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Natural Progression Of Meningeal Lymphatic Dysfunction In App/Ps1 Mice Creates A Critical Window For Alzheimer’S Disease Intervention, Zilong Shen, Xibin Zhou, Chunxiang Zhou

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs) facilitate the clearance of toxic metabolites like amyloid-beta (Aβ) from the central nervous system. Dysfunction in MLVs is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, current knowledge relies on exogenous intervention models that fail to capture spontaneous mLV decline during AD progression. In this study, we investigated the age-dependent correlation between mLV/deep cervical lymph node (dCLN) dysfunction and Aβ pathology in APP/PS1 mice under noninterventional conditions.

Materials and methods: APP/PS1 and wild-type (WT) mice at 3, 6, and 9 months of age were evaluated. Cognitive function was tested using the Morris water maze. mLV/dCLN drainage was …

Moltkia Coerulea Extracts Alleviate Caspase-3 Activity Via Reducing Oxidative Stress In Lps-Induced Neurotoxicity In Bv-2 Cells, Asli Can Ağca, Derya Altay, Hüdaverdi̇ Kul, Asli F. Ceylan, Betül Sever Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Moltkia coerulea, a medicinal plant traditionally used for its neuroprotective properties, contains diverse phenolic compounds. However, its mechanisms of action in neuroinflammation remain unclear. We hypothesized that extracts of M. coerulea may protect microglial cells from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase-3 activity.

Materials and methods: Aqueous and methanol extracts (5–50 μg/mL) were tested in BV-2 microglial cells. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, while ROS generation and caspase-3 activity were measured using fluorescence-based kits. The effective concentration (10 μg/mL) was selected for mechanistic assays based on viability data and …

Adapting Master’S-Level Chemistry Education In The United States: Insights From Industry, Academia, And The Literature, Brian Johnson, Amanda Lindell, Nina M. Goodey

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

As the chemical industry evolves in response to technological and global challenges, Master’s-level chemistry programs must adapt to prepare graduates for workforce success. This article explores how such programs can better integrate professional skills such as communication, collaboration, and research. Drawing on literature and stakeholder interviews from a review of the Chemistry M.S. and Pharmaceutical Biochemistry M.S. programs at Montclair State University, a Hispanic Serving Institution in New Jersey’s pharmaceutical hub, we identified four key themes: the importance of hands-on research experiences, the integration of professional skills development, the need for flexible course and credit requirements, and the challenges of …

Undergraduate Research Uncovers Wildlife Adaptations On Solar Arrays, Elisabeth Watson

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

Undergraduate students published research about bird nests in solar arrays in the peer-reviewed journal Ecology and Evolution.

Exploring The Association Between Nurse Characteristics And Intent To Leave Their Current Position In Counties With Rural Hospital Closures, Caroline A. King

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Increased rural hospital closures and nursing burnout may lead to greater morbidity/mortality for rural residents. Current literature fails to capture whether rural hospital closures influence nurses’ intent to leave their current position. In this cross-sectional study, descriptive and correlational statistical analyses were conducted on survey responses from a sample of nurses who lived in a rural county that experienced a hospital closure. 66% of nurses stated that, at one point, they had considered leaving their primary nursing position. Logistic regression model results revealed that nurse-reported age and gender were significant predictors of a nurse’s intention to leave their current position. …

Gender Gaps And Economic Growth: Why Haven't Women Won Globally (Yet)?, Patrick Agte, Orazio Attanasio, Pinelopi K. Goldberg, Charles Gottlieb, Aishwarya Lakshmi Ratan, Rohini Pande, Michael Peters, Charity Troyer Moore, Fabrizio Zilibotti

Discussion Papers

Globally women’s labor force participation lags that of men and women, on average, have lower labor market earnings than men. Does economic growth reduce gender disparities in labor market outcomes between women and men? Conversely, do gender inequalities in the labor market impede growth? To inform these questions, we conduct two analyses. First, we estimate regressions using harmonized data on gender gaps in a range of labor market outcomes from 153 countries spanning two decades (1998-2018). Second, we conduct a systematic review of the recent economics literature on gender gaps in labor markets, examining 16 journals over 21 years. Our …

Back To The Future: Reflecting On The Slce Future Directions Project, Lori E. Kniffin Ph.D., Sarah E. Stanlick, Patti H. Clayton

Leadership Faculty Publications

This paper reflects on the Service-Learning and Community Engagement (SLCE) Future Directions Project (FDP), an initiative launched in 2015 to engage with the 20th anniversary of Edward Zlotkowski's pivotal 1995 article, "Does service-learning have a future?" to stimulate a broader, co-creative conversation about the future of SLCE. The FDP ultimately resulted in 29 thought pieces, co-written by 57 authors and published in the Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning (MJCSL) between 2015 and 2017. This current reflection, undertaken in 2025, synthesized survey responses from FDP authors and SLCE practitioners to assess the project's impact and re-examine future directions amidst evolving …

Assessing The Efficiency Of Methods To Teach Adolescents About Testicular Cancer And Testicular Self-Examination, Ayşe Gül Güven, Laden Jafari̇, Murat Doğuş Günel, Özlem Akbulut

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Due to the increasing incidence of testicular cancer (TC), early testicular self-examination (TSE) in adolescent males is crucial for early detection and treatment. However, it is uncertain which method is best for teaching about TC and TSE in this age group. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of formal (face to face with model) and informal (video presentation) approaches in male adolescents about TC and TSE.Material and methods: This intervention study was conducted in 2 high schools, and included a study group (n = 142) and a control group (n = 102). In the study group, a video …

The Relationship Between Light Physical Activity And 10-Year Weight Change In 2,868 U.S. Adults: A National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey Investigation, Chloe Diane Cory

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of obesity has steadily increased over the past several decades. About 13.4% of Americans aged 20-74 had obesity in 1960-1962 and the prevalence has steadily increased to 40.3% in 2021-2023--more than a 3-fold increase. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between time spent in light physical activity (LPA) and 10-year weight change in a random sample of 2868 women and men representative of the U.S. adult population. METHODS: Data were used from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from the 2003-2006 data cycles. Participants were limited to non-pregnant U.S. …

Recovery Of High Energy-Value Materials From Mine Wastewater, Zainab Nasrullah

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The increasing global demand for high-energy-value materials (HEVM), such as rare earth elements (REEs), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and lithium (Li), coupled with their limited availability and environmental concerns associated with traditional mining methods, necessitates the development of alternative and sustainable recovery strategies. Wastewater streams from industrial processes, mining operations, and electronic waste treatment represent untapped reservoirs of these valuable materials. Research is proposed to develop sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable methods for selectively recovering HEVM from mine wastewater (Berkeley Pit, Montana). Two innovative approaches, the adsorption process using functionalized adsorbent and solvent extraction (SX) using organic or hydrophobic …

Aqueous Geochemistry Drives Microbial Cu, Fe, And Zn Uptake Rates In Yellowstone, A Continental Hydrothermal System, Eva Carolina Andrade-Barahona

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Microbial uptake of trace metal cofactors such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) is governed by biogeochemical processes in hydrothermal systems where metal bioavailability varies widely. In situ microbial metal uptake rates were quantified by applying metal stable isotope probing (MSIP) in the Yellowstone hydrothermal system across diverse geochemical conditions in hydrothermal springs. The findings in these studies revealed that pH exerts a dominant influence on microbial copper uptake rate, also enhanced by increased Cu²⁺ ion availability and dissolved oxygen. Microbial iron uptake, in contrast, displayed a broad tolerance to environmental variability, occurring across a pH range of …

Functional Impact Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Rs4129009 (Ile775val) On Human Toll-Like Receptor 10, Audrey N. Koti

Biology Student Research

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a subclass of pattern recognition receptors within the

innate immune system that detect pathogen-associated and danger-associated molecular patterns,

thereby initiating host defense responses. The human TLR family comprises ten receptors (TLR1

– TLR10), each recognizing structurally conserved microbial motifs such as bacterial

lipoproteins and viral nucleic acids. The ligand specificities, adaptor protein recruitment, and

downstream signaling cascades have been well-characterized for TLR1 – TLR9, which

predominantly engage MyD88- or TRIF-dependent pathways to activate pro-inflammatory

transcription factors including NF-κB. In contrast, the ligand specificity and intracellular

signaling mechanisms of TLR10 have yet to be fully elucidated. Emerging …

Growth Of Porang (Amorphopallus Muelleri) Seedlings As Influenced By Seed Maturity And The Presence Of Sarcotesta, Indri Fariroh, Restiani Sih Harsanti, Aminatun Nisa, Didik Pudji Restanto, Rizky Anugerah Putra

Jurnal Kultivasi

Porang seed maturity based its position on spadix position significantly impacts germination. The presence of the seed coat (sarcotesta) also influenced germination and initial seedling growth. This study aimed to explore the effect of seed maturity and the presence of sarcotesta to the seedling growth. The experiment was conducted from January to June 2023. A two factor Randomized Complete Block Design was employed, examining three maturity levels based on spadix position (physiological maturity seed from the tip spadix (red colour), half physiological maturity seed from the middle spadix (orange colour), and immature seed from the base spadix (green colour)), and …

Looking At Labels, Examining Values: Knowledge, Narrative, And Multilingualism In American Art Museums, Mary Mitchell

Masters Theses

Object labels are key components of the knowledge production networks in American museums. But despite their sustained use in the Western museum field since the late nineteenth century, museum labels are not frequently regarded as valuable sources in scholarship on museum history and practices. In this thesis, I reposition labels in art museums as objects of value that should be studied for their important role in producing and disseminating knowledge. What can we learn about art museums by looking closely at their labels—specifically about those institutions’ values? How do labels reveal the hierarchies of value that art museums construct between …

Antibacterial Analysis Of Human Amniotic Membrane Against Streptococcus Mutants, Streptococcus Sobrinus, And Enterococcus Faecalis, Mohamad Ezany Yusoff, Ruhil Hayati Hamdan, Haslina Taib, Tan Li Peng, Maizan Mohamed, Rumaizi Shaari, Mohamad Arif Awang Nawi

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objectives: The human amniotic membrane (HAM) is a promising scaffold for oral applications due to its antimicrobial properties, which help protect against bacterial degradation. However, evidence of its activity against oral bacteria remains limited. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the HAM against selected Gram-positive oral bacteria, namely, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus), and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). Methods: HAM in 1 cm²-pieces was inoculated with bacterial suspensions and incubated at 37 °C in 5% carbon dioxide (CO₂) for 48 hours to evaluate …

Association Between Gonial Angle And Mandibular Residual Ridge Resorption In Implant-Overdenture Patients, Pl Ranganayakidevi S Palaniappan, Norsiah Yunus, Norliza Ibrahim, Siti Fauzza Ahmad, Anitha Krishnan

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objectives: The gonial angle could be one of the contributing factors for the continuous bone resorption in edentulous persons. This study aimed to examine the association between the gonial angle and RRR in edentulous patients receiving mandibular implant-supported overdenture (ISOD) and to compare different gonial angle measuring techniques. Methods: Twenty-three individuals with opposing mandibular ISOD and maxillary full dentures were recruited. The proportional area index was used to calculate the posterior RRR. Orthopantomographs (OPGs) pre- and four years post-implant insertion were compared. Comparison of the gonial angle measurements was made on 5 patients using four measurement methods: (i) Two different …

Drinking Water Treatment Using Microbial Cellulose Membranes, Benjamin Schreiber

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Access to clean drinking water is a global concern. Existing water filtration technologies require high energy and chemical inputs. They generate a large volume of waste and are not always readily available. This limitation has given rise to the development of sustainable water filtration technologies. This study focused on developing a biodegradable Microbial Cellulose Membrane (MCM) made of bacterial cellulose that is capable of treating a wide variety of pollutants present in environmental water sources. To improve MCM properties for high flux and contaminants removal, they were pre-treated with NaOH (0.25 M). The effect of transmembrane pressure and membrane thickness …

Structured Ai Conversations On Ethical Reasoning In Introductory Psychology, Brianna Mccartney

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

This strategy integrated structured AI conversations using Perplexity into an introductory psychology course to strengthen students’ ethical reasoning. Guided prompts led students through analyzing historical unethical studies, applying APA and Belmont principles, and proposing ethical redesigns while receiving immediate feedback. The activity concluded with a final paper and AI acknowledgment, fostering both deeper ethical understanding and responsible use of AI in academic work.

Ai-Assisted Literary Analysis In A Flipped Classroom Model: Fostering Critical Engagement, Tizziana Valdivieso, Jules Lemus Gonzalez

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

The activity was structured into four phases: in the preparation phase, students built a common knowledge base by reading about Salvadoran social issues through literature. During the controlled and free tasks phase, students used GenAI tools to generate outlines, compare them with their own analyses, and refine their essays through brainstorming, drafting, and peer review. Finally, in the evaluation phase, students presented their work in a mock conference and reflected critically on AI’s usefulness, limitations, and ethical implications while demonstrating ownership of their interpretations.

Mental Health Literacy In Biology Graduate Teaching Assistants: Perception, Knowledge, And Training Needs In College Stem Education, Kanza Arshad, Ricardo Montoya, Nicole Scheuermann, Heather E. Bergan-Roller

Honors Capstones

College students experience a high prevalence of mental health challenges, and STEM students exhibit lower mental health literacy than students in other disciplines. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play a crucial role in supporting undergraduate students, yet little is known about their mental health literacy (MHL) or how they navigate student disclosures in instructional settings. This preliminary study examines MHL among GTAs in biology, as well as their knowledge, perceptions, and training needs regarding MHL. We used semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to examine how biology GTAs understand mental health, their responsibility related to student well-being, and what supports they identify …

Misconceptions About Nursing In High School Students Of Color: Promoting Diversity In Nursing, Veronnica D. Pham

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Equitable and culturally competent care can reduce health disparities among underserved populations; yet the nursing shortage the US faces does not allow for better patient outcomes. One barrier is how the profession can be negatively viewed among high school students of color.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify how perception of nursing affects a student’s career choice and what influences these perspectives. Three databases were utilized for this search: The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, and Scopus. Six articles were selected for this review. The following themes have been identified: misconceptions, …

Emergency Preparedness Education And Simulation Training For Nursing Students In Southern India, Kevin C. Cameron, Taryn Mccoy, Laura Gray, David Phillippi

DNP Projects

Introduction

To address the identified gap in emergency preparedness education and training among nursing students at a teaching hospital in southern India, a private university in the southeastern United States partnered with the site to develop a quality improvement initiative aimed at strengthening these skills. Nursing students at the partner hospital have limited access to simulation-based training opportunities due to constraints in both curriculum and availability of simulation resources. This lack of exposure may hinder the development of critical emergency preparedness competencies

Methods

Educational content focused on triage and basic life support (BLS). One hundred twenty-four students participated in the …

Subculture And Identity As An Escape From The Societal Norms Of Power Imbalance And Authoritative Abuse, Sarah Goldberg

Master's Theses

By definition, a “bolthole” is an animal’s escape or burrow; or, a person’s escape or place of refuge. It also connotes construction, building, even sculpture - relating proletarian materials to themes of working-class labor and the need for escape. Through sculpture, installation, drawing, and oil painting, Bolthole as a body of work examines power imbalance as a societal norm, and identity and subculture as a rejection of the influence of capitalist institutions. Animal symbolism is used in combination with figurative work and portraiture, directly comparing power imbalances between humans to those in nature; such as predator and prey, parent and …

Reflect: Glmc Building On 10-Years Of Global Leadership Mentoring Experience, Ellen B. Buckner, Tanya F. Lott, Brenda Owusu, Karen Morin, Khalilah M. Mccants

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Sigma members reflect a caring culture to show desired change. Following Sigma’s initiation of Global Regions in 2011, a group of visionary Sigma leaders established the Global Leadership Mentoring Community (GLMC).¹

Purpose: The GLMC mentor-mentee relationships broaden nurses ability to reflect on personal and professional leadership growth. The vision of the GLMC is through successful mentoring, participants will enhance their confidence in their global nursing leadership, gaining greater cultural awareness of the issues challenging professional nursing and be personally enriched. This unique mentoring opportunity has demonstrated that global leadership mentoring can strengthen nurses in all settings and help …

Effects Of Beach Renourishment On Sea Turtle Nesting Success, Caydence Pennington

Honors Theses

Beach geomorphology has a profound influence on nesting animals, particularly sea turtles, whose reproductive success depends on suitable sand conditions and stable shorelines. In many densely populated coastal regions, beach renourishment projects are implemented to combat erosion and protect infrastructure, yet these alterations can also affect sea turtle nesting ecology. This study evaluated the effects of beach renourishment on loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting activity on Longboat Key, Florida, from 2021-2024. Nesting activity, hatch success, and depredation patterns were compared between nourished and reference beach zones to determine whether nourishment had an impact on these events. Nesting …

Chinese Intellectual Property Theft On United States Innovation In The Aerospace, Energy, And Pharmaceutical Economic Sectors Through Human Intelligence And Cyber Intelligence Collection, Preston Martz

Honors Theses

In cases of Chinese intellectual property theft on aerospace, energy, and pharmaceutical sectors in the United States, does Chinese intelligence collection favor HUMINT or CYBINT for collection? Sub questions also arise, including: to what extent does the amount of information collected vary by collection through HUMINT vs. CYBINT? Furthermore, does the sector where IP theft is used change the method of collection used? Finally, to what extend do case factors and outcomes affect the collection method used?

Cv: Vesna Markovic (Criminal Justice), Vesna Markovic

Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Developing An Ai-Assisted Grading System Using Large Language Models, Andrei Modiga

MS in Computer Science Project Reports

We present a grading system that accelerates evaluation of open-ended student work across scanned and digital workflows. The system crops answer regions from PDFs, assigns submissions via OCR on identity regions only, and groups answers by visual semantics using a vision LLM. Instructors review and edit groups, apply rubric items once per group, and export grades from an on-screen table. The solution integrates Ghostscript rasterization, PdfPig page orchestration, SkiaSharp region extraction, Tesseract identity OCR, and GPT-4o Vision for grouping. We detail the architecture, token-budgeted batching strategy, and persistence design, then describe testing results for grouping quality, time-on-task, and usability. The …

How To Describe A Massacre? A Collaborative Metadata Justice Project, Bailey Hoffner, Eugene Albin, Jennifer Watson, Jay Shorten, Jacquelyn Slater Reese, Todd Fuller, Karie Antell

Collaborative Librarianship

Throughout the summer of 2020 and into the following fall, a cross-unit working group at the University of Oklahoma Libraries (OU Libraries) collaborated to compile and submit a proposal to change the Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) Tulsa Race Riot, Tulsa, Okla., 1921 to Tulsa Race Massacre, Tulsa, Okla., 1921. The working group members situated this project in the context of the metadata justice movement, which seeks to correct problematic descriptions. They also see this proposal as part of the broader work undertaken over many decades by Tulsa activists and community leaders. This successful proposal required working group …

Archivist, Subject Librarian, And Education Faculty Collaboration: Co-Instruction In History Of Education Classes, Laura Cameron, Kara Flynn

Collaborative Librarianship

In many academic libraries, primary source instruction happens in a vacuum, and students don’t always make connections between the skills they learn in a primary source instruction session and skills they may have already learned in information literacy-focused library instruction that they have participated in previous courses. This case study describes the design and objectives of an instructional partnership formed between an Education & Engagement Archivist, Education Librarian, and History of Education professor at a public, four-year university. The Education & Engagement Archivist and Education Librarian worked in tandem to develop interconnected lesson plans, allowing the Education & Engagement Archivist …