Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Selected Insecticides On Calico Scale In Landscape Honey Locust Trees, 2024, Caleb J. Wilson, Zoë K. York

Entomology Faculty Publications

We evaluated the effect of selected insecticides on 6 mature Shademaster honey locust trees (Gleditsia triacanthos L., ‘Shademaster’) which were planted in 2 rows along a roadside on the University of Kentucky’s campus. We used a randomized complete block design where each tree represented a block, and within each tree, the effect of insecticides on scales was evaluated on separate labeled branches. All trees had been heavily infested with calico scale (CS) for multiple years. On each tree we sectioned off 11 randomly selected 30-cm branch sections with zip-ties. We applied treatments on 28 May 2024, when CS crawlers …

Utilizing Spatial Criteria To High-Grade Wyoming Eor Opportunities Along Proposed Pipeline Corridors: A Value Driven Approach, Jack Borski

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Oil and gas development has played a critical role in human civilization, and continues to bring drive economies around the world. One such economy is the state of Wyoming that has seen oil and gas production generally decline of the last several decades due to the depletion of high volume conventional reservoirs. A proven secondary technique such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) may serve as a method to arrest declining production, and increase economic activity. Wyoming has recognized this opportunity, and has attempted decrease the barriers of entry for oil and gas operators to invest in field-level CO2 EOR …

Object-Based Image Analysis And Artificial Intelligence Identification Of Anthropogenic Disturbance On Lesser Prairie Chicken Habitat In Cheyenne County, Colorado, Tara Hoelzer

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Renewable energy projects often require extensive landcover for their operations. When one of these projects encroaches into territory of threatened species, such as Lesser Prairie Chickens, an analysis of habitat suitability and human disturbance is required to proceed. Traditionally, this involved manually reviewing aerial imagery within a 6-mile radius, digitizing features, and interpreting them using a human technician—an approach that was time-consuming and prone to human error. By using pretrained AI models within Model Builder™, the identification of roads and structures was automated, making the process faster and more consistent than manual visual analysis. As AI and technology continue to …

Global Patterns Of Genetic Diversity And Species Delimitation In The Lichen-Forming Fungus Cladia Aggregata: A Restriction Site Associated Dna Sequencing (Rad-Seq) Analysis Across Neotropical, Australasian, And Asian Populations, John De Abreu

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Cladia aggregata is a group of lichen-forming fungi comprising multiple species which are difficult to differentiate. C. aggregata has a wide distribution on several different continents but is primarily found in the southern hemisphere. We aimed to further delimit the species complex while also investigating the relatedness of the different species, where they can be found geographically, and what phenotypic traits they possess. We used Restriction Site Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-seq) to compare thousands of loci across 91 individuals from the Americas, Asia, and Australasia. All Asian samples formed a distinct clade in all phylogenetic trees. Asia, as a distinct …

Mental Healthcare For Us: Examining Awareness Of, Barriers To, And Recommendations For Mental Healthcare Among Immigrant-Origin Chinese American Adolescents, Mengxue (Fiona) Sun

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Background. Ethnic minority adolescents face elevated mental health challenges and encounter significant barriers to accessing mental healthcare compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Despite these challenges, limited research has explored culturally responsive mental healthcare for adolescents from specific Asian American communities, and even fewer studies have actively incorporated adolescents' perspectives to inform treatment and policy. This study aimed to examine the experiences of immigrant-origin Chinese American adolescents with mental health and mental healthcare.

Method. Ten immigrant-origin Chinese American adolescents, aged 14 to 17, were recruited through community organizations and participated in semi-structured individual interviews. Open-ended questions focused on …

Enhancing Neuronal Viability: The Protective Role Of 10% Human Cerebrospinal Fluid In Primary Neuronal Cultures, Vineet Arora, Alicia Bernhardt, Alessandro Naopli, Mijail Serruya

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Human cerebrospinal fluid (hCSF) is a physiologically rich medium containing neurotrophic factors, signaling molecules, and essential metabolites that support neuronal development, survival, and function. While its neuroprotective properties have been demonstrated in organotypic brain slices and human iPSC-derived models, its application in primary rodent cortical neuron cultures-a foundational system for studying synaptic development and neurodegeneration-remains underexplored. In this study, we systematically evaluated the effects of hCSF supplementation on neuronal viability in primary cortical cultures derived from embryonic day 18 (E18) rat embryos. To determine the optimal concentration, we tested a range of media:hCSF ratios and identified 90:10 (i.e., 10% hCSF) …

Using The Token Economy To Improve Show Rates In An Outpatient/Community Mental Health Clinic, Gertrude Nabila Ndansi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The type of project was a quality improvement intervention. The identified practice problem was limited appointment shows among patients with appointments. Outpatient clinics often struggle with patients not showing up for appointments. Addressing this gap was critical for improving patient outcomes and resource efficiency. The practice problem must be addressed within the context of nursing practice by enhancing access to consistent mental health care and giving patients more timely support, leading to better outcomes and overall wellbeing.

Immobilization Of Bromelain On Fe3O4-Sa/Cs Microspheres And Its Enzymatic Properties, Wang Dan, Geng Lijing, Huang Wei, Fu Hang, Liu Xiaoyu

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To improve the immobilization technology of bromelain which has poor stability to enhance its utilization,stability,and storage performance.［Methods］ The preparation process of magnetic chitosan/sodium alginate immobilized bromelain (Fe3O4-SA/CS -Br) is optimized by the response surface methodology.The Fe3O4-SA/CS -Br is characterized and its Km value,operational stability,thermal stability,storage stability,and application effectiveness are determined.［Results］ The optimal preparation conditions for Fe3O4-SA/CS -Br are as follows:mchitosan∶msodium alginate ratio of 1∶4,Fe3O4 mass concentration of 10 mg/mL,CaCl2 mass concentration of 32 mg/mL,immobilization time of 106 min,pH value of 7.0,and enzyme mass concentration of 1.0 mg/mL.According to the results from scanning electron microscopy,infrared spectrum,and X -ray diffraction spectrum,the …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Weight Management Programme For Overweight Or Obese Pregnant Women: A Randomised Controlled Trial, Elahe Banafshe, Nahid Javadifar, Zahra Abbaspoor, Saeed Ghanbari, Majid Karandish

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Obesity is a major health concern, particularly among women of reproductive age. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychosocial-based intervention on weight management and pregnancy outcomes in overweight or obese pregnant women. Methods: This randomised controlled trial included overweight or obese pregnant women from healthcare centres affiliated with Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz, Iran and was conducted from June to December 2023. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The intervention group received a comprehensive weight management programme during pregnancy, while the control group received standard prenatal care. Results …

Il-6 Induces Cd45 Expression On Myeloid Cells, Maryam Ahmed Al Barashdi, Ahlam Ali, Mary Frances Mcmullin, Ken Mills

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Activation of IL-6 facilitates CD45 expression in myeloma cells, but little has been reported for myeloid malignancies. This study aimed to investigate whether IL-6 enhances CD45 expression on myeloid malignancies and whether myeloid cells are dependent on IL-6 activation to express CD45 on their cell membrane. Methods: This study was conducted from January to March 2022 at the Queen's University Belfast, UK. Myeloid cell lines such as HEL and OCI-AML3 which expressed higher levels of CD45, and UT-7 and the pro-B NALM-6 cell lines that had lower CD45 levels as well as primary cells were used. The …

Enhancing Delirium Prediction And Prevention In Elderly Patients Through Machine Learning-Based Analysis, Abdullah M. Al Alawi, Juhaina S. Al Maqbali

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objective: This study aimed to identify predictors of delirium within 24 hours of admission in elderly patients using machine learning (ML) models and evaluate their performance. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted among patients aged 65 years and older admitted to the general medical unit of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, from January 2022 to May 2023. Clinical and demographic data were collected and analysed using 4 ML models: logistic regression, random forest, gradient boosting and support vector machine. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score and area under the curve-receiver operating characteristic …

Chest Wall Chondromyxoid Fibroma: A Case Report And Literature Review, Waad Al Farsi, Yaseen Al Lawati, Hilal Al Sabti, Zakiya Al Ajmi, Humaid Al Farii

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Chondromyxoid fibromas (CMFs) are rare tumours that comprise less than 2% of benign bone tumours; approximately 5-7.9% occur in the ribs. We report a 28-year-old female patient with CMF in the 4th rib that presented to a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman, in 2023. She complained of pain in the right posterior chest wall for 6 months. A chest computed tomography showed posterior 4th rib expansile lesion measuring 3×2 cm without soft tissue involvement. A percutaneous biopsy suggested a diagnosis of chondomyxoid fibroma. The tumour was resected with a free-margin and assistance of video-assisted thoracic surgery approach. The diagnosis …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis On The Role Of Somatostatin Therapy In Non-Variceal Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Magnus Chun, Tahne Vongsavath, Sneh Sonaiya, Lily Liu, Kyaw Min Tun, Kavita Batra, Robert G. Gish

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Background and Aims: Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) is a common cause of hospitalizations, with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) being the mainstay treatment. However, there is a lack of high-level evidence to show if adjunctive medical therapy (somatostatin and its analogs) can improve outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the outcomes of PPIs with adjunctive therapy versus PPI monotherapy in treating NVUGIB in an in-patient setting. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist, major databases were systematically searched to retrieve English-only, original studies, published from 1 January 2000 to 31 December …

Clinical Profile Of Patients With Monocular Elevation Deficiency Undergoing Strabismus Surgery, Mohamad Reza Akbari, Babak Masoomian, Elham Azizi, Mohammed Omer Mahmood, Arash Mirmohammadsadeghi, Ali Majdi, Masoud Khorrami-Nejad

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To provide a comprehensive evaluation of the visual, refractive, and strabismic characteristics of patients with monocular elevation deficiency (MED) undergoing strabismus surgery.

METHODS: The medical records of patients at a single institution who were diagnosed with and underwent surgery for MED were reviewed retrospectively. Visual acuity, refractive error, angle of deviation, abnormal head posture (AHP), presence of ptosis, prevalence of amblyopia and strabismic patterns were analyzed, with MED eyes compared with fellow eyes.

RESULTS: A total of 105 patients were included. Mean cylindrical refractive error was significantly higher in MED eyes compared with fellow eyes (-1.40 ± 1.70 D …

Exploring The Relationship Between Country Socioeconomic Characteristics And Electronic Waste, Keliiakekaipuka Aria Mccomber

Theses and Dissertations

Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing and most hazardous waste streams globally. Despite efforts to improve global e-waste management, 77.7 percent of e-waste remains improperly disposed of, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where environmental and health risks are greatest (Baldé et al., 2024). This study evaluates whether national socioeconomic, cultural, and governmental characteristics can predict three key e-waste outcomes: generation per capita, formal collection rates, and resulting burden per capita. Using data from 2015-2022 for 127 countries, we applied mixed effects models incorporating variables such as GDP, Human Development Index, institutional integrity, financial openness, and …

Multi-Field Quantum Conference Key Agreement Using An Integrated Photonic Green Machine, Benjamin J. Fisher

Theses and Dissertations

Quantum Conference Key Agreement (QCKA) enables a group of users to generate a shared secret key, which reduces the latency and equipment overhead of establishing multiple Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) links. Conventional QCKA protocols send a multi-photon entangled state from one user to others and a key is generated only when all photons are detected, which is inefficient at high loss and opens side-channels at the receiver side. Here, we overcome this barrier through a multi-field QCKA protocol enabled by designing, fabricating, and testing an integrated photonic Green Machine that implements an eight-mode Hadamard unitary transformation through a beam-splitter network. …

Between Breaths: Healing And Being, Corina Yu Zhao

Journal of Wellness

Burnout among healthcare professionals is an increasingly recognized crisis, yet pathways to resilience remain underexplored. This narrative chronicles the author’s personal journey from profound exhaustion to self-discovery and renewal. Through the integration of contemplative practices, nature exposure, and mindful nourishment, the author navigated the challenges of residency and emerged with a deeper understanding of well-being. By incorporating Isha Kriya meditation, Surya Kriya yoga, and self-inquiry practices rooted in Advaita Vedanta, the experience evolved into a transformative path of inner resilience. This report highlights the necessity of prioritizing self-care within the medical profession and offers evidence-backed insights into holistic wellness practices, …

3d Printed Vitamin D Impregnated Catheters For Magnetic Resonance-Guided Interventions: Proof Of Concept And Imaging Characteristics, Liam O Cunningham, Aravinda Ganapathy, Cihat Eldeniz, Jeffery A Weisman, Kevin E Lindsay, Udayabhanu Jammalamadaka, Karthik Tappa, Amber Salter, Hongyu An, Pamela K Woodard, David H Ballard

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Catheters used for magnetic resonance (MR)-guided interventions require intra-catheter coils and often produce artifacts. This study aimed to fabricate 3D-printed catheters impregnated with vitamin D solution to allow for optimal visualization during MR-guided procedures.

METHODS: 3D printing was used to fabricate catheters impregnated with vitamin D solution. Computer-aided design files were generated for a size 18 French catheter prototype with a compartment for vitamin D solution to be manually introduced into the catheter's lumen and sealed via thermoplastic welding. Polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic was 3D printed into filaments via material extrusion (FDM

RESULTS: All 3D-printed catheters impregnated with vitamin …

Advances In Bone And Orthopedics 2025 – 5th Edition, Jean-Philippe Berteau, Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, Hélène Follet, Aurélie Levillain

Publications and Research

This volume brings together selected works from the 2025 Bone and Orthopedics Interdisciplinary Symposium (BONITOS), underscoring our community’s ongoing commitment to advancing research in biomechanics, bone health, and orthopedic science. The symposium unites leading experts from around the world, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas across disciplines. Organized in partnership with the French-speaking Society of Biomechanics, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the University of Lyon, the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York (CUNY), and the American Association of Physical Therapists (APTA) – Brooklyn Staten Island Chapter, BONITOS 2025 represents …

Language Style Evaluation Validation For Implementation On Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Augmentative And Alternative Communication Devices, Meghan A. Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored various methods of evaluating language style for integration into prompts designed for a sophisticated augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. A total of 395 individuals without a language disorder were recruited via a crowdsourcing platform to complete five surveys. The initial four surveys were designed to assess individuals' language style using different approaches (questionnaire developed with ChatGPT, self-written, questionnaire developed by Hartman and McCambridge, and choosing tags). Following the completion of these four surveys, a fifth survey was dynamically created based on the responses in the previous four surveys. Each possible response in the fifth survey was …

Fancy Mice, Damian Aguilar

University Honors Theses

In this proof-of-concept screenplay, a family becomes the subject of an isolating experiment that observes their behavior changes after remaining in their home for an extended period of time with all their basic needs met. The first twenty-pages of this psychological horror lays the foundation for a larger work that explores existential themes related to purpose, competition, and play.

Intersectional Realities, Multi-Dimensional Films: Reading Julie Dash's Illusions As An Activist Text, Amelia Morrison

University Honors Theses

This paper reads Julie Dash's 1982 film Illusions as an activist text, which challenges dominant cinematic and historical narratives through its Black feminist perspective. It explores the cinematic and narrative devices that Dash uses--including the weaving of fantasy and history, the strategic use of period aesthetics, and masking--to expose and subvert the mechanisms of white supremacist and patriarchal hegemony within Hollywood. Drawing on intersectional feminist theory from scholars like Kimberlé Crenshaw, Patricia Hill Collins, and bell hooks, alongside cinematic theory, this analysis demonstrates how Illusions critiques the historical erasure of people of color from United States cinema and history. By …

Freeing The Fremont: Visions Of A Post-Automobile Portland Highway Bridge, Henry Senters

University Honors Theses

The Fremont Bridge is an iconic piece of highway transportation infrastructure in the city of Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, it is one of only three Willamette bridges in the city that does not allow any pedestrian access, except for a single day every year during an annual bicycling event. Consider, however: what if that were to change, in a future less dependent on private automobile usage? Drawing on historical precedents of pedestrian and car-free bridges, this thesis proposes three types of pedestrian-focused programs which a car-free Fremont Bridge could host, each of which speaks to a current aspect of civic life …

Mass Timber: The Future Of Sustainable Architectural Design, Julian Nychay

University Honors Theses

The current state of Mass Timber structures is in an interesting state at the moment; Mass Timber adoption has become a recent trend that has been taking place very recently. This is due to a number of factors, mainly the technology for mass timber has grown substantially, as well as human consciousness of our negative impact on the environment has led to a deep rethinking about how we build. In this paper, I examine what exactly mass timber is, why it is being used and what are the future and current benefits and challenges facing mass timber in modern design …

Game-Based Learning As A Dynamic System: A Review Of The Literature, Meadow Mcgalliard

University Honors Theses

Game-based learning (GBL) in its development as a field has found itself at an ever-increasing complexity with regard to theories, design elements, and outcomes that define it. It's been long since proven that games produce learning and the ways in which this benefits educators and designers have broad applications, from direct game implementation to integrating GBL knowledge into non-game spaces. The density and complexity of design in GBL prove beneficial for learning opportunities, as the adaptability of design can create an almost infinite series of outcomes in a highly replicable manner. In this broad review, I attempt to display the …

Philosophy In Action: Ni Una Menos And Liberation Theory, Matthew D. Albertson

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores the intersection of philosophy and social movements, Enrique Dussel's Liberation Philosophy and the Ni Una Menos movement. It argues that Ni Una Menos not only enacts a philosophy of liberation through its mobilization against gender-based violence in Latin America but also critically expands Liberation Philosophy by foregrounding intersectionality and gendered forms of exclusion--often underexamined in traditional liberation theory. Using Dussel's concepts--Exteriority, Praxis, Critique of the Totality, Ethics of Life, and Transmodernity--the study analyzes how Ni Una Menos elevates the lived experiences of marginalized women and gender-diverse individuals into the public and political sphere. Through strategies …

Stigma, Shame, And Narcissism: A Literature Review, Alex Gaither

University Honors Theses

This thesis is a literature review of 12 peer reviewed journal articles accessible through the Portland State University library database on the relationship between stigma, shame, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). This thesis discusses ideas brought up in these articles regarding the classification and conceptualization of NPD as a disorder, the role that shame plays in the pathology of NPD, the ways that shame is addressed through treatment, and public and practitioner held bias resulting from the stigmatization of the disorder. New and upcoming ways of conceptualizing the disorder are also briefly discussed as there has been a push to …

Garden Of Rust: Conversations With The "In-Between Space", Kristen M. Poore

University Honors Theses

Garden of Rust is a series of five oil paintings that explore the mental and emotional changes she calls the "In-Between Space," that occur in the artist’s mind as she undergoes a major life change. The artist uses traditional oil painting techniques on a variety of canvas sizes in order to record her emotions, which include anxiety, and grief. Her intent with this series is to highlight the "In-Between Space," and to start a conversation with others experiencing it. The artist finds that creating Garden of Rust has been beneficial for her own mental wellbeing to work on, because she …

Diy Music Career, Griffin Schmeltzer

University Honors Theses

As we know, the music industry is changing. Where artists once needed access to extremely expensive gear, we now have access to tech that can create professional quality music at a fraction of the price. And where artists once needed labels to back and distribute their music, we're entering into an age where anyone can upload a song directly to the primary platforms consumers use to listen to music. This has led to an era where songs written and recorded in bedrooms are winning grammys (Billie Eilish). But for all the upsides of anyone being able to make and release …

Examining The Impact Of Legalized Sports Gambling On Ncaa Athletes' Welfare And Game Integrity, Reem Al Jaradi

University Honors Theses

This thesis examines the effects of legalized sports gambling on NCAA player welfare and the integrity of competition through a mixed-method analysis of NCAA reports, academic literature, and media sources. Data disclose that although the overall prevalence of gambling among student-athletes has decreased, these individuals are demonstrating more detrimental behaviors, including solitary gaming and incurring substantial losses in a single day. The emphasis on internet abuse associated with betting results has escalated, especially during prominent tournaments. The NCAA's instructional programs and data-monitoring agreements are compromised by ethical issues surrounding data monetization and varying state gambling rules. The research contends that …