Digital Commons Network^™

Deep Subseafloor Sediments In Guaymas Basin Harbor Cosmopolitan Microbiota And Traces Of Hydrothermal Populations, Paraskevi Mara, David Beaudoin, Ivano Aiello, Yuki Morono, David Geller-Mcgrath, Virginia P. Edgcomb, Andreas Teske

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Environmental factors shape subsurface microbial ecosystems, and well-characterized sites are ideal for determining how environmental parameters shape sediment communities. Sediments from eight geologically and thermally distinct sites were drilled during International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 385 in Guaymas Basin, an expedition focused on the hydrothermal deep biosphere. Using high-throughput 16S ribosomal nucleic acid sequencing, cell counts, phylogenetics, metatranscriptomics, and mineralogical/elemental X-ray spectroscopy, we examine linkages and feedbacks between mineral composition, temperature, geochemistry, and microbial populations. We show subsurface life is dominated by heterotrophic, cosmopolitan prokaryotes that thrive within a range of sediments and temperature conditions across Guaymas Basin. Hydrothermally-affiliated lineages …

Beyond Boundaries: Governance Considerations For Climate-Driven Habitat Shifts Of Highly Migratory Marine Species Across Jurisdictions, Bianca S. Santos, Elliott L. Hazen, Heather Welch, Nerea Lezama-Ochoa, Barbara A. Block, Daniel P. Costa, Scott A. Shaffer, Larry B. Crowder

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The mobile nature of migratory marine animals across jurisdictional boundaries can challenge the management of biodiversity, particularly under global environmental change. While projections of climate-driven habitat change can reveal whether marine species are predicted to gain or lose habitat in the future, geopolitical boundaries and differing governance regimes may influence animals’ abilities to thrive in new areas. Broad geographic movements and diverse governance approaches elicit the need for strong international collaboration to holistically manage and conserve these shared migratory species. In this study, we use data from the Tagging of Pacific Predators program to demonstrate the feasibility of using climate-driven …

Energy Intensity Convergence Among Chinese Provinces: A Theil Index Decomposition Analysis, Yifan Wang, Wei Li, Nadia Doytch

Ateneo School of Government Publications

China, the world’s largest carbon emitter, has one of the most stringent provincial emissions reduction programs, incorporated into its Five-Year National Plan to reduce carbon emissions. However, the widening energy intensity gap between provinces poses a great challenge for carbon reduction. In this study, we analyze the convergence of Energy intensity (EIC), i.e., the time-dependent decrease of differences among regional energy intensity over time focusing on a data set of 30 Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2015. Our goal is to identify the provinces that are responsible for the observed divergence in energy intensity and identify the factors causing that …

Physical Activity And Sport Participation: Relationships With General Life Satisfaction And Social Life Satisfaction, Clay Barker

Honors College Theses

This study investigated the impact of college student physical activity and sport participation on life satisfaction and social life satisfaction. This study used a survey with scales to assess students’ frequency of physical activity, frequency of traditional sport participation, frequency of esport participation, life satisfaction, and social life satisfaction. This study’s hypotheses attempted to assess if each involvement variable will individually and positively correlate to both life satisfaction and social life satisfaction. This study used in-person surveys given to Murray State University college students. The findings of this study could provide information on the importance of physical activity and sport …

Cultural Memory And The Search For Identity In Victorian Fantasy Fiction, Sadie Boggs

Honors College Theses

Fantasy literature's origins can be traced through myths and folktales, medieval romances, enlightenment fairy tale fantasy, and Romanticism, before finally taking firmer root in the Victorian period and blooming into its own genre in 20th century modern fantasy. Victorian thinkers reacted to the Enlightenment’s realism and technological innovation by “rediscovering” the Middle Ages as a time of beauty, simplicity, and moral virtue. Simultaneously, Psychology developed as a recognized field of study, and theories emerged about the psychological process of memory formation and retrieval, as well as its reliability and relation to identity.

Considering these psychological theories, Victorian fantasy's cultural memory …

The Bridge Newsletter Winter 2024, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

The Bridge Newsletter

• TED x Missouri S&T: Unveiling Resilience
• ElGawady named interim chair
• Ma named inaugural Kummer Impact Professor
• Sensor patent granted
• Burken awarded ASCE President’s Medal

Model Reference Adaptive Control For Mobile Manipulators And Beyond, Srivatsan Srinivasan

All Dissertations

In recent years, robotics has expanded into various sectors, including manufacturing, transportation, and household services, making the integration of autonomy a critical area of research. This shift aims to ensure safety and enhance the utility of autonomous systems. Traditionally, robotic applications focused separately on mobility, like automated guided vehicles, and manipulation, such as serial-chain arms in manufacturing. Today, however, we see a merging of these capabilities in the growing field of mobile manipulator robots that combine movement with purposeful interactive functionalities.

A typical mobile manipulator is a robotic arm mounted on a wheeled base. This thesis focuses on advancing control …

Regulating Cox Conversion Through Catalyst Design And Reaction Energy Input, Ewa Chukwu

All Dissertations

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, primarily from fossil fuel use in energy and chemical production, are the leading driver of global warming. The chemical industry is the third-largest source of these emissions, so reducing its carbon footprint—and ultimately achieving “CO₂ emissions-free” chemical manufacturing—is critical to combating global warming. Thermal catalysis is the workhorse of industrial chemical manufacturing, generating CO₂ emissions from two main sources: the actual chemical transformations of fossil feedstocks and burning of fossil fuels to provide the process heat. Therefore, developing and implementing technologies to mitigate the carbon emissions associated with these emissions sources is essential for decarbonizing the …

Deformation Mechanism In Gold Nanoparticles Under Compressive Loading: Insights From Atomistic Modelling And Unsupervised Machine Learning, Tanuj Gupta

All Dissertations

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) offer exciting possibilities due to their inertness, malleability, and tunable structures, making them valuable for applications ranging from nanomedicine to electronics. Their optical, mechanical, and other properties can be tailored by modifying shape and structure, underscoring the importance of understanding their deformation behaviour at the nanoscale. This study used classical molecular dynamics simulations with LAMMPS to investigate the deformation mechanisms of gold nanospheres (AuNS) under uniaxial compression. Employing the embedded atom method (EAM) potential to model atomic interactions, AuNS with 20 nm in diameter were compressed along the z-direction using planar indenters moving at a constant …

Enhancing Low-Resource Language Performance In Multilingual Large Language Models, Mingqi Li

All Dissertations

The large language models play an important role in many natural language tasks. However, training these models requires large amounts of data, which is not available for many languages. A noticeable performance gap exists between English and other languages, with low-resource languages showcasing this gap prominently. Therefore, it becomes imperative to improve large language models for low-resource languages. To address these challenges, we developed knowledge distillation and strategic prompt-learning, and attention alignment methods to improve the representation capabilities of large language models for low-resource language, and then enhanced their performance in downstream tasks.

In our first study, we developed a …

Isolation And Upgrading Of Lignin From Agricultural Sources Using Phase Equilibria, Bronson Lynn

All Dissertations

In the emerging bioeconomy, agricultural residues from our nationwide crop harvests are positioned to be a cornerstone of renewable and sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials. However, to be economically viable, the basic constituents of this plant matter must be separated and funneled to the appropriate application to maximize value and overall usability.

This work focuses on the component that has, to this point, been largely left behind: lignin. Although it is the most abundant aromatic biopolymer on the planet, making up 15-40% of grasses, hardwoods, and softwoods, the processing involved to isolate usable lignins is too complex and expensive to …

Collision Hazard Prevention And Notification For Construction Worker Safety Using Audio Surveillance, Kehinde Elelu

All Dissertations

The construction industry faces significant safety challenges, with collision hazards ranking as the second highest cause of annual fatalities and injuries in the United States, as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Current collision detection methods predominantly rely on proximity technologies, which necessitate costly and complex installations on each construction equipment piece. Furthermore, auditory situational awareness declines among workers due to hearing loss and intricate construction noises, which further heightens collision risks. This research introduces an innovative, low-cost, audio-based collision prevention technology aimed at enhancing auditory situational awareness for construction workers exposed to high noise levels. The …

Socio-Ecological Drivers Of Anthropogenic Marine Debris Effects On Coral Reef Communities In The Florida Keys, Usa, Tokea Payton

All Dissertations

The Florida Keys reef tract has rapidly shifted from a structurally complex, hard coral-dominated reef to a less rugose, soft coral-dominated reef. Persistent anthropogenic stressors facilitate ecological transitions by including recreational and commercial fishing and increased anthropogenic marine debris. These artificial structures are becoming habitats for small marine taxa known as cryptofauna. Cryptofauna are among the most essential yet understudied reef taxa where little is known about their fate considering degrading coral reefs and increasing anthropogenic disturbance. With increased anthropogenic stressors on the marine environment, the SCUBA diving community has initiated extensive marine debris removal efforts to assist in cleaning …

Use Of Sea Buckthorn Oil In The Treatment Of Skin Disease: Anti-Inflammatory Benefits, Clinical Applications, And Formulary Challenges, Evadne Rodriguez, Justin Flores, Kathleen Click, Vivian Li, Alexandra Loperfito, Marissa Ruppe, Kelly M. Frasier

Student Publications

Skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, burns, and other barrier insults pose ongoing therapeutic challenges, often requiring treatments that address both inflammation and skin barrier repair. The primary aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential benefits of sea buckthorn oil, derived from Hippophae rhamnoides, as a treatment for various skin diseases, detailing its anti-inflammatory properties, reporting benefits across several skin conditions, and highlighting challenges in formulation as well as preservation of the oil’s nutritional benefits. Drawing from a wide array of existing literature, this review investigates sea buckthorn oil’s rich composition of …

Incarcerated Persons Litigation | Notes, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

Behind The Screen: Exploring Parental Roles In K-12 Online Education, Barbara T. Sandberg, Charles R. Graham, Jered Borup, Richard E. West, Rocio Quiroga Velasquez

Faculty Publications

Independent engagement can be challenging for K-12 online students. Parents’ physical presence makes them an important source of engagement support. Previous research on parental support in online courses is limited and focused on asynchronous learning within a single program. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online enrollments have grown and instructional modalities have evolved. To better understand parental support post-Covid, we interviewed 21 parents across eight online programs with asynchronous, synchronous, and bichronous course offerings. Parents identified their affective, behavioral, cognitive, and other support roles. Implications for parental roles in addressing the academic engagement gap are provided to both researchers and practitioners.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment Among Vulnerable Small Business Owners In El Paso County, Texas, Soyoung Kwon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Our objective was to deliver actionable, worksite-specific COVID-19 risk assessments and mitigation strategies tailored to vulnerable workers in one of the highest-risk areas in the US.

Methods: Four trained, bilingual (English/Spanish) community health workers (CHWs) recruited small businesses (ie, ≤20 employees) across various industries and executed novel on-site infectious disease risk assessment surveys of at least one employer and one employee.

Results: Of 102 participating businesses (95% Hispanic-owned), 96% were characterized as "high risk" or "very high risk" for disease transmission. All businesses reported implementing at least one practice to reduce disease transmission; however, almost half of businesses lacked …

Navigating Physical Activity Promotion And Policy In The Post-Covid-19-Pandemic Era, Juliana Mejía-Grueso, Erica Hinckson, Deborah Salvo, Pedro C Hallal, Andrea Ramírez Varela

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is limited evidence on the priorities and opportunities associated with promoting population physical activity (PA) participation for the post-COVID-19-pandemic future.

Purpose: This study assessed government-led PA promotion efforts before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with post-COVID-19-pandemic priorities and recommendations.

Methods: Two separate cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2023. Survey 1 was targeted at the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) Country Contacts. Survey 2 also included key international informants representing influential stakeholders in PA policy implementation.

Results: There were 68 respondents to Survey 1, collectively representing 61 countries. An additional 37 people, including representatives from 14 key international …

Gc-Ms Analysis And Evaluation Of Antioxidant, Anticancer, Cytotoxicity, And Hypoglycemic Properties Of The Libyan Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract On Alloxan-Induced Diabetes In Mice, Osama Abdel-Hafeez Mohammed Al-Bedak, Ahlam Rashed, Seham T.M. Oskandali, Nouri Kushlaf, Amal Eishebani, Samira A. Alacrouk, Fadia T.M. Oshkandale, Manal Eisheli, Zahur R. Almesai, Ameerah Shaeroun, Steven L. Stephenson, Fuad Ameen

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Libyan Moringa oleifera leaves were extracted using methanol, and the bioactive components' antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer characteristics were assessed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). Moringa oleifera exhibited antioxidant activity, with an IC50 of 11.53 µg/mL. Wi38 cell line's viability decreased with increasing M. oleifera extract concentration, while its cytotoxicity increased with an IC50 of 393.41±7.77 μg/mL. Alloxan-induced diabetes model in Swiss albino mice was implemented. Three different doses (100, 200, or 300 mg/kg of mice body weight) of M. oleifera’s extract were evaluated for their effects on blood sugar concentration and the histology of the pancreatic islets. …

“Tormented By Difficulties Of Every Kind”: Catholic Teaching On Contraception In Social Context, Kathleen Cavender-Mccoy, Conor M. Kelly

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

The Catholic Church notably condemns all forms of artificial birth control and advocates natural family planning as the only morally licit means of spacing births. This teaching is presented as the quintessential pathway to the fullness of human sexuality, but many Catholics struggle with it, and the magisterium itself recognizes that this path is not an easy one to follow. This article uses recent developments in Catholic moral theology around the notion of structural sin to examine the structural constraints complicating ordinary Catholics’ pursuit of their tradition’s vision for marital sexuality, demonstrating that larger structural forces can considerably affect the …

Evaluation Of Industrial Hemp Cultivar And Biochar Rate To Remediate Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Soil From The Tar Creek Superfund Site, Usa, Dietrich V. Thurston, Kristofor R. Brye, David M. Miller, Philip A. Moore Jr., Donald M. Johnson, Mike Richardson

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soil contamination by cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) at the Tar Creek superfund site in northeast Oklahoma, United States, remains a threat to the environment and local ecosystem. Phytoremediation with industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and the use of biochar (BC) have been independently shown to be effective methods to remediate heavy-metal-contaminated soils. The objective of this greenhouse study was to evaluate the effects of industrial hemp cultivar (‘Carmagnola’ and ‘Jinma’), biochar rate (0, 2, 5, and 10% by volume), soil contamination level (low, medium, and high), and their interactions on above- (AG) and belowground dry matter …

Endolysosomal Mechanisms Of Sars-Cov-2 Spike-Induced Inflammatory Response And Senescence In Human Astrocytes, Wendie Ann Hasler

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread reports of prolonged neurological symptoms in individuals who have recovered from the acute phase of the infection. These persistent symptoms, collectively termed Neuro-PASC (Neurological Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection), range from cognitive impairments to mood disturbances and other neuroinflammatory issues. Pathological features of Neuro-PASC include vascular impairment, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. One leading hypothesis for the development of Neuro-PASC is the persistent of SARS-CoV-2 viral factors. Post-mortem evidence indicates that the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is consistently found in the brains of individuals who died with COVID-19, indicating that viral components can interact with …

Behavioral Health Workforce Modeling To Assist In Prioritizing Educational Pathways Programs In North Dakota, Mandi-Leigh Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Background. The need for behavioral health services in North Dakota has grown in recent years. As part of the response to the need for services, a state definition of behavioral health workforce was enacted in state statute to assist in addressing this need. Thus far, no empirical evaluations of the status of that workforce have been conducted.Purpose. The primary purpose of this work was to quantify the supply and demand for the behavioral health workforce in North Dakota to assist in identifying and prioritizing those educational pathways that can assist in growing the identified needed workforce. Sample. This study examined …

Associations Between Metabolic Disorders And Sjögren’S Disease

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sjögren’s disease (SjD) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by dry eyes and mouth caused by chronic inflammation and is often accompanied by various extra-glandular manifestations, including fatigue and diffuse pain. Although the pathogenesis of the disease remains elusive, several factors (e.g. environmental, genetic and hormonal factors, abnormal metabolic status) are associated with this condition. Accumulating evidence suggests a potential role of cholesterol metabolism in immune and non-immune modulation in various diseases. In this review, we summarize the current findings on the associations between cholesterol metabolism and SjD.

Economic Disadvantage During Childhood, Obesity, And Diabetes Across Three Birth Cohorts Of Older Mexicans

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes prevalence has increased markedly in Mexico. We examined the individual and joint contributions of economic disadvantage during childhood (EDDC) and elevated body weight on diabetes prevalence in 3 cohorts of Mexican adults.

METHODS: Data on those 60-69 years old from the 1930-1939, 1940-1949, and 1950-1959 birth cohorts in Waves 1 (2001), 3 (2012), and 5 (2018) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study were used. EDDC was defined as the absence of a toilet in the household before age 10. Body mass status was defined using self-reported perceived body image at age 50. Diabetes was based on respondent …

Understanding The Association Between Neighborhoods And Adolescent Sleep: Evidence From Add Health, Qian Xiao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Research suggests that perceived neighborhood social environments (PNSE) may contribute to gender and race/ethnicity-based sleep disparities. Our study aimed to examine associations between PNSE factors and adolescents' sleep patterns. As a secondary aim, we examined how gender and race/ethnic groups might moderate these associations.

METHOD: Data came from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n=5158; mean age=15.34 years). Four self-reported sleep outcomes were created: 1) sleep duration (hours/night), 2) short sleep (≥8 hours [reference] vs <8 >hours), 3) parental set bedtime (10:00 PM/earlier [reference] among girls vs by 11:00PM vs by/after 12:00AM), and 4) sleep satisfaction (enough …

Whole-Of-School Physical Activity Promotion: Findings From Elementary Schools In The United States, Kempson Onadeko, Laura F Defina, Timothy J Walker

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Schools can support students' participation in physical activity by offering opportunities consistent with a Whole-of-School (WOS) approach; however, the extent to which physical activity opportunities are provided and how school-level characteristics associate with their use remains unclear. This study examined how elementary schools' use a WOS approach to promote physical activity, as well as associations between school-level characteristics and physical activity opportunities provided.

METHODS: Survey data was collected from 162 elementary schools participating in the NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram Project during the 2022-2023 school year. A WOS index (ranging from 0 to 12) was created from responses by school …

Chatgpt Vs Expert-Guided Care Pathways For Postesophagectomy Symptom Management

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare generative artificial intelligence-initiated care pathways, using ChatGPT, with expert-guided consensus-initiated care pathways from AskMayoExpert (AME) for symptom management of esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy.

METHODS: A formal protocol for development of 9 AME care pathways was followed for specific patient-identified domains after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Domain scores were measured and assessed through the Upper Digestive Disease tool. These care pathways were developed by experts validated by a consensus-driven methodology. ChatGPT was used to answer specific questions similar to the AME care pathway on April 9, 2023, and March 28, 2024. …

Addressing Ethical Issues In Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Using A Lifecycle-Informed Process, Xiaoqian Jiang, Camille Nebeker, Laurie Novak, Kirk Roberts, Martin Were, Zhijun Yin, Vardit Ravitsky, Joseph Coco, Rachele Hendricks-Sturrup, Ishan Williams, Ellen W Clayton, Bradley A Malin, Bridge2ai Ethics And Trustworthy Ai Working Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Artificial intelligence (AI) proceeds through an iterative and evaluative process of development, use, and refinement which may be characterized as a lifecycle. Within this context, stakeholders can vary in their interests and perceptions of the ethical issues associated with this rapidly evolving technology in ways that can fail to identify and avert adverse outcomes. Identifying issues throughout the AI lifecycle in a systematic manner can facilitate better-informed ethical deliberation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed existing lifecycles from within the current literature for ethical issues of AI in healthcare to identify themes, which we relied upon to create a lifecycle …

Time Series Decomposition Of Land Surface Temperature For Long-Term Trend Forecasting And Impact On Nesting Sea Turtle Habitats In The Arabian Gulf, Sachi Perera, Rommel H. Maneja, Mohamed Allali, Cyril Rakovski, Erik Linstead, Daniele Struppa, Ali Qasem, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Improving land surface temperature (LST) modeling is vital for mitigating climate change effects on various ecosystems and marine habitats such as important sea turtle habitats. Over the past decade, extreme temperatures have likely significantly affected nesting sea turtle habitats in the Arabian Gulf, with predominantly female hatchlings creating an imbalance in the sex ratio. Such shifts have profound implications for these habitats’ long-term survival and conservation management. This study leverages statistical machine learning models to measure ongoing temporal variations in LST. We break down the LST time series into trend, seasonal, and noise components using classical decomposition methods like X11, …