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Parkinson’S Disease Pathophysiology And Comparative Analysis Of The Efficacy Between Subthalamic Nucleus And Globus Pallidus Interna Deep Brain Stimulation: A Student’S Perspective, Peter C. Solimando Ii

Anthropology

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is becoming an increasingly common neurodegenerative disease across the world, presenting with both debilitating motor and non-motor symptoms that progressively worsen throughout the course of the disease. Prominent motor symptoms include tremors, bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, and postural/gait instabilities, while common non-motor symptoms include fatigue, pain, autonomic dysfunction (i.e., bowel and bladder dysfunction), mood disorders, and dementia. The advent of modern medical management of PD has introduced several different medications, the most popular being levodopa, that have shown success in reducing the severity of motor symptoms, particularly in the early stages of the disease. Throughout disease progression, however, …

Accuracy Of Balance Assessment Metrics Using Wearable Sensors, Brandon Sirof

Anthropology

Balance is a critical part of remaining healthy at all ages. Poor balance can lead to life-changing injury. Balance is typically assessed in a lab using a force-platform (FP), by comparing horizontal movements of the center of mass during trials with eyes open and eyes closed. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether inertial measurement units (IMUs) can be used to accurately measure balance. Simultaneous FP and IMU data were collected for 1 subject for 45s trials with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). We evaluate whether IMU and FP metrics for COM movement (max accel and …

Using Wearable Sensors For Gait Analysis: Measurement Accuracy For Linear Measurements, Evan Block

Anthropology

Measurement and analysis of human movement are necessary in a broad range of clinical, sports performance, and artistic applications. Historically, motion data were typically collected using optical motion capture systems. However, these systems are expensive and can only be used in lab spaces, which limits the range and speeds of human behavior. More recently, inexpensive, wearable sensors called Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) have enabled motion measurement in natural settings, but these systems require validation before use. In this study, we evaluate measurement accuracy for linear displacements obtained using Sparkfun OpenLog Artemis IMUs. We conducted a series of tests, moving the …

Comparison Of Femoral Head Loading In Chimpanzees And Humans, Kyra Kalinovsky

Anthropology

Chimpanzees are the closest living relatives of humans, despite this, the species do have very different loading on the epiphysis of the proximal head of the femur. The difference in loading is primarily due to a difference in locomotion. These differences affect the properties of subchondral and trabecular bone properties in the femoral head. Previous studies have shown that chimpanzees have thick and concave trabeculae that create a dense bone structure (Georgiou et al., 2018). These are found mostly on the inferior and central part of the femoral head. In humans, the structure of the trabecular bone volume is less …

Safe Or Not Safe? Perspectives Of Mo Gender-Affirming Care Providers In Response To Anti-Trans Care Legislation, Eric Lei

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Senior Honors Papers

Receiving gender-affirming care is a life-saving intervention for many, yet the current wave of transphobic rhetoric and anti-trans legislation, such as the Missouri (MO) Senate Bill 49 “Save Adolescents From Experimentation” (SAFE) Act, continue to restrict trans individuals from accessing gender-affirming care. Previous literature depicts medical providers as enactors of medical power and authority, producing knowledges of trans subjectivities, constructing and controlling trans bodies, and gatekeeping medical care from trans individuals; however, the changing roles, labor, and acts of resistance trans care providers perform under the recent context of heightened social surveillance and legal restrictions have yet to be documented. …

Achieving Professional, Effective Graphics Efficiently With Available Clemson Resources, Stacie P. Powell, Brad Landon Walters, Yaswanth Mulakala

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Winging It: Feathers And Foundations: Sustainable Waterfowl Habitats In Industrial Environments, Aftyn Gary Lehman

Landscape Architecture Theses

Development is the lifeblood of Landscape Architecture. Woodbury is the fastest growing city within the state of Minnesota and the need for industrial and commercial areas has quickly increased. Located just 15 minutes East from Saint Paul via Interstate 94, the suburban sprawl has expanded well beyond what any resident thought possible. One site in particular has been chosen to be developed. Within the past 5 years alone, habitat has been quickly lost. Originally, a collection of farm fields and interconnected ecosystems, this land was home to a large population of migratory waterfowl. Since development, this population has been largely …

Soothed By Nature: Bring The Nature To The Adhd Students, Dominick Dressler

Landscape Architecture Theses

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and other learning disabilities make traditional education challenging because it often requires sitting still, following routines, and focusing for long periods, things many ADHD students struggle with. Their need for movement, hands-on learning, and flexible thinking doesn’t match rigid classroom structures. As a result, they can feel misunderstood, leading to frustration and low self-esteem. Incorporating outdoor education and naturalistic play spaces in schools is especially beneficial for students with ADHD, as it supports focus and attention through calming, restorative environments. Nature-based play and education settings help reduce hyperactivity by encouraging physical movement, which in turn …

Efficacy Of Menstrual Cycle Awareness In The Identification Of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, Rachel Brothers

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is characterized by identifiable psychological and physical symptoms that are present in the week before menses and is estimated to affect 3-8% of women of reproductive age globally. The identification of women who meet criteria for PMDD is important both clinically, to provide proper support and treatment, and for advancing research by identifying appropriate study participants. This literature review aims to investigate the efficacy of current and prospective tools to screen for symptoms of PMDD by comparing a common depression screening tool, the PHQ-9, to tools that enhance menstrual cycle awareness. A literature review was conducted …

Angiotensin Receptor/Neprilysin Inhibitors As First-Line Medication To Increase Lifespan In Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure, Josie Benzie

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Heart failure (HF) impacts approximately 6.7 million adults in the United States, with over half classified as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). As the condition progresses, it can significantly diminish the quality of life and substantially increase the risk of early mortality. This literature review evaluates the effectiveness of angiotensin receptorneprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) compared to traditional renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) medications in reducing hospitalizations, cardiac deaths, and natriuretic peptide levels in HFpEF patients. A comprehensive search of PubMed and Embase identified 1,033 studies, with eight meeting criteria for final analysis. Sacubitril/valsartan did not significantly reduce hospitalizations or cardiac deaths …

Comparing The Efficacy And Safety Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists Versus Gastric Bypass Surgery In The Treatment Of Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes, Abir Oliver

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are interconnected global health challenges, contributing significantly to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. This literature review compares the efficacy, safety, and applicability of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and bariatric surgery as treatment options. A literature search with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria was conducted using PubMed and EBSCOhost from May to July 2024, resulting in 14 randomized controlled trials for evaluation. This literature review supports the efficacy of both GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide, and bariatric surgery as effective interventions for weight loss and glycemic control in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. …

The Taliban’S ‘Gender Apartheid’: The Reality Of Women In Afghanistan, Hannah Litty

North Carolina Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

James Baldwin's Classroom And What He Can Teach Educators About Queer Representation, Matthew Callahan

Honors College Theses

This is an extended analysis of James Baldwin's "A Talk to Teachers" about how to bring representation into the classroom. I use Baldwin's other essays and fiction along with educational research to look into the way Baldwin understands education and the importance of bringing healthy queer representation into the classroom. I provide both theoretical observations along with practical implications of what this means for educators in the classroom and what they can do to help all their students feel seen, represented, and welcome in the classroom.

Hey Barbie! There's A Lot Of Kens On My Screen: A Qualitative Analysis Of Female Gender Inequality In Media Representation And How Society’S Responses To It Have Evolved, Ania Delaney Boutin

Honors College Theses

Since Dr. Jean Kilbourne called attention to the dehumanization of women in magazine ads in her series of lectures-turned-documentaries “Killing Us Softly” vol. 1-4, the treatment of women in media has received attention from researchers and documentarians alike. Kilbourne asked audiences to take the impact of negative depictions of women seriously, encouraging women into careers where they could shape the next generation’s media. Subsequent documentaries assessed Kilbourne’s research and expanded it to include political consequences, minority voices, and various systemic issues.

Using a summative content analysis approach, this research examines the content of six documentaries, spanning 1979 to 2018, to …

Development Of A Mechanochemical Synthesis For A Palladacycle: Exploring Solvent Characteristics And Reaction Kinetics, Kyle Lintzenich

Honors College Theses

Palladacycles are a class of palladium complexes that show utility in catalyzing carbon-carbon cross coupling reactions. Mechanochemistry provides a greener alternative to synthesizing these palladacycles via repeated impacts that transfer mechanical energy into the reaction mixture, promoting formation of the desired complex. Specifically, liquid assisted grinding (LAG) has proven to be a viable tradeoff to neat mechanosynthesis of adding a small amount of liquid to decrease synthesis times or improve conversion. Some liquids actively participate in the reaction in a process termed as non-innocent LAG. This work focuses on the development of a mechanosynthetic method using non-innocent LAG for a …

Deepfakes On Trial: Developing A High-Accuracy, Court-Admissible Ai Pipeline For Deepfake Detection In Corporate Fraud Litigation, Aiden J. Green

Honors College Theses

As deepfake technology advances, cybercriminals are increasingly using AI-generated videos and audios to impersonate executives and carry out sophisticated CEO fraud schemes. These synthetic forgeries target human trust and corporate communication systems, creating an urgent need for forensic tools capable of authenticating digital evidence with legal accuracy. This thesis presents a forensic-grade AI deepfake detection pipeline designed for this purpose, emphasizing courtroom admissibility, reproducibility, and evidentiary integrity. Built entirely with free, opensource tools, the framework combines metadata analysis, AI-powered spectrogram analysis, neural artifact detection, and facial manipulation recognition into a transparent workflow that accurately identifies synthetic media. It was trained …

The Humanity Of Globalization: Global Interconnectedness And Cross-Border Migration, Mary Huffman

Honors College Theses

Though scholarly discourse surrounding migration and globalization has often assumed migration causes globalization, this paper seeks to explore the opposite direction of causality. Using a generalized least squares regression and Quality of Governance time series data, the design analyzes the impact of three facets of globalization on net migration between 1970 and 2020. The design controls for population, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and Polity score. Based on a review of literature, I hypothesize that each facet– economic, political, and social– will exhibit a positive correlation with net migration levels for each country-year. I also predict that social globalization …

Butterfly Effects: Women And Criminal Law, Pavithra Rajendran

Washington International Law Journal

Through a comparative analysis of the criminal laws of Sri Lanka and the United States, this paper examines how Sri Lanka’s legal framework on sexual offenses often hinders women’s access to justice and reinforces systemic gender discrimination. Recognizing the structural constraints inherited from older common law traditions, it underscores the potential for reform through targeted, gradual changes, drawing on developments in modern common law in the United States and relevant international legal standards. The discussion unfolds in three parts: first, a feminist critique of exiting criminal laws in postcolonial; common law systems such as Sri Lanka’s; second, a comparative analysis …

Taiwan: Legal Status, Legitimacy, And Lawfare, Monica Glenzer

Washington International Law Journal

This paper seeks to offer a fresh perspective into the Chinese Communist Party’s (“CCP”) implementation of lawfare to assert dominance over Taiwan. Rather than viewing lawfare as one doctrine with one outcome, this paper aims to reorganize lawfare in its many uses, identifying the three primary categories that the CCP uses to extend its sovereignty over Taiwan: (1) using law to legitimize a nation’s own goals, (2) using law to delegitimize an adversary’s actions, and (3) weaponizing an adversary’s laws. This paper seeks to analyze and recharacterize current and historical events in terms of these three lawfare categories, demonstrating how …

Adjuvant Immunotherapy In Microsatellite Instability-High Colon Cancer: A Literature Review On Efficacy, Challenges, And Future Directions, Vasisht Karri, Santosh Nimkar, Samir Dalia

Student Publications

Colon cancer accounts for nearly 10% of all cancer diagnoses annually. Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colon cancer is a particularly aggressive subtype of colon cancer that is known to have a significant number of genetic mutations. Microsatellite instability (MSI) refers to genetic hypermutability caused by the dysfunction of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system, which leads to errors in repetitive DNA sequences and is a hallmark of certain cancers, including MSI-H colon cancer. MSI-H colon cancer acts on the DNA mismatch repair system causing an accumulation of mutations in microsatellite regions of the DNA. These mutations have been linked …

The Reliability And Validity Of Accelerometry And Gnss, Christine Coniglio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation seeks to evaluate the reliability, validity, and utility of accelerometers and GNSS in sport-like scenarios, assess accelerometry-derived metrics and GNSS for distance prediction, and explore how accelerometer placement, specifically chest and back, affect the detection of various locomotor events. In Study I, the purpose was to investigate the accelerometer reliability and predictive capabilities of accelerometers and GNSS to predict a known distance. Thirty physically active female participants (mean height = 163.6 ± 6.8 cm, mean weight = 57.8 ± 8.7 kg) completed jogging trials over two courses (5m and 20m). Each participant wore two tri-axial accelerometers (100Hz) and …

Peer-Led Support Groups For People With Early Onset Parkinson's Disease, Linnea Tabaka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Early onset Parkinson’s Disease (EOPD) is a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease when diagnosed between the ages of 21 and 50. This population faces unique challenges due to family, social, and career demands that correlate with the age of diagnosis. Support groups have been utilized frequently for people with traditional PD and their caregivers but may not meet the unique needs people with EOPD face. This study explores the existing benefits of a peer-led support group (group led by members of the group) for persons with EOPD. Methodology: This is a qualitative case study of an established support …

Diversity In Beauty Brand Marketing On Instagram: The Case Of Fenty Beauty, Julia K. Narh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Diversity in beauty brand marketing is increasingly important as platforms like Instagram shape consumer perceptions. This study analyzes how Fenty Beauty, MAC Cosmetics, and L’Oréal represent diversity, particularly skin tone, in their Instagram content, using source credibility theory and social identity theory. A content analysis was conducted to evaluate how visual elements relate to engagement, measured by likes, comments, and shares. Findings show that Fenty Beauty features more dark-skinned models than its competitors. However, posts with darker-skinned models do not receive higher engagement. Instead, factors like model attractiveness and hair type, especially curly hair, drive interaction. Although Fenty’s posts generally …

Ai For Sustainability In Appalachian Businesses: Challenges And Successes, Mariatu Mahmoud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the perception of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how this technology can advance sustainable development in small businesses in Central Appalachia. Participants described how they leveraged AI-enabled technologies to address economic challenges as well as how they overcame the technological barriers often associated with emerging technologies. Findings reveal that AI can significantly improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance visibility for Appalachian entrepreneurs. However, the research also highlights challenges, including trust issues, limited resources, and resistance to change, which hinder adoption. Results from this study produce strategies for adopting AI that enable small businesses to integrate innovation while …

Associations Between The Timing Of 24 H Physical Activity And Diabetes Mellitus: Results From A Nationally Representative Sample Of The Us Population, Heming Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aims/hypothesis: Growing evidence suggests that timing may be an important aspect of physical activity that influences cardiometabolic health. However, the current literature is inconclusive regarding the time of day that physical activity offers the greatest metabolic advantages. We investigated associations between hourly physical activity levels and diabetes mellitus and glycaemic biomarkers in a cross-sectional and nationally representative sample of US adults.

Methods: We studied 7074 adults (mean age 48 years; 52% women) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2014). Physical activity was measured by actigraphy. A monitor-independent movement summary (MIMS) unit was used to derive the total activity …

Comparison Of Risk Assessment Tools' Prediction Of Outcomes For Penetrating Trauma, Thomas Shoultz, Jose Navas, Georgia Vasileiou, Kazuhide Matsushima, Matthew Forestiere, Tiffany Lian, Areg Grigorian, Joni Ricks-Oddie, Jeffry Nahmias

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) uses anatomic and/or physiologic variables to predict mortality; however, Injury Severity Score is less reliable for penetrating trauma. National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Surgical Risk Calculator (NSQIP-SRC) and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) include functional status and comorbidities. This study evaluates the accuracy of these tools in predicting mortality, length of stay (LOS), and complications for operative penetrating trauma.

Methods: Adult penetrating trauma patients (≥18 y) who underwent surgery within 24 h of admission were included in this subgroup analysis of a prospective observational study at four trauma centers. The …

Bmal1-Hif2a Heterodimer Modulates Circadian Variations Of Myocardial Injury, Wankun Deng, Xinxin Ma, Cong Luo, Fang Du, Seung-Hee Yoo, Boyun Kim, Jiwen Li, Xiaoyi Yuan, Katherine Figarella, Yu A An, Yin-Ying Wang, Yafen Liang, Matthew Deberge, Dongze Zhang, Zhen Zhou, Yanyu Wang, Joshua M Gorham, Jonathan G Seidman, Christine E Seidman, Sary F Aranki, Ragini Nair, Lei Li, Jagat Narula, Zhongming Zhao, Alemayehu A Gorfe, Jochen D Muehlschlegel, Kuang-Lei Tsai, Holger K Eltzschig

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Acute myocardial infarction is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide1. Clinical studies have shown that the severity of cardiac injury after myocardial infarction exhibits a circadian pattern, with larger infarcts and poorer outcomes in patients experiencing morning-onset events2–7. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these diurnal variations remain unclear. Here we show that the core circadian transcription factor BMAL17–11 regulates circadian-dependent myocardial injury by forming a transcriptionally active heterodimer with a non-canonical partner—hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF2A)12–16—in a diurnal manner. To substantiate this finding, we determined …

The Association Of Discrimination, Inflammation, And Coping Style On Self-Rated Health Among South Asian Individuals In The Masala Study, Alka M Kanaya, Jennifer E S Beauchamp

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: South Asian individuals (SAs) may have heightened levels of inflammatory markers, such as C reactive protein (CRP), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), leptin, and resistin, and decreased levels of anti-inflammatory adiponectin, contributing to higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence. Social determinants of health, like discrimination, are also associated with risks for CVD in SAs. This study examined the associations between discrimination and inflammation and whether coping styles moderated the association between discrimination and self-rated health (SRH) among SAs in the United States.

Design: Secondary analysis of data obtained from 1164 SAs (mean age = 57 years, SD = 9.4, 48% women) …

Ai Model For Predicting Asthma Prognosis In Children, Euijung Ryu, Hongfang Liu, Miguel A Park, Hee Yun Seol, Shauna M Overgaard, Deepak K Sharma, Young J Juhn, Sunghwan Sohn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Childhood asthma often continues into adulthood, but some children experience remission. Utilizing electronic health records (EHRs) to predict asthma prognosis can aid health care providers and patients in developing effective prioritized care plans.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop artificial intelligence (AI) models using various clinical variables extracted from EHRs to predict childhood asthma prognosis (remission vs no remission) in different age groups.

METHODS: We developed AI models utilizing patients' EHRs during the first 6, 9, or 12 years of their lives to predict their asthma prognosis status at ages 6 to 9, 9 to 12, or 12 to 15 …

Cardiovascular Risk Factors In The Autism Spectrum Disorder Population, Christian C. Iannuzzelli, Andrea L. Iannuzzelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The population of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have multiple risks and barriers that may make access to proper health care more difficult. After extensive research, some of these barriers may have been identified that pose greater risks to generating proper care for those with ASD. Some of these barriers include medical complexity, more sedentary lifestyles, poor food choices, as well as health comorbities. Some of these health comorbidities include hypertension, metabolic dysfunction, sleep apnea, and inflammation. This study aims to understand what barriers and risks for CVD are present in those with ASD.