across seasons in migratory animals is mostly unknown. We ask whether winter social connections continue during the breeding season in a migratory songbird. Golden-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla) have distinct, stable winter communities that include both site and group fidelity across years: birds almost always rejoin the same social community each year after migration. If these birds have social connectivity across …

Rapid Evolution Of A(H5n1) Influenza Viruses After Intercontinental Spread To North America, Ahmed Kandeil, Christopher Patton, Jeremy C. Jones, Trushar Jeevan, Walter N. Harrington, Sanja Trifkovic, Jon P. Seiler, Thomas Fabrizio, Karlie Woodard, Jasmine C. Turner, Jeri Carol Crumpton, Lance Miller, Adam Rubrum, Jennifer Debeauchamp, Charles J. Russell, Elena A. Govorkova, Peter Vogel, Mia Kim-Torchetti, Yohannes Berhane, David Stallknecht, Rebecca Poulson, Lisa Kercher, Richard J. Webby

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b underwent an explosive geographic expansion in 2021 among wild birds and domestic poultry across Asia, Europe, and Africa. By the end of 2021, 2.3.4.4b viruses were detected in North America, signifying further intercontinental spread. Here we show that the western movement of clade 2.3.4.4b was quickly followed by reassortment with viruses circulating in wild birds in North America, resulting in the acquisition of different combinations of ribonucleoprotein genes. These reassortant A(H5N1) viruses are genotypically and phenotypically diverse, with many causing severe disease with dramatic neurologic involvement in mammals. The proclivity of …

College Of Graduate Programs And Honors Studies Newsletter - December 2023, College Of Graduate Programs And Honors Studies, Wright State University

College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies Newsletter

A five page newsletter created by the College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies at Wright State University. This newsletter includes a upcoming events, message from the dean, and more.

Effects Of Dietary Rumen-Protected Choline Supplementation To Periparturient Dairy Cattle On Inflammation, Metabolism, And Performance During An Intramammary Lipopolysaccharide Challenge, Turner H. Swartz, Barry Bradford, Laman Mamedova, Kari Estes

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

Recent studies have suggested that dietary rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation can modulate immune function, attenuate inflammation, and improve performance in periparturient dairy cattle; however, this has yet to be evaluated during a mastitis challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation and dose of RPC on metabolism, inflammation, and performance during an intramammary lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Parous Holstein cows (parity, mean ± SD, 1.9 ± 1.1 at enrollment) were blocked by calving month and randomly assigned within block to receive either 45 g/d of RPC (20.4 g/d of choline ions; CHOL45, n = 18), …

Evaluation Of Dose Rounding Opportunities For Cytotoxic Preparations And Monoclonal Antibodies In Pediatric Patients, Stephen Ensor Pharmd, Kristin M. Held Pharmd, Bcop

Department of Pharmacy

No abstract provided.

Condition Assessment Of Reinforced Concrete Sanitary Sewer Pipelines Using Probabilistic Methods And Advanced Inspection Tools, Moein Ebrahimi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Large sanitary sewer pipelines (SSPs) are the backbone of modern infrastructure. They carry wastewater from smaller lines to treatment plans; therefore, they are critical for public health and safety. According to the ASCE report card published in 2021, the condition rate of sanitary sewage networks in the United States is D+ (i.e., poor) (ASCE 2021). Therefore, frequent inspections of SSPs are crucial for performing a proper life cycle management strategy. New inspection technologies such as LiDAR have recently been employed for rapid condition assessment of SSPs. Because of the precision of LiDAR inspection data, it can not only measure hydraulic …

The Chemical And Physical Analysis Of Hiveless Tm A Plant Based Honey Alternative, Javin Goodine

All Theses

Honey is perhaps the oldest and one of the world's most widely used natural sweeteners. It is a viscous, sweet, golden substance bees produce via natural enzymatic and physical modification of flower nectar. It has long been prized for its unique flavor and medicinal properties. It can be incorporated into many applications, such as bread, cured meats, alcohol, condiments, candy, pharmaceuticals, and skin care products. In 2022 alone, America consumed over 600 million pounds of honey (Board Reports, 2023), but less than a fifth of that was produced domestically, the rest imported from other countries. The international honey trade can …