Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Oyster-Shell Orientation On Biomass Accumulation, Robert Bossert

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) contains heavy nutrient pollution due to stormwater runoff. Oysters, Crassostrea virginica, are used to filter the resulting phytoplankton blooms. These oysters attach to and grow on oyster mats placed in the IRL by different conservation organizations.

The Effects Of Artificial Light On Irl Chlorophyll Content, Julia Lonks

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Marine phytoplankton are responsible for over 50% of Earth's global photosynthesis, and are vital for carbon drawdown, and form the base of the aquatic food webs. During the daytime, less than ten percent of the sun's energy is converted and available to primary consumers. In the past 150 years, the invention and proliferation of the light bulb have led to abundant artificial light at night (ALAN). All organisms, from humans to phytoplankton, rely on light to control internal biological functions; the most important for this study is the effect of ALAN on photosynthetic activity. As ALAN intensity's extent increases at …

Identifying The Presence Of Quorum Sensing-Like Behavior In The Single Celled Alga Chlamydomonas Nivalis, Joshua Ahrens

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Quorum sensing (QS) links phenotypic switching to cell density. While it is common in bacteria, it is less common among eukaryotes.

AQS system increases swimming speeds as cell density increases in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlamydomonas moewusii. This raises the question of whether this process is conserved in this cosmopolitan genus.

Another member of the genus, the alpine snow alga Chlamydomonas nivalis, was selected to test for conservation of this QS system.

Analyzing The Cause Of Catastrophic Storm Surge During Hurricane Michael (2018) In The Florida Panhandle, Emma J. Keegan

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

This study explores the relationship between meteorological variables & storm surge dynamics in the Florida Panhandle, focusing on the impact of Hurricane Michael in 2018. By analyzing correlations between reanalysis meteorological data & water level measurements, the study identifies wind speed as the primary driver of storm surge. Notably, wind speed exhibits stronger correlations during Hurricane Michael’s Impact Period, underscoring its influence on storm surge dynamics. These findings enhance our understanding of storm surge mechanisms & contribute to improved predictive capabilities for coastal hazard management. Future research aims to refine storm surge forecasting models and additional factors influencing localized surge …

Assessing The Correlation Between Chlorophyll A Levels In Biofilm And The Water Column, Madison Tate

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Biofilm accumulation on ships increases drag and fuel consumption. Despite continuing advancements in anti-fouling coatings, there is limited research on how environmental parameters influence biofilm development. Understanding how in situ variables can influence biofilm development can lead to better management strategies for preventing and removing growth on ships.

The 1998 Central Florida Tornado Outbreak: A Comprehensive Case Study In Tampa, Fl, Brandan Keen

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

The 1998 Central Florida Tornado Outbreak was Florida’s most destructive tornado event, spawning three significant F3 tornadoes during the overnight hours of February 22–23. This study investigates the mesoscale and storm-scale processes associated with the outbreak, specifically analyzing the supercell responsible for the Kissimmee tornado. The analysis utilizes NEXRAD WSR-88D Level 2 radar data (KMLB, KTBW) processed in Gibson Ridge Analyst software, atmospheric soundings from the Storm Prediction Center, and topographic relief maps generated in QGIS. Results highlight moderate atmospheric instability, significant vertical wind shear, and potential interactions between severe convection and local terrain. Findings emphasize the potential role of …

All Stressed Out: An Investigation On The Effects Of Environmental Stressors On The Northern Leopard Frog (Rana Pipiens), Ella C. Wittmuss

Honors Thesis

Corticosterone (CORT) is the primary glucocorticoid in many vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. When an organism is exposed to external or internal stressors, CORT levels often increase (Rich & Romero, 2005; Titon et al., 2021). An increase in CORT can cause adverse physiological effects such as slower growth, malformations in different parts of the body, and specific blood sugar diseases such as diabetes (Glennemeier & Denver, 2002; Tarlow &Blumstein, 2007). CORT levels are indicators of survival, growth, and reproduction in larval amphibians. Many species, including our model organism, the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens), are often subjected to …

The Conservative Approach To Informed Consent: The Evidentiary Model And An Antidote To The Problem Of Framing Effects In Medical Decision-Making, James D. Polk

Honors Theses

Since the latter part of the 20th century, there has been a gradual but significant shift of the doctor-patient relation from paternalism to a more patient-centric approach. As such, informed consent – the legal and moral requirement that a physician fully disclose relevant details to their patient and gain their consent – is a central doctrine to patient-centric care. Gone are the days of the doctor governing the patient: the patient is now considered a valuable and important decision-maker. Achieving informed consent is the foundation of patient centric medicine. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that philosophical consideration be …

Providing A Solution For Active-Duty Servicewomen Facing Chronic Musculoskeletal Injuries Due To Improper Gear Fit, Celia Watson, Denver Tidwell, Hadi Obaji

Honors Theses

As senior biomedical engineering students at the University of Mississippi, we began our academic year brainstorming unmet clinical needs in healthcare intending to provide an innovative solution. After conducting personal inventories, determining a mission, and evaluating internal and external factors, we established acceptance criteria for our strategic focus and clarified our needs statement: develop a prophylactic device for chronic musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) in active-duty servicewomen (ADSW). The average female soldier is at a disadvantage compared to her male counterpart due to anthropometric and physiological differences between men and women in most aspects of physical performance (Epstein et al. 2673). These …

Lateral Flow Immunoassay Test Strips And Vibrational Spectroscopy For Mobile Detection Of Fentanyl, Sophia Rau

D.U.Quark

There is an increasing number of opioid-related crime scenes, resulting in more evidence that must be tested in a forensic laboratory. New fentanyl analogs are constantly being created, posing significant challenges for drug identification. This increase in drug-related crime and new substances cannot be effectively managed using current forensic technologies. There is a need for on-scene substance testing of unknown substances to improve the speed of testing of collected evidence and for the safety of responders. This review evaluates the impacts of fentanyl test strips, infrared absorption spectrometers, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectrometers as portable forensic instruments. The development and …

Diapause And Anoxia-Induced Quiescence Are Unique States In Embryos Of The Annual Killifish, Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Patrick R. Clouser, Claire L. Riggs, Amie L. T. Romney, Jason E. Podrabsky

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Diapause is a state of developmental and metabolic dormancy that precedes exposure to environmental stresses. Yet, diapausing embryos are typically stress-tolerant. Evidence suggests that diapausing embryos “prepare” for stress as part of a gene expression program as they enter dormancy. Here, we investigate if diapause II embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus, which can survive for hundreds of days of anoxia, can mount a transcriptomic response to anoxic insult. Bulk RNAseq was used to characterize the transcriptomes of diapause II embryos exposed to normoxia, 4 h and 24 h anoxia, and 2 h and 24 h normoxic recovery …

Equitable And Efficient Exams In Large Courses, Van Whaley, Dustin W. Davis

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

How do we asses over 1,200 students six times a semester equitably and efficiently? Our program's need:

• Assess learning equitably and efficiently in KIN 223 and 224 Human A&P I and II.
• Set clear expectations, minimize anxiety.
• Process > 7,200 exams per semester.
• Give timely feedback quickly and progress through curriculum.

Fsec Meeting Minutes April 25, 2025, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Reducing Antibiotic Duration For Pneumonia And Sinusitis In The Emergency Department: A Quality Improvement Approach, Joshua Saucedo, Leslie Hueschen, Amanda Nedved, Marsha Dannenburg, Patricia Phillips, Jennifer Floyd, Alaina N. Burns, Rana El Feghaly

Presentations

Background: Limiting antibiotic duration is one of the pillars of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) as it reduces unnecessary antibiotic exposure. In our emergency department (ED), >90% of respiratory infections are treated with first-line guideline-recommended antibiotics; however, duration continues to be prolonged especially for community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS). Institutional guidance recommends shortening antibiotic durations to 3-5 days for CAP and 5-7 days for ABRS, however only 13% of discharged ED patients receive the recommended duration. Objective: Our aim is to increase the percentage of children discharged home from the ED with a diagnosis of CAP or …

Sensory Friendly Performance Of Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical, Mary M. Robinson

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This project contains examples of best practices in theatre to make it accessible to those with sensory sensitivites such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, etc.

“Every Mother A Missionary”?: The Vlogs Of Mormon Mothers, Celia Golden

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) places high expectations on mothers because their role in the church is to rear children into godly adults. When their lives are made public through social media, Mormon mothers online avoid religious expectations by withholding information about their Mormon faith and scarcely showing their husbands on-camera. Mormon husbands are expected to be the providers for the family, but as demonstrated through mothers’ vlogs on Instagram, husbands’ erasure allows for mothers to market their expertise to others as a paid product to earn their own revenue. Through descriptive coding, this study …

Jtc 25: Perseverance Pays Off, Pam Starling

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2025 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Jtc 25: Education Across Generations, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2025 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

An Interdisciplinary Approach To The Investigation Of Consciousness, James Guy Lundie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Questions of phenomenal consciousness have troubled intellectuals for millennia. Theologians, philosophers, and scientists continue to grapple with the problem of how our minds interact with our brains and bodies. From Anaxagoras and Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas, Nagel and Goff, and Koch and Hameroff, the brightest among us have been unable to solve the riddle of how we are conscious, unique, self-aware thinking beings. Uniting our efforts by considering the reasoning of interdisciplinary scholars and integrating the thoughts of others with our own can only enhance our chances of success. This paper offers a pathway toward a multidisciplinary theory of consciousness …

Reinterpreting Catuṣkoṭi In Contemporary Philosophy: Tensions Between Non-Classical Logic And East Asian Buddhist Soteriology, Ronald S. Green

Philosophy and Religious Studies

This study aims to evaluate the reinterpretation of the concept of catuṣkoṭi (tetralemma) in contemporary philosophy, particularly within the discourse of non-classical logic, and to compare it with traditional interpretations found in East Asian Buddhism. The research addresses the tension between modern logical approaches—such as those proposing the addition of a fifth truth value (ineffability)—and soteriological frameworks within traditions like Mādhyamaka, which emphasise the function of liberating individuals from conceptual entanglements. This study employs qualitative methods, incorporating hermeneutic and comparative approaches, along with close textual analysis of classical primary sources, including the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, and the works of East Asian Buddhist …

Bridging The Language Proficiency Gap: Seeking Strategies For High Language Proficiency, Maria Isabelle Lyon

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores factors contributing to high proficiency in German speakers, focusing on university graduates who achieved Advanced High or Superior ratings on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) at the end of their university studies. The nine participants, all of whom had significant exposure to German during and/or before their undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University (BYU), shared insights into their language learning experiences. The study uses interviews and surveys to examine key characteristics, strategies, and experiences that influenced participant proficiency. The findings highlight motivation, consistency, and humility as key factors contributing to learners. Participants emphasize intrinsic motivation, consistent …

Market Timing And Managerial Talent, Keming Li

All Faculty Scholarship (Archived)

Market timing is a well-documented phenomenon in financial markets. This paper tests whether managers with heterogeneous talents and qualities affect capital issuance timing differently. I find that skilled managers raise more capital (especially equity) when the market is overpriced, compared to unskilled managers. However, capable managers are less willing to issue equity when firms have high growth potential and are reluctant to share their future success with newcomers. Additionally, I found no significant effect of managerial ability on the relationship between market misvaluation and subsequent corporate investment. Overall, consistent with the market timing hypothesis, the results suggest that talented managers …

Capturing Interfacial Phase Change And Flow Physics During Vertical Downflow Condensation, Thanh Hoang Phan, Cho Ning Huang, Chirag R. Kharangate

Faculty Scholarship

Two-phase configurations can address the urgent demand for effective heat dissipation solutions in Naval power and energy systems. A better understanding of thermal transport processes in phase-change flows is critical for developing novel two-phase design tools for naval scientists and engineers. This study investigates interfacial phase change and flow dynamics during condensation flow through numerical simulations. An enhanced phase change model, incorporating a mass transfer intensity coefficient dependent on condensation film thickness, is implemented for vertical downflow condensation. A two-dimensional homogeneous two-phase Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes model, coupled with the Shear-Stress Transport k-ω turbulence model, is employed. The developed solver is thoroughly …

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura In Pediatric Patients, Niki Shrestha, Robert W. Maitta

Faculty Scholarship

Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura is a serious disease that can involve complex symptomatology, prolonged hospitalization, and a high risk of mortality if treatment is delayed. This disease is rare, but it is even rarer among pediatric patients. Even though it was first described 100 years ago, the earliest documented case was a pediatric patient. The last three decades have seen the discovery of the pathological mechanisms responsible for its clinical presentation. Symptoms/signs characteristic of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with significant thrombocytopenia characterize the vast majority of patients. Its pathology centers on the accumulation of ultra-large von Willebrand factor multimers due to an …

Carl R. Rogers: Person Centered Therapy, Learner Centered Facilitation, Humanistic Education, Jeffrey H.D. Cornelius-White

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Carl Rogers (January 8, 1902- February 4, 1987) was born and grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, near Chicago. He is one of the few American psychologists to be considered giants in the field, and his American spirit can be traced to ancestors in the USA since the 1600s. He was the fourth of six children in a devout conservative Christian family who prayed together in a circle each morning. He learned to read before Kindergarten and read extensively. As a child, he was shy and kept sheltered by his family, and did not have close friends. He became very …

Effects Of Emerald Ash Borer On Temperate Wetland Ch₄ Emissions, Ethan T. Potter

Theses

Forested wetlands are a globally significant source of atmospheric methane (CH₄), and tree stems potentially contribute a large portion of emissions from these systems. However, tree stem emissions in temperate wooded wetlands, particularly those experiencing disturbance, remain largely unexamined. This study investigated the effects of emerald ash borer invasion on CH₄ fluxes from soils and tree stems in temperate wetlands of Western New York. Methane fluxes were measured from live trees, dead trees, and soils in wetlands with different emerald ash borer impact levels (high/open canopy and low/closed canopy). During eight campaigns carried out across the majority of the growing …

Marissa Alban, Mezzo-Soprano

Bailey School of Music Concert Programs

Marissa Alban, mezzo-soprano

Eric Jenkins, piano

Economic Development In Ten Massachusetts Communities: A Study Of Public Policy Implementation Methods And Outcomes, Derek Michael Bennett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Economic renewal and development are an essential elements of urban economic development within numerous cities in the United States. Little has been reported concerning methods used to implement policy to create the conditions desirable for economic growth and development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the corelative relationship between implementation methods used and the outcomes of economic growth and development policy, applying Pierson's (1993) Policy Feedback Theory as the theoretical framework. Using a mixed methods-based study of quantitative and quantitative methods, to examine the correlation between policy implementation practices and resulting barriers in local economic growth and development, …

Increasing Parental Involvement Of Low Socioeconomic Status Families, To Help Increase Student Reading Achievement, Jean M. Routley Robinson

Masters Projects

There is a gap in reading achievement for children from low socioeconomic status families despite efforts to the contrary. A major factor contributing to achievement in reading is parental involvement. This involvement is important for all children, but is especially important when it comes to raising the reading abilities of children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. A focus on Pierre Bourdieu and his theories around social and cultural capital shape the framework for understanding why a lack of involvement can exist, as well as what can be done to increase it. Four main themes emerged to improve participation. They are: shifting …

Studies To Understand The Stability And Liabilities Of Legumain-Cleavable Antibody-Drug Conjugates, Michele Yi

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) offer targeted drug delivery of potent cytotoxic payloads, minimizing systemic toxicity. However, the stability of the linker is integral to ensure that there is minimal off-target payload release and little systemic toxicity. This study analyzes the physical and biological stability of our new legumain-cleavable vs traditional cathepsin-cleavable antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), with a focus on hydrophobicity, thermal stability, aggregation, and biological payload release. Our findings indicate that decreased hydrophobicity of the legumain-cleavable ADCs compared to cathepsin-cleavable ADCs is correlated with decreased aggregation (predicting lower uptake by liver macrophages and therefore slower clearance and less systemic toxicity) and lower …