Digital Commons Network^™

Employee Salary Report [University Of Missouri - St. Louis] 2025, University Of Missouri-St. Louis

UMSL Salary Report

No abstract provided.

Applications Of The Mathieu Groups And Information Theory In Dna Encoding Functions, Juan C. Nava Jr

Theses and Dissertations

A foundational idea in mathematics lies in breaking down existing components into their bare fundamentals. As evidenced by prime numbers and composites, we learn this idea at an early age. Categorizing these broken-down components into their simplest form allows mathematicians to construct proofs from emergent patterns. John Conway’s Atlas of Finite Groups in the 1990s was particularly concerned with the categorization of structures known as groups. There are certain axioms a group must adhere to, which amount to the retention of symmetry; ultimately a group helps us to better understand symmetric actions performed on a set with a binary operation. …

Knowledge Gaps And Personal Experiences: A Qualitative Examination Of Women's Menstrual Health And Birth Control Choices, Danielle M. Jackson

Honors Theses

Women all over the world face significant knowledge gaps and societal perceptions (Mukanga et al., 2023) regarding menstruation and birth control, which impact their understanding of both the physical and mental symptoms associated with these experiences. From a young age, women are often left to navigate these processes without sufficient education or support, leading to confusion, misconceptions, and a lack of empowerment when it comes to managing their reproductive health (Guendelman et al., 2000). The stigma surrounding topics like menstruation and hormonal contraception can further isolate women, making it difficult for them to seek reliable information or openly discuss their …

Family Involvement In Pediatric Occupational Therapy Interventions: A Qualitative Study, Maylee S. Collins

Honors Theses

In recent years, family involvement has increasingly been recognized as a critical component of effective pediatric occupational therapy (OT) interventions. Research suggests that parents who actively participate in OT can enhance a child’s engagement, motivation, and therapy outcomes (Sayers et al., 2021). However, the specific experiences and perspectives of parents and families, particularly regarding how they view their role and the impact of their involvement on therapy outcomes, remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate parental perceptions, challenges, and the perceived benefits of involvement in OT interventions, and adding to the understanding of how family collaboration can optimize therapeutic outcomes …

Body Composition And Self-Image: Exploring The Impact On Exercise Motivation And Behavior, Demitria J. Watson

Honors Theses

This study examines how self-perception and body composition (body fat percentage, lean mass, etc.) influence psychological and behavioral outcomes among college students. The research explores how body composition metrics are related to psychological factors such as stress management, enjoyment of physical activity, and leisure activity, and how appearance scores, as a reflection of self-perception, influence these outcomes. Drawing on a sample of 100 undergraduates from Eastern Kentucky University, data were collected through self-reported surveys measuring body satisfaction, exercise frequency, and motivational factors, alongside objective body composition metrics. Statistical analyses revealed that higher appearance scores were associated with better stress management …

Summer Projects In Special Collections And The Gallery, Sarah Ponichtera

SHU Libraries News

No abstract provided.

Gnns For Network Classification In Single Cell Rna Sequencing Data, Reid C. Sewell

Capstone Projects

A common technique when investigating a disease is to profile gene expression, as this gives unique insights into the functions of a cell. Gene expression data gathered from single cell RNA sequencing can be encoded into a gene co-expression network, which is a graph of potential relationships between different genes. One method for interpreting data encoded as a graph is to use a graph neural network, or GNN. This project designs and implements a GNN architecture to accomplish classification tasks on graph data. Then, given a dataset of gene co-expression networks made from multiple single cell RNA sequencing studies, the …

The Effect Of Ethnic Identity On Psychological Well-Being Mediated By Motivation To Use Social Media, Isabel Aragón

ETD Collection

No abstract provided.

Phosphomimetic Substitution Of Serine Residue Ser260 With Aspartate Suggests Regulation Of Activity Of Human Cytosolic Malate Dehydrogenase By Phosphorylation, Charles Pelagalli '25, Luke Tischio, Kathleen Cornely

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Human cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH1) is a key enzyme involved in the malate-aspartate shuttle of eukaryotic cells, and which catalyzes the reaction of oxaloacetate to malate. As MDH1 is responsible for maintaining redox homeostasis by regeneration of NAD+ for glycolysis, its regulation is of particular interest in pharmaceutical applications, specifically in treating cancer cells that proliferate quickly and hence rely greatly on glycolysis. While the regulation of MDH1 by the phosphorylation of key residues has been previously documented, work still remains in identifying the specific residues involved in regulation of the enzyme by phosphorylation. In this study, we used …

Examining The Accuracy Of The Omni Data In Representing Geomagnetic Storm Observations Near Earth And The Effect On Global Modeling, James T. Davis

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

The accuracy of OMNI dataset being propagated to bow shock nose and used to represent geomagnetic storms is a known issue. Inaccuracies of this data bring erroneous results in scientific endeavors therefore establishing the importance of accuracy and consistency. This case study examines the accuracy of the OMNI data and data near-Earth in representing geomagnetic storms with different drivers on global simulations. This research will include examples of global magnetosphere simulations, such as SWMF, driven with two storms driven by coronal mass ejections, and one driven by a high-speed stream using OMNI data and data near-Earth to illustrate potential variations …

Ethical Elegance: Navigating Consumer Morality And Production Practices In Fashion Through Analyzing Shein, Zara, & Vivienne Westwood, Joshua Todd Auskalnis

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis examines current gaps within sustainable business and sustainable fashion within the global fashion industry by carrying out a comparative analysis of the three companies: Shein, Zara, and Vivienne Westwood. These companies have different positions along the sustainability spectrum and offer insights into how profitability is weighed against environmental and ethical concerns. Chapter 1 addresses environmental sustainability, assessing how each brand is responsible for damaging the environment through overproduction, wastage, synthetic materials, and greenhouse gas emissions. Chapter 2 addresses ethical and social responsibility, considering workers' conditions, fair compensation, and labor protections along international supply chains. Chapter 3 draws on …

In The Quest For New Horizons: Evaluating Novel Therapeutic Approaches For Tuberculosis Treatment, Selassie Mawuko, Aminata Traore, Bibi-Sakeena Khemraj, Anna Steto, Richa Gupta

Publications and Research

Tuberculosis (TB) in humans, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a significant global health concern, resulting in high disease burden and mortality each year which together make it the world’s topmost infectious killer. The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in recent decades has further exacerbated the present situation and warrants an urgent need to develop and investigate innovative treatment regimes. This study aims to assess the therapeutic potential of newly identified drug candidates, namely Bedaquiline, Delamanid, and Linezolid, in treating MDR-TB. We adopted a consolidated and integrated approach encompassing a thorough literature review, empirical experimental studies, multiple sequence alignments, and …

Environmental And Labor Exploitation In Dominican And Haitian Sugar Cane Plantations: A Failure To Achieve Sustainable Development Goals, Norah S. Mosquea

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper explores the dual issues of labor and environmental exploitation in sugar cane plantations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, focusing on these countries' actions in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Chapter 1 outlines the relevant SDGs, particularly those addressing labor conditions and pollution reduction. It discusses several types of pollution and its impact on laborers and surrounding communities, framing these impacts within the concept of environmental justice. Additionally, it explains how plantation-related pollution degrades all four types of ecosystem services, emphasizing cultural ecosystem services that affect people's overall well-being. Chapter 2 inspects the historical context, …

Innoxtract Vs Prepfiler Bta: Extracting Dna From Burned Skeletal Remains, Kaitlin Brown

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the different levels of DNA extraction in thermally altered samples by comparing the InnoXtract and PrepFiler BTA extraction kits. PrepFiler BTA is a DNA extraction kit designed to use for bone samples which uses silica coated magnetic beads to extract DNA from powdered bone. InnoXtract is a specialized kit for bone samples which uses the same silica coated magnetic bead method for DNA extraction. Burned skeletal remains pose a challenge since high temperature exposure denatures the DNA and degrades DNA that can be extracted. For this experiment, porcine femurs were used as …

Determining The Effect Of Physical Activity Level On The Amount Of Trace Dna Deposited On A Non-Porous Surface, Sarah Marsh

Honors Theses

In the field of Forensic Science, trace DNA has been used to help identify potential offenders for a number of years. Researchers have conducted studies into how trace DNA behaves on certain surfaces such as fabric and wood. They have found that surfaces seem to have a significant influence on how much DNA is deposited and persists on the surface. However, no work has been conducted into how physical activity effects DNA deposition. The goal of this research was to evaluate the relationship between physical activity and DNA deposition. Seven individuals agreed to participate in this project by providing biological …

The Relationship Between Women's Use Of Birth Control Pills And Their Perceptions Of The Mental Health Effects (Depression And Anxiety) Of The Pill, Andrea Bonano Mendez

Honors Theses

The National Library of Medicine published an article mentioning how hormonal contraception might cause and sustain depression in some patients (Mu & Kulkarni, 2022). Currently, approximately 25% of women ages 15-44 who are currently using a form of contraception rely on the pill as the primary method (Cooper, 2024). However, there is still no definite yes or no answer in terms of whether the use of birth control pills can lead to mental health effects. The objective of this paper is to see what the current perceptions on whether birth control pills have an effect on mental health based on …

Profiling Gene Expression In Epstein-Barr Virus Infected Heart Tissue, Jacob Smith

Honors Theses

The overall purpose of this project is to evaluate active gene expression in heart tissue samples infected by the Epstein-Barr virus. By cataloging active gene expression, one could elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underpin viral infection’s role in the development of heart pathology. This was accomplished by extracting nucleic acids from homogenized heart tissue samples, employing reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) to synthesize cDNA from extracted mRNA), and performing a qPCR to quantify the levels of gene expression from these cDNA samples. The genes explored within this project were: Hsp60, a chaperonin protein involved in mitochondrial stress response; BCL2, an …

Computational Modeling And Structural Generation Of Piano Music In The Classical Style, Yijing Feng

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Listening to fast-tempo piano sonatas of the Classical period (circa 1750-1820) has been shown to have therapeutic effects for neurological disorders such as epilepsy. The limited existing repertoire of music in this style motivates the creation of more long-form, coherent compositions with clearly defined structure. Despite the long history of computer-based music generation and recent progress in deep learning, particularly transformer-based models, generating structurally coherent long-form music remains a major challenge. This difficulty stems from the scarcity of reliable structural annotation datasets, the computational demands of modeling very long musical sequences, and the lack of effective structural encoding in both …

Jibu, Cecelia Fox-Middleton, Erik Pompermayer

Miller Center Fellowship

This report examines the relationship between Jibu franchises and the technology they rely upon to conduct their most critical business operations. Jibu’s Point of Sale (POS) System is the online platform where Jibu franchises track sales, inventory, production, and delivery. While Jibu franchises agree that this iteration of the POS is the best of the three previous technology systems, it still has significant limitations that affect its usability. The POS system is serviceable at tracking big picture numbers like total sales, customers, and liters sold. However, the system struggles with quick transaction speed, lacks essential features, and regularly confuses even …

Mock Juror Perceptions Of Intimate Partner Rape Victims: The Effects Of Mental Illness And Emotional Expression, Kristina Lambert

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Intimate partner rape (IPR), defined as non-consensual sexual intercourse between domestic partners, has a high prevalence rate especially among women with mental illness, yet it is highly under-convicted. This is often due to a lack of evidence in rape cases resulting in jurors relying on extralegal factors, such as a victim’s mental illness or emotional expression, in their decision making. Jurors may provide lower pro-victim judgments (e.g., guilty verdicts, victim credibility) when a victim has a mental illness, whereas jurors often expect a victim to express emotions, which can increase pro-victim judgments. The present study examined mock juror perceptions of …

Redefining Beauty And Boundaries: The Evolution Of Mac Viva Glam’S Pr Campaign As A Case Study In Shaping Dei Discourse Amid A Changing Political Landscape, Abigail Kennedy

Honors Theses

The relationship between diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in the beauty industry and the emergence of anti-DEI laws nationwide is examined in this thesis. Using MAC Cosmetics' Viva Glam campaign as a case study, this research highlights how public relations tactics in the beauty industry have traditionally supported inclusive values, embracing representation across lines of color, gender, sexual orientation, and health. On the other hand, new legislative initiatives in states like Florida, Texas, and Kentucky demonstrate a burgeoning political movement that seeks to eliminate DEI initiatives in public institutions and education. This thesis examines the ramifications of such through a …

Observations From The Void: A Lament For Earth, Seth Petersen

Honors Theses

The Earth is a world full of art and many different forms of expression. Puppetry is a medium that has been used for hundreds, or even thousands, of years as a way to breathe life into objects. Through the use of both shadow and hand puppets a performance was created to follow the script of a written poetry collection. This collection of poetry was written from the perspective of an alien observer as they watch Earth from light-years away to determine if they are a threat to the universe. To figure this out they look at various aspects of humanity …

Health Amongst Pilots, Becoming Aware And Solving The Problems: A Quantitative And Qualitative Narrative Analysis Of Pilots, Kelsi Howard

Honors Theses

Pilots of all calibers from commercial to cargo are one of the world's leading factors to economic growth, political dominance, and personal satisfaction amongst individuals, so why is there not more health opportunities for this group of workers? There is hardly any mention of a pilot's physical health, most of the articles when posted are based around a pilots mental health, with little to no concern for their physical health. This could primarily be due to the fact that airline pilots have a fear of being at risk of losing their medical license. Meanwhile others are in search of information …

Stony Battery Rd Property Owner Llc V. Qvc Inc

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Explaining Patient Data Towards Improving Patient Understanding And Medical Efficiency, Lupe K. Hernandez Jr.

Masters Theses

Patients frequently access medical test results through electronic health record (EHR) portals, often before receiving input from healthcare providers. These results typically lack interpretation or are presented with complex clinical terminology, leading to confusion, anxiety, and misinformed decision-making. This thesis examines using large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, to generate test result summaries in detailed and simplified formats automatically. A Python-based middleware was developed to interface between OpenEMR and OpenAI’s API, enabling automated summary generation. Summaries included a clinically detailed version and a simplified version written at a third-grade reading level. Two surveys were conducted: one with undergraduate and …

"Just Keep Telling The Story": Wes Anderson's Carefully Crafted Vessels Of Loss, Claire Lewis

Honors College Theses

Wes Anderson’s 2023 feature film Asteroid City was met with a more polarized critical and audience response than any of his prior films. Evident in this response is an increasingly apparent distinction between the formal conventions of his films – encompassing elements such as visual aesthetic, filmmaking techniques, and storytelling structure – and the emotional and thematic content. In this paper, I examine the critical response to Asteroid City as well as the perceived dissonance between these two major aspects of his filmmaking in order to explore the relationship between the two, specifically as it pertains to the themes of …

The Evolution And Impact Of Blog Analysis Tools: A Study Of Blogtracker's Comprehensive Approach To Digital Discourse Analysis, Oyindamola Koleoso

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents BlogTracker, a comprehensive web-based platform designed to address the growing complexities of analyzing the modern blogosphere. We detail BlogTracker's evolution from earlier blog analysis tools, highlighting its innovative integration of features including real-time data collection, advanced content analysis, sentiment analysis, influence tracking, and narrative analysis. At the core of our contribution is a robust content extraction system that achieves 91.33% accuracy across diverse blog formats, providing a reliable foundation for all analytical functions. This extraction system effectively distinguishes between primary content and peripheral elements, ensuring high-quality inputs for downstream analysis regardless of source blog structure. The platform's …

Implementation Of Safety Restraint Chair Algorithm With De-Escalation Techniques To Decrease Restraint Time In Acute Psychiatric Unit, Chiamaka Nwadike

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: This quality improvement project aims to (1) decrease time in restraint use on the inpatient psychiatric unit through implementing the restraint chair protocol, and (2) improve staff satisfaction in using safety restraint.

Background: In acute psychiatric care, restraints are used to ensure safety, but they pose physical and psychological risks. There is an increasing recognition of the need for patient safety, including the use of de-escalation techniques that prioritize restraint chairs over bed restraints to ensure safety.

Methodology: The project follows the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model, which supports a continuous improvement approach to implementing the restraint chair …

Absent Mothers And Their Effects On The Heroines' Self-Actualization In Jane Austen's Final Three Novels, Gillian Carter

Criterion: A Journal of Literary Criticism

No abstract provided.

Draft Final 2025 Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap) Non-Residential Daycare Soil Sampling: Field Sampling Plan (Fsp) Submittal #15 [Mini Scholars Discovery Academy, Hands On Learning Childcare, Kidz Konnection, Young Explorers, & University On Princeton], Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.